Advantages of tablets over textbooks

Discover the practical benefits of learning from a tablet rather than a textbook.

You probably don’t keep your contacts in a rolodex or your bills in a filing cabinet anymore, now we’ve become used to storing this mass of information digitally in the palm of our hands. Not only has this made our lives more convenient, but also far more productive. These benefits aren’t just true of all the information we need for work and home life, but also true of the textbooks we use to learn at all stages of our education journey.

While some bibliophiles may struggle to part with the physical page, there are many convincing reasons why students should seriously consider trading in those old school textbooks for the latest tablet, once and for all.

We’re just beginning to see the true burgeoning of interactive classroom learning with the rise of quizzes, polls and real-time testing thanks to platforms such as Kahoot! and Aha Slides. In the university space end-to-end systems such as TopHat can now take attendance, facilitate activities and assign homework. We can expect this trend to continue as the benefits of tech-infused learning continue to develop.

Tablets are not just an intuitive way to participate in interactive settings thanks to their immediate touch screen interfaces, but they can also be geared towards future learning activities, especially models that carry a 5G capability such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 + 5G.

As the rollout of 5G continues across Australia, a 5G tablet device may provide the fast, direct connection needed to take full advantage of cutting-edge digital learning trends such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). A 5G tablet is one of the most powerful portable devices on the market today for students, transforming the static nature of a physical textbook into an engaging and interactive learning tool.

Physically, tablets are designed for improved productivity and multitasking. They’re lightweight, equipped with storage and are extremely portable. Similar considerations have also been ingrained into the most popular tablet operating systems, which feature a range of great functions for students. For example, using split screens means students can read a textbook using half of their tablet screen while watching a related video on the other, or refer to their notes while simultaneously taking an open-book test.

Most operating systems also help to optimise battery use and there are a wide range of apps that can aid focused learning periods such as time management or mindfulness apps. Depending on the model, tablet users may also benefit from using a stylus to quickly write down notes in the margins of their eBooks.

The latest Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, which has created the most precise S Pen yet, that has low latency to write like never beforeThis integration of physical and digital takes the best of traditional and modern and learning styles and combines them into a productive workflow.

Carrying a single device that can store an entire library of books is much more convenient than hauling multiple textbooks from classroom to classroom. A single high school maths textbook alone can weight more than a kilogram, however one of the largest top of the range tablets weighs just shy of 650 grams and can be purchased with over 500GB of storage. As well as bringing all the relevant resources into a learning environment, by digitising physical textbooks, students can also access a long list of related texts that may support further reading.

Transporting textbooks away from school to complete homework is also made much easier on the body when all the resources you need can be condensed into a single device. For junior students, tablets such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 are even lighter, weighing in at just 476 grams, which is less than most laptops.

Switching from textbooks to a tablet can be a significant change for a student, not to mention a considerable investment. However, when it comes to learning it’s likely that technology will continue to lead the way. Purchasing the right tablet for your budget and level of education may be one of the best ways to improve engagement, motivation and knowledge retention. Physical textbooks simply can’t provide the gamification, connectivity, portability and productivity that the latest tablets can.

Additionally, one of the most important aspects of learning is taking time out to rest so that your mind is recharged. This is where investing in a tablet rather than physical textbooks can play a big role, because even if you purchase a tablet for the classroom, it can still be used for a plethora of other activities. Gaming, streaming entertainment and video calling with friends are just some of the added benefits of owning a tablet that ensure students get the rest they require to perform in the classroom.

Browse Optus tablets and iPads and select the device that suits your learning needs.