Discussion On Whether Tablets Should Replace Textbooks
“Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master” – Christian Lous Lange. A tablet is a portable device that comes in the form of a touchscreen without a keyboard and offers much the same functionality as a personal computer. It gives access to multiple content like e-mail, web browsing, apps, calendar, photos, videos, games and much more. On the other hand, a book is a sum of papers forming a unit. As an intellectual object, books were used from early years till now. In the actual learning field, textbooks and tablets are fighting against each other. Should textbooks remain, or should they be replaced by tablets?
Well, tablets should replace textbooks because they enhance classroom learning and decrease the amount of pollution. But, tablets have many cons: they cause many health problems, and they shift the student’s attention from teacher to technology. First, tablets enhance classroom learning. They increase the student’s motivation to learn by facilitating participation. Students can now learn about a specific topic with a game on the tablet. Derting and Cox (2008) state that tablets have positive effects on the students’ performance. They found that tablets affected student’s education positively in an organic chemistry session by enhancing the learning environment. Also, students showed greater response to the topic.
Moreover, tablet PCs decrease the amount of pollution. Tablets can let us go paperless. Because of its strong storage, a tablet can hold a lot of books in “. pdf” mode. In that way, we reduce paper usage, and we save the environment. According to the NYC Government, every person in a school (student, teacher, or staff) uses about 28 pounds of paper annually, which is equal to 2800 A4-sized sheets. Imagine how tablets will let us live in an eco-friendly environment. Otherwise, tablets usage in the education field have many negative consequences; First, these electronic devices cause many health problems. One of these problems is the Computer Vision Syndrome. This syndrome results from extended observation of digital screens. Symptoms linked to this syndrome are blurred vision, eyestrain, and headaches. Tablets also emit electromagnetic radiations. These radiations can impair brain activity and child development. A study made in Finland on 436 children found that daily electronics use of more than two hours increased the pain in the head for 20 % of the children.
Finally, tablets shift the student’s attention from teacher to technology. These electronic devices can distract students: they may use entertaining apps and games instead of listening to the teacher. A new study in Quebec suggests that one-third of Quebec students admitted to playing games on their tablets during school time. As well, tablets give students the chance to learn independently without getting help from the teacher. For example, E-books contain funny exercises that interact with the student and give solutions instantly. In that way, the children will no longer need the teacher’s help.
To conclude, tablets should not replace textbooks totally, and they should take a little part of the student’s journey. They are useful because they enhance classroom learning and decrease the amount of pollution. But, at the same time, students should stick to activities that reinforce their communication and interaction with each other, rather than dealing with digital material.
