Kaylee Rucker College Composition and Research Argumentative Essay December 5, 2016
Technology Over Textbooks
A student goes through his high school career and excels. This student is great at paper work and is confident in his abilities. However, this student has not been trained in how to use technology to his advantage for school work or what he wants to do post-high school. This student will not be able to compete at the college of his choice or in his job field. Today's world revolves around technology. Laptops in schools are essential because they can save the school money, prepare students for a technological future, and can optimize student’s learning.
The cost of laptops, although not cheap, is still less than the cost of other materials used in schools that the laptops would take the place of. The opposition says that laptops are expensive and would not be cost efficient. That, however, is invalid because think of all the materials that are used in schools daily and must be rebought frequently for different reasons. There are consumables such as paper, ink, pens, pencils, paperclips, staplers, and many other little objects that are bought in masses and used quickly. Not only are these materials costly but they are also worse for the environment. Then there are textbooks which alone can be quite costly. Not only are textbooks expensive to purchase but schools have to buy new ones frequently because the information in them becomes outdated quickly. E-textbooks cost much less than the paper copies do. According to a research project published in Education Weekly newspaper, “...a 500-student school can save between $35 and $250 per student per year by switching to digital textbooks” (qtd. in Tomassini et al. par. 13). Another alternative that teachers could use to save money is to purchase just the sections of textbooks that they actually use which is even less expensive. Teachers can also access many lessons and information online for free. The biggest positive about using online information to teach lessons in class is that teachers will always have the most up to date information in their hands.
Although the internet holds some unreliable information, if taught how to use the internet correctly, students will be able to optimize their learning and have all the most up-to-date information in their hands. Textbooks become outdated and don’t always have the most up-to-date information in them. History is uncovered all the time, and new events happen daily. There are many important events that occur in a student’s lifetime that he/she should learn about, but he/she does not have access to the information in a textbook. This is where having laptops instead of textbooks and paper would be a big help. Teachers would be able to access any information they wanted on the internet and would be able to share that information with the students. Giving students the best education that they can get starts with giving students the best tools that they can have. The best information is the most up-to-date information. The Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation (BCSC) located in Columbus, Indiana, said, “They [BCSC] were seeking a series that would meet the various needs of students, who had already complained that social studies textbooks were heavy, boring, and outdated, and that they even were missing information” (qtd. in Nelson et al. par. 3). They then found out that the Indiana Board of Education was considering technological alternatives in schools to solve these problems (Nelson par. 4). In a struggle for BCSC to find solid information for students, Kappen Magazine explained, “Since no textbook series met all their [BCSC] criteria, the selection committee established a two-part design to guide lesson development and delivery through digital resources” (qtd. in Nelson et al. par. 6). This also opens many doors to how a teacher can teach his/her students. The internet is a great tool that should be utilized in schools for the betterment of the student’s educations.
Using technology on a day-to-day basis is extremely beneficial to student’s futures as it prepares them for a future immersed in technology; although the opposition might say these students lose the ability to do basic work on paper. The thought that students will lose basic abilities is not entirely true. “The majority of teachers (89.6%, n = 575) reported that digital technology provided some sort of significant benefit in their teaching” (qtd. in Perrotta et al. par. 19). Students tend to flourish when technology is the main source of their instruction. Technology intrigues students and makes them more interested in learning. Teachers should allow students to take advantage of the technology available to them today because that is what they will be using for the rest of their lives. Not preparing students for the technological world that they live in is unfair to them. Technology continues to evolve by the minute. The internet is one amazing tool that should be used to the advantage of students and teachers. There have been many good results in using technology in schools instead of textbooks and paper. Technology should be used in schools because they are cost effective, create higher learning, and prepare students for their futures.
Works Cited Tomassini, Jason. “Educators Weigh E-Textbook Cost Comparisons.” Education Week, vol. 31, no. 30, 9 May 2012, pp. 1–19. Academic Search Elite, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=afh&AN=75173209&site=ehost-live.
Nelson, Loui Lord et al. “Trading Textbook for Technology.” Phi Delta Kappan, vol. 92, no. 7, Apr. 2011, pp. 46–50. Academic Search Elite, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=afh&AN=59813414&site=ehost-live.
Dillon, Naomi. “The e-Volving Textbook.” American School Board Journal, vol. 195, no. 7, July 2008, pp. 20–23. Academic Search Elite, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=afh&AN=32651150&site=ehost-live.