Popular
The Advantage of Tablets Over Textbooks
Textbook publishing and tablets are both multi-billion-dollar industries in the United States.
Today, tablets are utilized by more than half of American adults and the majority of American youngsters between the ages of 8 and 17. As the popularity of tablets rises, many schools are contemplating whether to make the move from using textbooks to utilizing tablets in the classroom, along with bringing One-to-One programs (one device per student usage) into their districts.
Tablets provide significant advantages over textbooks, but could tablets replace textbooks altogether? Many instructors and students feel the answer is yes.
What Are 1:1 Programs?
A 1:1 scheme allows every student to have a tablet. Many districts are noticing the benefits that tablets may give their children, and want to begin adopting 1:1 programs for various grade levels.
These projects are about more than employing iPads in classrooms. In some of these programs, kids are permitted to take home tablets. Meanwhile, other 1:1 initiatives also give children high-speed Internet in school and potentially even at home.
Knowing how many of their kids will be able to use their tablets at home is an essential factor for many schools. Many low-income families are unable to equip their children with tablets or buy Wi-Fi for their homes, thus some schools with 1:1 programs are attempting to find options for families unable to afford this technology.
If a school district has not yet established a 1:1 program for students but is contemplating one, administrators and educators should examine potential hurdles, such as Wi-Fi connection — particularly if these tablets will be used outside of the classroom.
HISTORY OF TABLETS VS. TEXTBOOKS
More and more, Americans are utilizing their mobile devices to access the Internet, rather than laptops or desktop PCs. In 2017, more than a hundred million tablets were distributed around the globe. The rising ubiquity of tablet use is seeping into education, with forecasts that the mobile education sector may become a multi-billion-dollar business throughout the world within a few years.
Every year, the number of e-book readers rises. In 2011, Amazon reported that e-books were outselling print books. In 2017, Amazon experienced a download rate of more than a million e-books a day. The digital book industry surge is not restricted to fiction. More than a thousand publishers for grades K-12 and higher education provide digital textbooks. Publishers have swiftly hopped on the bandwagon of digital books because they know many customers love the ease of e-books, particularly when it comes to huge, bulky textbooks that may be onerous to transport. For years, the U.S. Department of Education has been researching opportunities for schools to explore learning via technology.
In 2010, the National Education Technology Plan proposed using students’ mobile devices in the classroom, employing the technology that students already owned. In 2013, the Federal Communications Commission began the ConnectEd initiative under the supervision of President Obama. This initiative aims to give schools and libraries access to high-speed Internet for enhanced digital learning. Additionally, in 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act introduced yearly funds for schools to enhance digital learning.
The grant money may be used to train teachers about digital technology, to give students in under-served regions with useful resources, and to provide financing for projects that are taught partly in the classroom and partially online. Now that high-speed internet connection coverage in K-12 school districts has improved dramatically in recent years, up now to 99%, the discussion concerning tablets vs. textbooks in the classroom has intensified. Though many educators and administrators claim the cost as their major reason for not using tablets in class, K-12 schools spend roughly twice as much on printed materials as digital resources each year. As technology becomes increasingly incorporated into the classroom environment, many educators anticipate paper textbooks will become outdated over the next decade in favor of digital textbooks.
Advantages of Tablets
Many instructors and students are proponents of tablets in the classroom. In fact, some argue that tablets should be replacing textbooks completely. So, why are tablets better than textbooks?
Tablets Are Convenient and Light Weight
One of the major benefits and advantages of tablets in education is convenience. Rather than hauling around numerous hefty textbooks, students may carry all of their digital textbooks in one lightweight tablet. Tablets only weigh a few pounds, yet print textbooks are so hefty, they might cause harm to pupils. On average, students carry more than 15% of their body weight in their bags, which may result in injuries, swelling, and exhaustion. Nearly 8,000 youngsters, aged 5 to 18, had to be treated for backpack-related injuries in 2017. Increased usage of tablets instead of print textbooks might help make students’ bags lighter. Tablets may also carry a student’s homework, quizzes, and other data. This will help pupils remain organized, as they will not have to keep track of different documents, notebooks or folders. School districts and instructors may also save money by reducing the need for these extra instructional supplies. Teachers may also effortlessly download materials from one tablet to another, making the transference of data a fast, straightforward job. Files and digital textbooks may be saved on a server that instructors can access from other devices.
Digital Textbooks Cost Less and Can Be Instantly Updated
Although many opponents of tablets cite the cost as their major reason for resistance, digital textbooks are less costly than print textbooks. While a K-12 paper textbook costs an average of $70, a digital textbook subscription costs an average of just $45 to $55 for six years. Prices are also lowering for both digital textbooks and tablets, making them more reasonable and accessible for users.
Unlike print textbooks, digital textbooks can be updated quickly with fresh content. With print textbooks, schools have to frequently acquire new editions, software, and hardware, while tablets reduce the need for schools to purchase fresh content continually. With instructional tablets for schools, students will no longer have to learn from old, obsolete textbooks, which is particularly vital for fields of study that often change, such as computer science.
Reduce Waste With Tablets
Imagine if schools could fully remove the need for paper assignments and handouts. The tremendous use of paper in schools damages the environment, and it’s a financial strain on school systems. Schools spend a large amount of money on paper, toner, and ink each month, and if you add the pricing of printers and technical assistance, the expenditures are significantly greater.
Tablets Offer Technological Features
Another advantage of adopting tablets in education is the number of technical features, which don’t exist in print textbooks. Textbooks are restricted in what they can supply students beyond words and graphics on a page, whereas tablets provide users with the opportunity to jot notes and highlight without destroying the textbook for the next student. On a tablet, students may search a book or paper for particular phrases or employ a backlight for reading in dark lighting. Tablets also feature a built-in dictionary, so students may simply search for terms they don’t know without having to travel away from the textbook. Tablets also offer films and interactive graphics that help boost a student’s attention, motivation, creativity, and engagement with instructional content.
Advantages for Teachers
Many K-12 instructors feel that tablets may boost the education of their pupils inside the classroom and make their kids more eager to study. Tablets are more engaging for pupils than textbooks, and by extension, learning becomes more interesting. Teachers may tailor student learning by quickly modifying lessons to a student’s learning style.
Advantages for Students
One of the positives of adopting tablets in the classroom is that pupils may be able to study more quicker. Instruction that is technology-based may cut the amount of time it takes pupils to accomplish new learning goals by as much as 80%. They also tend to read more books when offered online. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, a textbook publisher, offered a digital, interactive Algebra 1 textbook to a California school district to assess how students scored after studying with a digital textbook vs how students scored after learning with conventional print textbooks. The findings indicated that of the students who utilized the digital version of the textbook, 78% scored proficient or advanced on California state examinations, whereas only 59% of the students who solely used the conventional textbook scored proficient or advanced. Employing a digital replica of the same Technology usage is rising globally, and exposing pupils to it early in their development will equip them to work with technology in their future employment. Many of the highest-paying careers and fastest-growing industries in America are technology-based. Students that are adept in technology will experience improved work chances in the future.
Are Textbooks Obsolete?
While the trend towards tablets in the classroom and one-on-one programs continues to expand, proponents of textbooks believe tablets are distracting for students, simple to break, and costly to repair. Though the list of reasons why tablets should be utilized in classrooms is vast, not everyone will be readily persuaded that print textbooks should be abandoned totally.
Protect Tablets With Higher Ground Tablet Cases
Educational electronics are an investment in kids’ learning. Maintaining that investment for future courses secures the gadgets with effective and beautiful cases intended for the special pressures of the education industry. For almost 20 years, Higher Ground Gear has produced breakthrough case and sleeve protection technologies that is tough, stylish, and cheap. Find out why it’s time to Move to Higher Ground.
Related Resources
Popular
The Advantage of Tablets Over Textbooks
Textbook publishing and tablets are both multi-billion-dollar industries in the United States.
Today, tablets are utilized by more than half of American adults and the majority of American youngsters between the ages of 8 and 17. As the popularity of tablets rises, many schools are contemplating whether to make the move from using textbooks to utilizing tablets in the classroom, along with bringing One-to-One programs (one device per student usage) into their districts.
Tablets provide significant advantages over textbooks, but could tablets replace textbooks altogether? Many instructors and students feel the answer is yes.
What Are 1:1 Programs?
A 1:1 scheme allows every student to have a tablet. Many districts are noticing the benefits that tablets may give their children, and want to begin adopting 1:1 programs for various grade levels.
These projects are about more than employing iPads in classrooms. In some of these programs, kids are permitted to take home tablets. Meanwhile, other 1:1 initiatives also give children high-speed Internet in school and potentially even at home.
Knowing how many of their kids will be able to use their tablets at home is an essential factor for many schools. Many low-income families are unable to equip their children with tablets or buy Wi-Fi for their homes, thus some schools with 1:1 programs are attempting to find options for families unable to afford this technology.
If a school district has not yet established a 1:1 program for students but is contemplating one, administrators and educators should examine potential hurdles, such as Wi-Fi connection — particularly if these tablets will be used outside of the classroom.
HISTORY OF TABLETS VS. TEXTBOOKS
More and more, Americans are utilizing their mobile devices to access the Internet, rather than laptops or desktop PCs. In 2017, more than a hundred million tablets were distributed around the globe. The rising ubiquity of tablet use is seeping into education, with forecasts that the mobile education sector may become a multi-billion-dollar business throughout the world within a few years.
Every year, the number of e-book readers rises. In 2011, Amazon reported that e-books were outselling print books. In 2017, Amazon experienced a download rate of more than a million e-books a day. The digital book industry surge is not restricted to fiction. More than a thousand publishers for grades K-12 and higher education provide digital textbooks. Publishers have swiftly hopped on the bandwagon of digital books because they know many customers love the ease of e-books, particularly when it comes to huge, bulky textbooks that may be onerous to transport. For years, the U.S. Department of Education has been researching opportunities for schools to explore learning via technology. In 2010, the National Education Technology Plan proposed using students’ mobile devices in the classroom, employing the technology that students already owned.
In 2013, the Federal Communications Commission began the ConnectEd initiative under the supervision of President Obama. This initiative aims to give schools and libraries access to high-speed Internet for enhanced digital learning. Additionally, in 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act introduced yearly funds for schools to enhance digital learning. The grant money may be used to train teachers about digital technology, to give students in under-served regions with useful resources, and to provide financing for projects that are taught partly in the classroom and partially online. Now that high-speed internet connection coverage in K-12 school districts has improved dramatically in recent years, up now to 99%, the discussion concerning tablets vs. textbooks in the classroom has intensified. Though many educators and administrators claim the cost as their major reason for not using tablets in class, K-12 schools spend roughly twice as much on printed materials as digital resources each year. As technology becomes increasingly incorporated into the classroom environment, many educators anticipate paper textbooks will become outdated over the next decade in favor of digital textbooks.
Advantages of Tablets
Many instructors and students are proponents of tablets in the classroom. In fact, some argue that tablets should be replacing textbooks completely. So, why are tablets better than textbooks?
Tablets Are Convenient and Light Weight
One of the major benefits and advantages of tablets in education is convenience. Rather than hauling around numerous hefty textbooks, students may carry all of their digital textbooks in one lightweight tablet. Tablets only weigh a few pounds, yet print textbooks are so hefty, they might cause harm to pupils.
On average, students carry more than 15% of their body weight in their bags, which may result in injuries, swelling, and exhaustion. Nearly 8,000 youngsters, aged 5 to 18, had to be treated for backpack-related injuries in 2017. Increased usage of tablets instead of print textbooks might help make students’ bags lighter. Tablets may also carry a student’s homework, quizzes, and other data. This will help pupils remain organized, as they will not have to keep track of different documents, notebooks or folders. School districts and instructors may also save money by reducing the need for these extra instructional supplies.
Teachers may also effortlessly download materials from one tablet to another, making the transference of data a fast, straightforward job. Files and digital textbooks may be saved on a server that instructors can access from other devices.
Digital Textbooks Cost Less and Can Be Instantly Updated
Although many opponents of tablets cite the cost as their major reason for resistance, digital textbooks are less costly than print textbooks. While a K-12 paper textbook costs an average of $70, a digital textbook subscription costs an average of just $45 to $55 for six years. Prices are also lowering for both digital textbooks and tablets, making them more reasonable and accessible for users.
Unlike print textbooks, digital textbooks can be updated quickly with fresh content. With print textbooks, schools have to frequently acquire new editions, software, and hardware, while tablets reduce the need for schools to purchase fresh content continually. With instructional tablets for schools, students will no longer have to learn from old, obsolete textbooks, which is particularly vital for fields of study that often change, such as computer science.
Reduce Waste With Tablets
Imagine if schools could fully remove the need for paper assignments and handouts. The tremendous use of paper in schools damages the environment, and it’s a financial strain on school systems. Schools spend a large amount of money on paper, toner, and ink each month, and if you add the pricing of printers and technical assistance, the expenditures are significantly greater.
Tablets Offer Technological Features
Another advantage of adopting tablets in education is the number of technical features, which don’t exist in print textbooks. Textbooks are restricted in what they can supply students beyond words and graphics on a page, whereas tablets provide users with the opportunity to jot notes and highlight without destroying the textbook for the next student. On a tablet, students may search a book or paper for particular phrases or employ a backlight for reading in dark lighting. Tablets also feature a built-in dictionary, so students may simply search for terms they don’t know without having to travel away from the textbook. Tablets also offer films and interactive graphics that help boost a student’s attention, motivation, creativity, and engagement with instructional content.
Advantages for Teachers
Many K-12 instructors feel that tablets may boost the education of their pupils inside the classroom and make their kids more eager to study. Tablets are more engaging for pupils than textbooks, and by extension, learning becomes more interesting. Teachers may tailor student learning by quickly modifying lessons to a student’s learning style.
Advantages for Students
One of the positives of adopting tablets in the classroom is that pupils may be able to study more quicker. Instruction that is technology-based may cut the amount of time it takes pupils to accomplish new learning goals by as much as 80%. They also tend to read more books when offered online. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, a textbook publisher, offered a digital, interactive Algebra 1 textbook to a California school district to assess how students scored after studying with a digital textbook vs how students scored after learning with conventional print textbooks. The findings indicated that of the students who utilized the digital version of the textbook, 78% scored proficient or advanced on California state examinations, whereas only 59% of the students who solely used the conventional textbook scored proficient or advanced. Employing a digital replica of the same Technology usage is rising globally, and exposing pupils to it early in their development will equip them to work with technology in their future employment. Many of the highest-paying careers and fastest-growing industries in America are technology-based. Students that are adept in technology will experience improved work chances in the future.
Are Textbooks Obsolete?
While the trend towards tablets in the classroom and one-on-one programs continues to expand, proponents of textbooks believe tablets are distracting for students, simple to break, and costly to repair. Though the list of reasons why tablets should be utilized in classrooms is vast, not everyone will be readily persuaded that print textbooks should be abandoned totally.
Protect Tablets With Higher Ground Tablet Cases
Educational electronics are an investment in kids’ learning. Maintaining that investment for future courses secures the gadgets with effective and beautiful cases intended for the special pressures of the education industry. For almost 20 years, Higher Ground Gear has produced breakthrough case and sleeve protection technologies that are tough, stylish, and cheap. Find out why it’s time to Move to Higher Ground.
Related Resources
