The classroom is one of the few places left that has yet to fully embrace technological innovation. It seems that schools and classrooms are slower than other areas of society to introduce new technologies into daily activities. Yet schools around the world have begun to adapt to the use of one type of new technology: tablets. Blogger Thomas Gibbs, in his article “Changing Education: Why Tablets Are Becoming the New Textbook,” discusses the spread of tablet use in schools across the nation. Tablets have begun to make their way into students’ hands throughout the United States, for the benefit of both the schools and the students themselves.

Students of all ages can benefit from tablet use in the classroom.

Tablets offer a variety of practical uses and ways to make a student’s work at school much more efficient and convenient. These devices have an almost endless amount of uses; they can be notepads, research tools, organizational tools, and most importantly, textbooks. The use of a tablet as a textbook has the potential to change the face of education at universities. With the skyrocketing costs of textbooks in the United States, it is no surprise that many students see tablets overtaking the role of print textbooks. Gibbs cites a study by the Pearson Foundation, which found that 63% of students see tablets replacing textbooks in five years. Yet tablets pose certain issues to schools seeking to integrate them into daily curriculum.

58% of college students prefer digital reading over print reading in the classroom, according to the Pearson Foundation.

A main obstacle for schools is the cost of the average tablet. It is difficult for schools to provide tablets to students due to their high cost. As a result, most schools have not been able to bring tablets to the majority of students. Instead, schools have begun to encourage individual students who do have access to tablets to bring them to class. This strategy may even prove to be cost-effective; e-textbooks often are cheaper than their print counterparts, and greatly reduce the cost of textbooks over the course of a four-year education. This strategy may end up saving the student as much or more than the cost of the original tablet. Currently, however, only students who can afford the cost of tablets receive their benefits.

I fully welcome the introduction of tablets into daily learning in the classroom. They can provide valuable experiences for students at any grade level. Tablets promote greater interaction and engagement from students, and they appeal to the different styles of learning that students may have. Additionally, the potential shift towards e-textbooks and away from print can prove to be beneficial to college students. This method of cutting costs will be positive for more students seeking a less costly college experience. The shift towards tablets and away from traditional education strategies is one that I, along with many other students, look forward to in the future.