Should Tablets Replace Textbooks in K-12 Schools and Higher Education?
Proponents of tablets say that they are supported by most teachers and students, are much lighter than print textbooks, and improve standardized test scores. They say tablets can hold hundreds of textbooks, save the environment by lowering the amount of printing, increase student interactivity and creativity, and that digital textbooks are cheaper than print textbooks (or completely free, Public Domain Textbooks that can be universally accessed online)*.
Opponents of tablets say that they are expensive, too distracting for students, easy to break, and costly/time-consuming to fix. They say that tablets contribute to eyestrain, headaches, and blurred vision, increase the excuses available for students not doing their homework, require costly Wi-Fi networks, and become quickly outdated as new technologies emerge." -ProCon.org
Yes
Side Score: 7
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No
Side Score: 4
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Tech changes. The world those kids will live in will have better tech. Give them experience with it. BUT kindergarten might still be too little. You want to instill a love for books and the way they're structured and the value of reading over simply watching, so they still need actual books for awhile at the earliest ages. Side: Yes
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While I rejoice at the thought of a lighter load for students to have (textbooks are ridiculously heavy), there is more drawback currently than benefit in going to tablets. With tablets you are reliant on an internet connection (not all families can afford it), not all families can afford the rental fee for the tablet, if you don't have sufficient power to the tablet you can't access the information, and they are very easy to lose or break. If you drop a book you don't have to worry about a cracked screen or go through the possibly lengthy process of waiting to get a new one which denies them the ability to study. Side: No
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