Recent technologies have caused many school districts to shift their focus from the traditional methods of learning to integrating the use of tablets. However, the issue of tablets replacing textbooks in schools has become a controversial topic. The opponents argue that tablets present obstacles to real learning. Yet, tablets enrich the classroom education and present unique learning opportunities.
First, in the classroom environment, the tablet is not a toy but a tool to enhance learning. The abiding by this statement would allow the full benefits of this technology to be personified through the students by their attitude and interest. The tighter schedules and the increasing lesson plans have made time a very important aspect in the classroom. Classroom preparation can be aided by the tablet pen and ink technology together with the digital-ink embedded program (Gerard et al. 14). The templates provided by the tablets also ensure the effective class room planning. Tablets would play a key role in lengthening the time taken by the teachers to schedule and plan their classrooms. Students always look forward for hands-on learning with pieces of technology such as the tablet. The initiation to learn rests in the shoulders of the students when they have the controls in their own hands. Tablets increase motivation and the level of enthusiasm in the classroom.
Second, tablets play a key role in ensuring active learning in the classroom (Gerard et al. 5). Active learning is related to what activities the students engage in during class time to engage their own learning. A teacher can easily leverage on the tablet technology to ensure an active learning process. For instance, students can easily locate and use resources, such as e-books, which would be beneficial to the class. This would be promoting self-directed learning among the students. Instructors play a key role in the experiential process of learning. They can engage the students in discussing a certain topic or educational images found in the tablets. Educational games like scrabble, found in these tablets, can also promote active learning. Tablets can engage a number of teaching strategies and ensure the engagement of students in the learning process. Visuals displayed in the tablets, for example, can provide an excellent opportunity to interact with the students. For instance, the various picture puzzles found in the tablets can be a way to ensure that students are engaged in class when they are involved in completing them.
In addition, the use of tablets would enhance positive attitudes among the students given how they enrich the learning process and how fun learning can be with their use. According to (Dundan & Murat, 7), the availability, display quality and the ergonomics of the tablet have positive effects on the students. The positive attitudes of the students go a long way in helping a child to learn effectively.. It has also been noted that students can learn more comfortably with tablets than textbooks given that they can be rotated horizontally and vertically, and the font of the text can be adjusted (Dundan & Murat, 7). Tablets have also been attributed to improved class performance due to the continuous feedback from the teachers (Enriquez, 9). Tablets offer a variety of learning methods hence it has offered a more unique approach.
Whereas some people may have a valid argument that the access to internet can be a cause of distraction to the students and that the technology expense is outrageous, there are ways and methods of addressing these issues. Teachers often battle with the challenge of keeping the students focused during class time. It is true that technology is a distraction, but the school administration can take measures to ensure that the sites that can easily cause distractions are blocked. While schools normally provide the tablets, they are an expense that may prove too costly for some people. Creative fund raising drives can be used to raise money that can be utilized in the buying of these technological gadgets. Tablets also last the children their school lifetime and hence they can prove very valuable means of learning rather than the continuous purchases of text books. With the addressing of such obstacles such as distractions, security and the high costs, tablets, when used properly, could go a long way in helping students increase their level of enthusiasm and attitudes, and help them achieve better performances in school and in test scores.
Finally, technology is easily becoming a way of life as it emerges into all aspects of people’s lives. Through taking the necessary precautions, tablets can be used as effective learning tools without worrying about the distractions they may cause, security of data or the high costs of acquiring them. The effectiveness of tablets in classroom environments can be evidenced by the higher performance of students in test scores, and increased motivation and enthusiasm in the learning process. As a result, tablets should be incorporated in learning environments to ensure the improvement of education.
Works Cited
Enriquez, Amelito G. "Enhancing Student Performance Using Tablet Computers." College Teaching 58.3 (2010): 77-84. Teacher Reference Center.Web. 5 Nov. 2014.
Gerard, Joseph G., Melissa J. Knott, and Reena E. Lederman."Three Examples Using Tablet Technology In An Active Learning Classroom: Strategies For Active Learning Course Design Using Tablet Technology." Global Education Journal 2012.4 (2012): 91-114. Education Research Complete.Web. 5 Nov. 2014.
Dundar, Hakan, and Murat Akcayir."Tablet Vs. Paper: The Effect On Learners' Reading Performance." International Electronic Journal Of Elementary Education4.3 (2012): 441-450. Education Research Complete.Web. 5 Nov. 2014.
