Textbooks Vs Technology

The use of tablets, or any technology, taking over from textbooks and teachers seems to be becoming a very popular subject within schools and colleges, especially as a key part of teacher training is now Technology for Learning, but it’s also a difficult subject to find one opinion on.

Some people love technology within their learning, and finds that it makes learning easier and more enjoyable, especially for people with learning disabilities, as dyslexia is easily overcome with a green screen on a tablet which eases the distortion for the person. However, other people hate technology within a learning environment, as the resources should be provided by the teacher, rather than the internet, otherwise what’s the point in leaving the house and even going to school or college.

There are many pros and cons for each side, however, what is better; tablets or textbooks?

An automatic con of technology use instead of textbooks is the health problems associated with it, as tablets contribute to Computer Vision Syndrome, which involves eyestrain, headaches, blurred vision, neck and shoulder pain, and repetitive strain on the muscles. People look into schools and colleges often, finding ways to improve the environment, especially for health; they change school lunches to make them healthier, so why should technology not be removed, when it’s a health risk?

However, a tablet is a lot lighter than a textbook, and it can be argued that once a pupil is carrying all the textbooks needed for their subjects, they are more likely to experience back injuries, or shoulder injuries, from having to carry everything needed for their education. Furthermore, tablets can hold hundreds of textbooks, homework and other files all on the one device, eliminating the need for the physical storage of books, either at home or in the classroom.

However technology comes with a number of drawbacks; they can be expensive to buy, and so increase the digital divide, as richer schools can afford to implement e-textbooks onto tablets, while poorer schools districts can’t. Then, replacing or repairing can be expensive and time-consuming, as technology is more likely to be stolen over a textbook, and if the thief can’t be found then the individual will have to rebuy the tablet, and any programmes they had bought and put on their tablet, such as Microsoft Office. Then, if the tablet is broken, it requires an experienced technician to fix, which also can be costly, and time-consuming, as it can take from 2 weeks to a month to be fixed, which leads to missed learning time, as the tablet will be unusable. Whereas, a textbook can usually be repaired with tape, or even rebought from a store, at a quicker rate than a technician fixing a tablet.

E-textbooks cost, on average, 50-60% less than print textbooks, saving schools a lot of money which can later be spent elsewhere, and the access to the internet leads to teachers being able to share their students into collaborative learning sites, such as Google Drive, which lowers the amount of handouts that needs to be printed, saving both money, and the environment, when it comes to using less paper.

On the other hand, manufacturing tablets is environmentally destructive, as it requires the extraction of 33 pounds of minerals, 79 gallons of water, and 100 kilowatt hours of fossil fuels resulting in 66 pounds of carbon dioxide, whereas printing textbooks produces far less greenhouse gases, as it only takes 2 gallons of water and two kilowatt hours to form sheets of paper. In addition to this, the constant need to charge a tablet increase electricity demands on homes and the schools, as well as the need for new electrical outlets, which is both costly, and bad for the environment.

Overall, the negatives of technology within schools and other learning environments outweigh the positives, making it questionable if technology within schools is really an advancement, when all it really leads to is distractions within the classroom, such as games and social media sites, and increases the likelihood of cheating on tests, when the tablet allows the answers to be in front of you quickly and easily. Technology can never replace a passionate teacher, who understands what a student needs to be able to progress and further improve on their own skills.