The new generation of smart phones that has flooded the consumer market in recent years has lead to tablets or touch tablets. These lightweight devices have attempted to integrate the best features of a mobile phone and a computer.
Potential educational resource
The first to arrive was the iPad, launched by Apple in 2010 with the promise to revolutionize the leisure market through a device with multiple features.
Let’s focus on describing these devices. It is worth learning what type of technology is used, its functions and its degree of applicability to the classroom as a potential educational resource. It is possible to access online platforms, share opinions, join discussions, forum groups, etc.
Tablets have been imposed as a favorite gadget in the personal computing market. The tablet has somehow become the replacement of many gadgets and objects of daily life, such as magazines, newspapers, the ATM to check your bank balance, PC, or mobile phone. But how valuable are these devices to the education system?
Countries like the United States of America have been filling classrooms with computers. All in all, desktops, laptops, netbooks and tablet PCs have replaced each other in order to offer each student a personal computer to work with at school.
Conversely, in some other countries, the whole process of computerization in schools is still slow and fragmented, and so far, limited. Although there are laptops in the classrooms of many public schools in the nation, they still have a long way to go to adapt as in the U.S., due in part to the lack of coordination in cooperative territorial programs, the number of proposals and projects presented, and the disagreement between the agencies.
Why tablets?
However, the implementation of computer systems in every classroom is a matter of time, and it is somewhat good that it has been delayed, mainly because new systems are taking over. In addition, technology is getting better and cheaper, and there is greater involvement by manufacturers. Thanks to modernization of programs in the educational system computers are being implemented within the classroom.
While there are thousand theories formulated by teachers, experts in the field, psychologists and allied politicians on the feasibility of incorporating these devices in the classroom, plenty of individuals support such technological advances.
Of course, it is worth learning how tablets affect school performance, and like everything else in life, these gadgets have its pros and cons. These tablets are lightweight and consist of many features. On the contrary, heavy laptops cause unsuitable pain for children and this can lead to bone and muscle development problems. Tablets’ features are just impressive. This is the ideal companion for every student, being lightweight and compact.
In addition, heavy textbooks can be replaced by e-books that can be read easily from the device, without suffering the terrible degradation to which they are subjected during the year.
Did you know?
It is noteworthy that tablets are somehow eco-friendly. Manufacturers are considering green solutions. They are looking onto ecological materials and manufacturing processes, are turning to be “green”, and although it sounds contradictory, the greater use of these electronic devices leads to reduction in paper books and notebooks.
