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Should tablets replace textbooks? Should tablets replace textbooks?
Yes, tablets should replace textbooks. Yes, tablets should replace textbooks.
No, tablets should not replace textbooks. No, tablets should not replace textbooks.
Tablets should be considered an optional alternative Tablets should be considered an optional alternative
Learning on tablets is better for the environment Learning on tablets is better for the environment
Learning on tablets is more effective Learning on tablets is more effective
Tablets make classes more flexible and interesting Tablets make classes more flexible and interesting
Using tablets will reduce the weight of students’ backpacks Using tablets will reduce the weight of students’ backpacks
Tablets and electronic textbooks are more affordable Tablets and electronic textbooks are more affordable
Tablets have more updated information Tablets have more updated information
Tablets can make students easily distracted Tablets can make students easily distracted
Tablets are still expensive and not accessible to every student Tablets are still expensive and not accessible to every student
Tablets cause digital eyestrain Tablets cause digital eyestrain
Students should be allowed to choose their preferred learning style Students should be allowed to choose their preferred learning style
Tablets should not be made mandatory for classroom learning Tablets should not be made mandatory for classroom learning
Debate Mini Map

Should tablets replace textbooks?
Back to question

Yes, tablets should replace textbooks.

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Using tablets will reduce the weight of students’ backpacks

One tablet can hold all the textbooks for different subjects.
Mark Zadvinskis
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The Argument

A single tablet can hold several textbooks. By replacing textbooks with tablets, the likelihood of backpack-related injuries among children will decrease. On average, the weight of a student's backpack is between 12 and 20 pounds (15% to 30% of a student's body mass).[1] In 2016, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) claimed that more than 6,300 children aged 5 to 18 years old were sent to emergency rooms to address backpack-related injuries.[2] The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons advises parents to assist their children in preventing neck, back, and shoulder pain by limiting the amount of items in their backpacks. [2] Since the average weight of a tablet is only 1.75 pounds,[3] adding a tablet to a student's backpack will not increase its weight drastically. In addition to textbooks, tablets can also store countless files such as tests, quizzes, and homework. Students, therefore, will have less physical papers to carry, thereby decreasing the weight of their backpacks even further.

Counter arguments

The average tablet might weigh around 1.75 pounds, but this does not factor in the tablet's additional accessories, such as chargers, USB cables, keyboards, and carrying cases. Additionally, there are books that do not offer digital versions/copies for tablets, which makes tablets a less suitable choice for many schools and students.

Proponents

Premises

Rejecting the premises

References

  1. <https://isminc.com/advisory/publications/the-source/stuffed-backpacks-how-much-weight-is-too-much#:~:text=The%20average%20backpack%20is%20estimated,in%20the%20neck%20and%20shoulders.>
  2. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/back-to-school-smart-tips-to-ease-the-load-of-kids-backpacks-300502257.html
  3. <https://www.ict-pulse.com/2011/06/laptops-versus-tablets-which-one-is-better/>
This page was last edited on Wednesday, 15 Jul 2020 at 05:24 UTC

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