Issue 3

Nichole Scheutzow
Researching Current Issues in Instructional Technology

The laptops for textbooks proposal is an important issue in our constantly

advancing technological society today, and should be given serious consideration. With
the use of technology growing and ever changing in education and the workplace, it
would be a benefit to Elementary students to provide them with the materials and tools
to be successful and competitive from a young age.
Although replacing textbooks with laptops is a controversial issue, it is important
to examine both the advantages and disadvantages of this proposal to make the best
decision for students. Some of the key issues that need to be examined are cost,
accessibility, equipment, and benefits to students and instruction. Our children live in a
different world, says Sheryl Abshire, the chief technology officer for Louisianas
Calcasieu Parish Schools. Were going to have to step up smartly to meet their needs
or we are going to be irrelevant to them, and I dont think that public education can
afford to be irrelevant to our prime customers. (Hill, 2010)
To support online learning, textbook publishers offer learning platforms that are
easy to access with a laptop. Publishers such as Pearson, McGraw Hill, Cengage, and
MacMillan offer digital platforms for textbooks that can be accessed via the internet and
provide an interactive learning experience for students. (Riddell, 2013) These online
textbooks offer 3-D animation, videos, audio, assessments, dictionaries, and homework
help for students to access at the click of a button.
Considering the Pros and Cons of this issue is an important step in this process
so an informed decision can be reached. First, lets explore the Cons or Disadvantages
of using online Textbooks with Laptops vs paper Textbooks.
Accessibility and cost are always a concern when it comes to new technology.
Getting the funding to buy the equipment initially is often more expensive than buying a
class set of textbooks. The main problem with going to computerized text is that even
if the cost of providing information in digital form is much cheaper than providing it on
hard copy, the cost of the equipment it takes to access that digital information remains a
significant additional expense. (Conail-Engel, I., 1994) Just purchasing the equipment
is a concern in school districts as the initial start up costs for updated technology are
much more expensive than buying a class set of textbooks. Funding will always be an
issue in education, but it is advantageous to look at the long term benefits.
Often times when integrating new technology into an instructional curriculum,
there are concerns and teacher anxiety about how to effectively use the new materials.
Will the internet work well the day the teacher wants to introduce a new lesson, or will
there be issues with utility and functionality? (Hill, 2010) Training is a key point for
school districts to remember when rolling out new technology. The programs will not be
used to their full potential if educators are not given time to attend training sessions and
ongoing collaboration. This is considered a best practice when integrating new digital
resources to a school district.
Another concern educators have is the issue of equipment delays and the time it
takes to access information on the internet, including turning the device on and off and
any delays that may occur because of software updates or internet inaccessibility.
(Concil - Engil, pg. 251) There will always be a learning curve for students and teachers
when learning new technology, and that takes time to make the necessary adjustments.
An advantage of having hard copy books as opposed to online textbooks is that
they are relatively inexpensive compared to digital media. They do not require
expensive equipment to operate, and they often contain high quality photos and text.
Most books are portable and fairly durable in areas that laptops could not travel. There
are no equipment delays, and they only take as long to search as the user takes at their
own pace. (Tiene & Ingram, pg. 218)
However, if students were each provided with laptops in a 1:1 environment, this
opens up a world of new possibilities. I am very much an advocate of students having
access to technology on a daily basis in the classroom. One of the advantages is
having readily available technology that is more efficient and effective for any topic
search. Any topic a student needs to research is available on the internet.
Computerized search of electronic text allows students to research topics more
efficiently and effectively than was ever possible with hard copy text. (Tiene & Ingram,
pg. 220) This gives them the greatest opportunity to find material in an easier, more
efficient way than searching through a book. Often, books can be outdated quickly and
do not provide any moving visuals or multimedia options.
Access to digital technology keeps students actively engaged in the classroom.
Our students grew up using technology and it allows them to individualize their learning
and meet their needs by supporting differentiation. Online Textbooks provide
supplements such as quizzes, weblinks, dictionaries, and essays to help the learner
who is struggling or challenge the learner who is seeking more information. (Tiene &
Ingram, pg. 222)
Looking ahead into the future, if students learn the technological skills they need
to use in higher education and the job world at a young age, they will have an
advantage over students who have not had access to this information. (Hill, 2010)
Technology use teaches them important professional development skills and preps
students for the future workplace.
Finally, integrating technology into instruction using dynamic audio and visual
materials gets students excited about learning and provides them with motivation and
drive to keep learning. The use of online textbooks and resources keeps educational
materials current with the latest research and current events. I am highly in support of
the laptop initiative and believe that it would be highly beneficial for our students
success.

References

Conail-Engel,I.(1994).Theschooltextbook-Canwenowthrowitaway?Educational
MediaInternational31,4,250-252.

Hill,R.(October1,2010).TurningthePage:DigitalTextbooksarethefuture.School
LibraryJournal.
RetrievedonJune22,2017from:
http://www.slj.com/2010/10/technology/turning-the-page-digital-textbooks-are-the-fut
ure/

Tiene, D. and Ingram, A. L. (2001). Exploring current issues in educational technology:

New York: McGraw-Hill.

Riddell, R. (Jan. 29, 2013.) E-Textbook Providers: Whos publishing and whos selling?
Retrieved on June 22, 2017 from:
http://www.educationdive.com/news/16-e-textbook-providers-whos-publishing-and-whos
-selling/94324/