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There existed a time when people understood when prehistoric technology had run its course. They welcomed the new technology with open minds because they knew it would make their lives easier, and much improved. Now, some schools are beginning to integrate tablets and similar devices into their teaching systems. This issue has sparked an ongoing debate between those who cling to old-fashioned paper, and those who welcome the digital equipment.
Some critics say this will be the end of the education system because the schools are prematurely trusting this new equipment; forever, they fail to understand that surveyed students and teachers say these new devices bring about a new take on learning, a superior take. Consequently, all schools should upgrade from the primitive, papered world of textbooks, to the highly advanced age of tablets. Admittedly, some opponents of the technology believe all this new technology may be too much for the student’s maturity levels, causing constant technology violations.
Even more so, these detractors believe that these new devices will only make the children more dependent on technology. Conversely, they ail to see, in the schools currently enacting these new initiatives, technology violations decrease considerably within the first few months. Also, they do not understand that everything people use, from toilet paper to mobile transportation, is technology, but these critics?the parents–are not wont to promote a decrease in their child’s dependability on technology such as clothing, or modern medication.
To begin, papered textbooks do not contain as high a caliber of lessons as tablets. In order to contain the highest quality textbooks, a school would need to buy new ones each year, for every course they offer. Even then, the textbooks could not remain completely up-to-date. If the president was shot and died, the textbook they bought three months before, at the beginning at the school year, would not contain that information. Tablets, however, have live streaming stories. Everything, from the death announcement to the catch of the criminal who did it, will be on the web, easy to access. According to the FCC [Federal Communications Commission] the U. S. Spend about $7 billion per year on textbooks, but many of them are seven to ten years out of date” (Rock par. 3). However, “the web has updated information from everything that as happened in the world, to date” (Curran par. 12). Using such an out-of-date textbook in today’s society would be like forgetting that Osama Bin Laden had been killed, or that Korea threatened nearby countries, because, as far as the textbooks are concerned, it has not happened.
Also, according to The Digital Textbook Collaborative, “70% of teachers say [the new technology] helps their students better connect with the topic being taught’ (33). In other words, it’s not the subject being taught, it’s the format it is taught. With instant access to the internet, teachers can use a plethora of inline resources to help all of the students, as well as add to their lessons. Struggling behind all of the other kids is not enjoyable, but teachers may be able to use this new technology to enhance the learning capabilities of the stragglers, and unlock their true potential.
Learning from a tablet, or a similar device, can be easier and quicker. Furthermore, lessons taught on tablets may be used to help increase in-class scores and scores on standardized tests. With this easy access to the internet, students can absorb more and use that extra information on in-class assignments, and denaturized tests. “With thousands of lessons already on the web, teachers can arrange a format to match anything they have to teach” (Wilson 3).
It is believed by some that when a student hears something, reads something, and writes that thing down, they are more able to remember it. “According to U. S. Department of Education… Technology based instruction can reduce the time it take for students to reach a learning objective by 30-80%” (The Digital Textbook Collaborative 9). When the student body takes less time to learn the subject already taught in class, the searchers will have more time to add in extra lessons, such as labs or out-of-school education based filmstrips.
This extra teaching may give the students a better understanding of the more difficult subjects, but it may also give the students more culture, which is also a requisite for many states pushing heavily on foreign language classes. “Online collaboration contributes to increased graduation rates, and other academic improvements” (The Digital Textbook Collaborative 9). Every school has one goal in mind, help the students succeed where the past generation has failed. This genealogy can help improve the responsiveness, and help them help a student meet his/her goal. Pad and tablet taught students score, on average, 35-65% higher on standardized tests” (Curran par. 9). Without forcing the students to remain in a dogged unhappy state, shoving facts down their own throats until the day they graduate, technology can provide an easy way for students to learn and to study. This equipment can help students remain in a punctilious condition, without forcing them into a position of malaise due to intense study sessions. Smarter learning gives greater rewards for the future. Finally, several states have already begun the push toward the technological era by creating new initiatives, and programs.
The powers that be want technology to be. “Amine’s launched the Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MULTI), which adopted a one-to-one laptop initiative for all middle school students in public school in 2002” (The Digital Textbook Collaborative 66). This state wanted to test out how the technology fits into their school systems, and placed the states middle school children in the position of Guiana pigs. After they spent time looking over the results, “The program has expanded to include high school dents… Throughout the state” (The Digital Textbook Collaborative 66).
The state took a big Jump by providing 30 thousand laptops to students that they were not sure could handle it. When people are given more freedoms, they step up to the responsibility opportunity that comes with it. This school is veritable proof that shows students can handle it, when technology is thrown at them. Also, “a sample of ninth grade students who no longer have laptops reported that they get less work done without the laptops, and the quality of their work has declined without the opts” (Silverman and Lane 5).
It may take the students of each school a moment to really fill the shoes of their new responsibility, but they will get the hang of it. These states really know what they are doing by enacting these initiatives. In conclusion, tablets should be implemented into the school systems. They make excellent learning tools, they may help increase students mental productivity, or efficiency, and some states are already headed in that direction. These devices will save natural resources by decreasing the amount of paper printed out, and they will immerse students in