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Belle Bellmyer

Professor Collins

ENGL 1301

9 February 2017

Tablets Vs Textbooks In Schools

The use of Tablets vs Textbooks has become a controversial topic that shows crucial

importance on how students will learn in the classroom depending on which schools choose. In

2014, Suarez Guerrero, an assistant professor in Spain, stated in an article titled Teachers

Perceptions Of The Digital Transformation Of The Classroom Through The Use Of Tablets, that

personal devices have become more common at home in everyday life. Because of this, the

debate of whether schools should switch from print textbooks to digital textbook on tablets has

been a popular discussion (Guerrero). In 2016, ProCon.org wrote in an article titled Should

Tablets Replace Textbooks in K-12 Schools? that states Proponents of tablets say that they are

supported by most teachers and students, are much lighter than print textbooks and improve

standardized test scores. This group states that tablets hold all the material needed in one

element, which helps eliminate paper waste. Despite this argument, opponents of tablets worry

that tablets are too costly, susceptible to breakage, and expensive to fix when broken. They also

argue that tablets can result in eye problems, headaches, and require expensive accessories

(ProCon.org). People who oppose tablets mention that tablets can become quickly outdated with

the need to repurchase new devices (ProCon.org). Tablets vs Textbooks has become an important

debate among educators because tablets and textbooks are the essential learning tools for

students and the students success depends on the decision of which tool to use.
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People who support tablets agree that they can improve the classroom environment, and

aid in the students learning ability. Guerrero similarly claims that the use of tablets in schools can

significantly widen the students learning ability (Teachers Perceptions). This means that with

careful thought, planning, and collaboration of material and lesson plans, tablets can introduce

students to deeper understanding of the content (Guerrero). Teachers need the students to

understand and comprehend information quickly, and tablets can help the teachers achieve this

because tablets allow students to complete activities and interact with the presentation that is

presented. According to ProCon.orgs website, instruction that implements and utilizes

technology can lessen the time students understand and reach objectives (ProCon.org). With the

use of tablets and technology in lectures, teachers can move through lesson plans at a faster rate

as tablets keep the students engaged resulting in better understanding. These points are why

tablet supporters want to replace textbooks with tablets, as they improve the classroom setting,

and the students learning ability in many ways.

Supporters of tablets argue that tablets are far more light weight compared to print

textbooks. They allow students to carry one device storing all necessary textbooks required for

their classes. They all agree that Tablets can hold hundreds of textbooks on one device, plus

homework, quizzes and other files, eliminating the need for physical storage of book and

classroom materials,(ProCon.org). The average tablet contains anywhere from 8 to 64

gigabytes (GB) of storage space. On the Amazon Kindle Fire, for instance, 1,000 books take up

one GB of space. (ProCon.org). If tablets become popular in K-12 schools, it will eliminate the

need for students to carry multiple textbooks. Supplying print textbooks causes the students

backpacks to increase in weight, but supplying tablets for the students to carry eliminates this

issue. It also allows students to carry one lightweight device for all classes which results in fewer
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back related injuries due to heavy over loaded backpacks. The lightweight feature of tablets

plays an important role to why tablets should be considered and introduced into schools.

People who oppose tablets consider that they have more potential to theft than print

textbooks. In San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles, robberies related to internet-enabled

handheld devices (including tablets) have accounted for 50,40, and 25 percent respectively of all

robberies in 2012. More than thirty billion dollars, in 2012, has been spent by Americans due to

the loss of tablets and handheld devices because of robberies and theft (ProCon.org). People use

tablets for more than textbooks and educational purposes. Most are commonly used for social

media, organization, games, personal research, and much more. This causes high demand and

value of owning a tablet resulting in a higher potential to theft. The high prices of the tablets can

equally make for a costly replacement if theft should occur. The Potential threat of tablet theft is

an important contributing idea to consider when implementing tablets in schools, and a

significant reason to consider keeping print textbooks in schools.

Supporters of textbooks argue that students can comprehend, learn, and remember more

when reading from a print textbook compared to when reading from digital text. ProCon.org

found research that has shown that students read digital text at a slower rate than print text. The

human brain translates material differently depending on the type of content and the design of the

display (ProCon.org). Implementing tablets into classrooms becomes obsolete if the material the

students read is not comprehended. Guerrero believes that Although the use of tablets in the

educational context enhances the learning experience, it does not necessarily lead to

improvements in performance. (Teachers Perceptions).Which means, the entire purpose of

students attending school is to retain the information that is given, and If tablets do not aid in the

improvements of students success then it defeats the purpose to introduce them to schools.
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Proponents of textbooks believe textbooks allow the students to read faster, retain more

information, have a deeper understanding than when read from a tablet. They strongly believe

textbooks may be a better option.

The decision of whether to implement either textbooks or tablets in schools has become a

popular discussion. Supporters of Tablets claim that tablets can aid in the effectiveness and

quality of students learning capability. This group also contends that tablets have an almost

unlimited amount of storage which is crucially important, as students are required to have several

books on hand. Supporters of textbooks argue that the high value of tablets cause a higher

potential to theft than print textbooks. These same advocates of textbooks dispute that students

can better understand and recall material when read from print text. Proponents and opponents of

tablets can never agree because both sides of the argument mention important topics that greatly

impact students and their ability to learn and retain information at a faster rate. Another reason

each side cannot agree is because both tablets and textbooks impact the teachers method of

instruction and may improve or dis-improve the classroom environment.

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Works Cited

ProCon.org. "Tablets vs. Textbooks ProCon.org." ProCon.org. 7 Feb. 2017, 1:24 p.m., tablets-

textbooks.procon.org/ Accessed March 21 2017.

Surez-Guerrero, Cristbal, et al. "Teachers' Perceptions of the Digital Transformation of the

Classroom through the Use of Tablets: A Study in Spain." ["Percepcin docente sobre la

transformacin digital del aula a travs de tabletas: un estudio en el contexto espaol"].

Comunicar, vol. 24, no. 49, 10/1/2016, pp. 81-89. EBSCOhost, doi:10.3916/C49-2016-

08. Accessed 21 March 2017.