Schools using tablets instead of books

[Erik]

I see the place for both...

But for situations where the content is very important for retention, I'd sooner have a book. For some reason, I just don't retain what I read on screen the same way as I do when I read it in a book.

Plus, especially for young kids... tablets are costly, and kids are often clumsy, heedless, or irresponsible with items given them by their school (doubly so if the child dislikes school). While it may cost only £10 to replace a commonly used book from the reading list, or £20-50 to replace a primary school textbook, to replace a broken tablet is usually over £150, often far more.
Texts can be used over and over again for years, even decades (I remember some of the books I was using as a kid were published/printed 20 or more years before I got my hands on them), but a tablet only has a relatively short span of useful life before it no longer has the memory or processor speed to run recent programs. It also costs a lot more to repair a tablet than it does a book... clear sellotape is cheap, a brand new screen to replace a cracked one is costly!

And the argument that books are too heavy for kids to drag around really holds zero credit with me. If today's kids are so unfit that they can't carry a backpack full of texts, than they need to skip some screen time and go outside and exercise! Kids always managed carrying texts to and from school before now.. I had between 5 and 7 most of the time, and I was born with back problems. I find it tough to believe that non-disabled kids are now so physically debilitated that they can't do something a disabled kid found easy enough to do 40 years ago. Just because something causes mild effort or discomfort does not mean it is bad. We should not be trying to shelter kids from everything remotely difficult.

[EmperorOfBooks]

Tablets are always a plus when textbooks are limited. Although I prefer reading off of a textbook, I'll have to settle for whatever is being used.

[Amagine]

I think that it should be optional for students to use tablets if they want. I don't think they should completely take out books though. Physical books are traditional and we have to ensure that it is still something that exists in later generations. I believe in a hybrid classroom where we embrace new technology but still keep some of our traditional ways as well.

[raeryn]

I think it depends on the budget of the school. Using tablets can be easier, having more options for books and saves on storage and time sometimes. However, personally, I always find using the hardcopy textbook easier and less distracting, though I like the option of a soft copy (especially when it comes to novels; it makes things easier for quoting and bookmarking).

[Chitopogi]

Hannaa_Campbell wrote - I, for one, hate reading off-of tablets, why not stick to good'ol fashioned books? They're cheaper than tablets, so I don't see the need for the change?
Yes indeed. Books are cheaper than a tablet. But imagine how many books you need to buy. And how many trees were cut down just to make those books? I am sure the lack of those trees is causing havoc on our weather, like floods and El Nino phenomenon. And how heavy those textbooks are? Just imagine lugging around a large heavy bag? Many postural problems were caused by these heavy school bags. In the end it would be far cheaper and more convenient to use tablets for school than it is to buy the books.

[ifeoma obike]

Books will be much better for kids than tablets mainly because of the fact that kids will be easily distracted with tablets and that will be hard for teachers to manage. A child will be more focused on his studies with books than tablets. Books are much cheaper and easy to manage than tablets; kids are naturally careless and clumsy, so it will difficult for them to manage tablets and much more for parents to keep up with the expenses of buying and repairing. The bottom line is that a huge number of kids will be out of school if it is "strictly tablets", because of the costs and maintenance. What will our society turn into with a huge percentage of our future generation uneducated?

[lilytepait]

It's a good choice, but its not good for kids.
why not just stick to books, be educated like normal students must be.
and admit it, its unfair.

[Azeline Arcenal]

I think tablets would be a better idea because textbooks are pretty heavy to carry around. I think it would also be a cheaper alternative as well. Textbooks are often worth around $100-$200 while a cheap but good tablet would be around $300. In college, it is often cheaper to get the ebook instead of buying the actual book.

[Naval Aulakh]

I think that students should not use tablet instead of printed books. Tablets can harm their eyes whereas, printed books do not cause any harm and they are much easy to read.

[DarleneCabrera]

Its very convenient to use tablets since they can store alot of books ou it. But I'd love for schools to juat stick to actual book reading.

[Daris]

Books are better, the tablets can be use to added to optI miss the books

[jennyd2003]

I like the idea of using tablets in school. I think it should be limited though and not always used. There still is something to be said about holding a real book in your hands, turning the pages, and being able to feel it. Also too much screen time is already causing some to not be able to function without a screen in front of them. I think they still need some books and also there are some clumsy kids who could end up going through tablets really fast if that was all they used.

This is my opinion anyway.

[Sin24]

I am neither for or against this argument. I think that both books and tablets have their advantages and their disadvantages

[violet-trey19]

My opinion is good books.

[Papercup]

I wouldn't want to go to school and stare at the screen all day long. I like reading e-books but its only for leisure.