The War Between Tablets and Textbooks

     It's possible this will always be a great controversy: should children use tablets and computers to boost their learning processes or is it best that they stick to the books to get their education? A new article from the NY Times discusses this very topic from the viewpoints of teachers in elementary, high school and even college professors.

     The argument continues to go both ways because some teachers who are new to the game and are used to the new technology, are used to using tablets and laptops in a classroom setting, so they may not have a problem using these tools to teach. Veteran teachers, however, aren't likely to take to tablets for teaching because they're used to using a textbook and being able to actually look at and participate with their students. From the article "No Child Left Untableted," one teacher spoke up saying that he was "technologically retarded," which may not be the case for most, but a lot of teachers and elder professionals are not used to using such advanced technology. However, Joel Klein--chief executive of Amplify--says that, “K-12 isn’t working,”...“and we have to change the way we do it.” 

     Isn't there a better way to change it, though? I would have to agree with the teachers who think that using tablets to learn is destructive and unnecessary, but most people think they're best because of their convenience. Likewise, there's the cost to consider. It seems to me that buying a tablet for every student would cost just as much as their textbooks. The argument here is...textbooks weigh much more and they take up more room; with a tablet, books can be bought directly on the tablet and multiples can be stored there for easy use. Is it worth it, then, if the students are likely to be distracted while in class?

     I believe that attending a laptop enabled University has aided in my opinion on this subject. Too many times I've sat in class either watching my neighbor shop online, check their e-mail or just mindlessly browse their FB page...all of which are distracting to both of us. And, yes, I've lost the fight to resist my own urge to play around online while in class, so I've taken to only opening my computer when necessary. All this to say: if college kids, who are paying thousands of dollars for their education don't pay attention due to technology, how are children who don't pay for their education and are handed a "free" device supposed to focus on their own learning? 

     The battle between Tablet and Textbooks has been and will continue to be a topic of discussion in regards to today's education. The only questions are: who will win and how long will it take to decide that winner?