The future of education — books or computers

Who needs these heavy and inconvenient textbooks when we have light and fast electronic books, tablets and notebooks? Practice says otherwise, many schools don’t refuse printed versions in favor of electronic ones. Let’s see the benefits and disadvantages of both variants.

First of all, it will be difficult to implement new technologies everywhere and exchange all existing books for electronic books. Many European countries have already had this experience; they’ve supplied the students with tablets so that they don’t carry a pack of books to school every day. This way gives more benefits as computer’s memory is able to store lots of books and track the needed one faster than the fastest librarian in the world. Students get a possibility to learn via reading, watching and listening at once. What is more, electronic books can be updated by default; thus, pupils will always get the latest and the most accurate information.

Nevertheless, lots of teachers prefer conservative method. They argue when kids forget the book at home. How don’t they understand that it is impossible to hold six or seven books for each subject in the backpack?! They claim computer screen are bad for vision. I absolutely disagree, modern screens don’t harm eye retina. Children may use eye drops and protect their eyes from irritation. Maybe, they take electricity bills into account. That can be a books’ benefit, they are absolutely cheaper this way.

However, there is some magic in opening a book. Who has read it before? There can be some helpful marks and signs in it. Several times I’ve met already done exercises. That was pleasant, I can’t lie.

To sum up, I think that printed books must give up under the condition every school will afford enough gadgets for the students. At least, there should be additional pack of books that pupils may leave at school not to damage their backs and spines daily.