Replacing Textbooks with Tablets

iPads and tablets have become a popular choice of teachers in many classrooms worldwide due to the positive impact it has on the students. Tablets offer a wide variety of educational applications that have the ability to be downloaded onto the tablet for the students to use. The use of tablets in the classroom, “offer a unique home-school connection by providing students with a classroom experience that relates to the technology-saturated real world” (Blackwell, 2013, pg. 233) The use of iPads and tablets in the classroom provides students with a hands on learning approach to any

The iPad has become a revolutionary tool in the field of education. iPads make up 94 percent of the tablet market for the education sector (Schaffhauser 1). The iPad has numerous uses from storing multiple textbooks to being able to use a cloud based word processing application. The iPad is capable providing “over 65,000 apps just for education, interactive books on every subject, and speeches, virtual tours, and videos from experts and institutions around the world” (www.apple.com). The possibilities of the iPad are endless:

Many schools have switched from using paper textbooks to iPads or chromebooks, which allow students to access online textbooks. But is this a good change? There are many factors that need to be put into consideration, including the age group of a kids receiving the technology, the classes this tool can be used for, and the children’s ability to interact with others.

Imagine a day when youngsters would leave for school carrying nothing more than an electronic device weighing less than one pound. The advent and growing popularity of electronic textbooks may make this a reality sooner rather than later. No more students trudging around with 20 pound backpacks strapped to their backs. No more lockers jammed with textbooks and notebooks. The benefits of transitioning to e-textbooks are many and provide advantages for both students and educators.

With the rampant year over year releases and innovations in the consumer sector, computers and tablets are cheaper than ever. While one may argue that devices still remain more expensive than a simple notepad and pencil, students opting not to use a computer will accrue incrementally more costs for notebooks and/or paper, binders, the printing of class notes, and hard copy textbooks for each course. With PDF and online textbooks now available, at substantially lower costs, tech savvy students have additional cost and use advantages. Further, digital resources permit publishers to regularly update e-textbook forms. This is relevant for schools that utilize one text for multiple years and better ensures accuracy and currency. Beyond the economic benefits, computers have other practical advantages. They significantly reduce the amount of weight students carry in knapsacks, improve ergonomics, and ameliorate possible future absenteeism and medical costs due to back injury. Finally, reduced paper consumption and its footprint are more environmentally friendly and consistent with the University of Toronto’s sustainability

Electronic reading devices have become popular in recent years. Some schools have even gotten rid of paper books entirely. Their students read everything electronically instead. While eBooks have their place, their use in schools should be limited.

Within the last five years, the school I attend purchased iPads for student use. One way we use them is to download textbooks. This is a wonderful system for many reasons. Physical textbooks should be replaced entirely by electronic versions on portable devices. Education is a very important part of every person's life. We begin learning just moments after we are born, and we do not stop learning until we die. Without knowledge, humans would not be humans, and our way of life would never

“I don 't think tablets are where we should be focused. But I do think they could end up being an efficient way of delivering textbooks. They 're just not really that, yet. There 's all sorts of poisons and mined minerals and carnage that goes on to make a tablet. Way more than to print a book…”(Rushkoff). There is heated debate going on in school districts across the nation, but it is not over dress code or standardized testing. It is over whether schools should shift to tablets instead of dated textbooks. Within the last ten years, the advancement of technology has caused an increase in controversy over which one is the best option. Weighing pros against cons, it would ultimately be the best decision for school districts to continue

Did you know that there are over 125 million, technically its 129,864,880, different published books in the world (Jackson)? A college student can count on spending an average of $655 per year on textbooks (Kingkade). That may seem like a lot, but college helps you with the jobs you’ll have in the future, so I think it’s worth it. Normally, if people don’t go to college they wouldn’t have as many job opportunity’s as someone who does go to college and gets a degree. Why should we stick with books instead of iPads? We should stick to textbooks because iPads are costly, can have effects on our health, and can be too distracting to students.

Teachers are always assigning homework in the textbook and of course every student complains. Not only because they have homework, but because they have to lug home multiple textbooks. Many school districts have been trying to find a way to solve this complaint. What school board officials have come up with is replacing the textbooks with notebook computers or tablets. It is the 21st century, there is technology booming everywhere. However, converting the notebook computers might not be the greatest decision.

Schools argue that these tablets or other technological devices are a cost burden on the school district since they have to pay and maintain a higher bandwidth cost, in addition to the initial cost of purchasing the tablets.“Implementation costs for e-textbooks on iPad tablets are 552% higher than new print textbooks in an average high school, and the annual cost per student per class with tablets is $71.55 vs. $14.26 for print textbooks” (“Should Tablets Replace Textbooks in K-12 Schools?” 3). This comparison demonstrates that schools are paying more per student out of the tax based budget. For schools with weak support from the government or community, it becomes challenging for them to maintain a balanced budget.

Imagine what giving a school full of middle schoolers tablets or laptops would be like. How many of them would just play games instead of doing work? Countless people believe that replacing textbooks with tablets or small computers is the future of education, despite all the negative aspects of the idea. According to the article, “Should Tablets Replace textbooks in K-12 Schools?” by procon.org, “There are many different companies that manufacture tablets, and most contract with one specific e-book seller. This means that some textbooks may not be sold across all tablets.” Doing away with textbooks has several other problems as well. The negative sides of replacing textbooks with tablets or laptops outweigh

Tablets are becoming a big hit in the industry nowadays. A tablet pc is a device that is like a hand held computer. Tablets have a touch screen function or a pen-enabled interface. Tablet application also entertains the users like playing games, photography, video taking, music and many more. Because the tablet has many functions, it would be a great help in school and at work. This device will act as a substitute to the required needs of a student in school. Tables application that are related to the school subject that is being teach, ebooks or electronic books can replace the heavy books and make distribution of assignments and handouts more faster. As I read in Weber’s book “In Cheap We Trust”, in her eighth

Electronic textbooks are more portable and convenient as they can be accessed by a tablet, downloaded onto a computer or accessed via the internet. The technological benefits available on an electronic textbook are endless. The audio and video capabilities will liven up learning and change the way students understand and retain the material. The emergence of three-dimensional technology may also play a role in the near future. In addition, digital textbooks are much more user friendly. Studying for tests will be more efficient as highlighted notes can be easily transferred into electronic note cards for memorization. The main downside to electronic textbooks is that students will have to purchase a reading device, tablet, laptop or smartphone in order to view digital textbooks away from home or on the go. Most college students have already made this investment prior to starting college.

To start off, schools need to realize the amount they can save in the long run by utilizing technology and lean away from traditional, old fashioned, hard cover books. When books become outdated and used, schools have to spend endless amounts to replace them. To avoid this, schools can take the initiate and work proactively and replace hard cover books with electronics to avoid unnecessary expenses. An example of this occurred at Empire High School which recently made a switch from textbooks even though, “it wasn’t because of a funding crisis.” (Source A) Empire High School shows just how well technology can work. Not only does technology help in saving necessary funding, it adds a sure convenience factor to the students and teachers by not having to drag around large and expensive textbooks.