Schools Dump Textbooks for iPods, Laptops

                       In Schools Dump Textbooks for iPods, Laptops, by Rachel Martin & Christine

Brouwer on ABC News, Martin and Brouwer argue that schools need to get rid of textbooks

completely and bring in Laptops and iPads as primary learning tools. Martin and Brouwer first give

examples of schools that are already giving up textbooks and they argue that they are too outdated

and can actually come out to be cheaper because districts won't have to pay for new textbooks

editions each one to two years. However, Martin and Brouwer shed light on the cons of tablets

in schools as they can bring distractions but they counter this by claiming that its going to help

students multitask and that it isn't problem because schools block the social media programs that

distract students.

                       Analysis: So many schools are already making the switch to tablets and claiming that it

isn't causing problem. Also, according to the article tablets are making learning and teaching much

easier resulting in students being able to learn much better and succeed in school. Furthermore, cost

is broken down and the fact of the matter is that tablets can be much cheaper for districts which can

make it more appealing however, the issue is, do school districts actually have the money to buy

these tablets. In addition students are using Twitter to learn but this only causes a distraction and it

can't possibly help multi-tasking if students are just goofing off on Twitter instead of paying attention

to the lesson or the teacher. Then is there is the issue that students need to adapt to these new devices

and according the article some students are struggling which can hurt them in learning and

waste time in order for them to get the hang of the technology. In reality though textbooks are

becoming an old tactic and social media is the new thing that is being put inside the younger

generations head and even though tablets are the new tactic it may not always seem that new is better

therefore textbooks shouldn't be replaced despite its age.

MARTIN, RACHEL, and CHRISTINE BROUWER. "Schools Dump Textbooks for IPods, Laptops." ABC News. ABC, 13 Sept. 2009. Web. 28 Feb. 2016. <http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/ipods-laptops-replacing-school-textbooks/story?id=8563292> 

Thoreau's Ideas Don't Apply to Today (Argument Essay)

          According to Thoreau men are nothing “but a machine,” and that inventions are “pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things.” Thoreau also claims that fashion is just a way to show people’s prestige and where they belong in the social pyramid. Thoreau has a point however today in 2016 this is untrue because workers are not treated like machines, new inventions don’t distract people but instead help them in jobs and at school, and fashion doesn’t mean social ranking today.

          Thoreau’s ideas don’t apply to today because times have changed and most of these issues that Thoreau claimed have ended. Thoreau was correct when he claimed workers as “machines” but that was true during the second industrial revolution when workers had no rights however, times have changed and Progressive presidents like Theodore Roosevelt have improved workers conditions and today in America workers are not mistreated and they have the right to form labor unions to go against abusive companies. Furthermore, inventions aren’t distractions however, some critics may say that social media and iPhone’s are distractions to students. Nevertheless this is false because todays inventions like social media allow people to socialize and create relationships, plus iPhones allow students to look up help for homework and learn about the subject that is taught at school. In addition, other critics say today fashion today still causes division in social status just like Yeezys show people are rich while vans are for people with less money and the same goes for clothing like ones from Pacsun are more expensive than clothing from Ross or Burlington. However, this is also not true because fashion has a positive effect and that it is to show people's style and personality. Therefore, Thoreau’s ideas don’t apply to today because times have changed. 

As More Schools Embrace Tablets, Do Textbooks Have a Fighting Chance?

                        In As More Schools Embrace Tablets, Do Textbooks Have a Fighting Chance?, by 

Brenda Alvarez on neaToday, Alvarez points our the good and bad of tablets in classrooms and even

though she states the cons she still acknowledges the achievements made in classrooms. Alvarez 

sheds light that tablets are useful because they are up to date with latest versions of textbooks and

information and creates a diverse learning environment. However, Alvarez also discusses the cons 

that some school's wi-fi can not handle tablets and they are to expensive for schools to afford.

                        Analyze: Tablets seem to still have pro and cons when it comes to classroom use. 

Furthermore, with the data stated in the article it clearly shows the evolution in technology in 

classrooms is inevitable and what really needs to happen is find ways to fix the issues with tablets. 

In addition, since tablets need to be checked on and updated this requires some teachers to be

tech-wizs which most aren't so it and it also becomes a tough and time consuming job for teachers to 

run and figure out plans with the new various tools at their disposal. On the other hand the variety of 

tools can make their teaching more effective because teachers can create lesson plans for students

with tablets that can be more interesting and effective making tablets great. One big issue is noted

to school districts and schools with less funding than others because since these schools already used 

their money for tablets how can they possibly have money for technical support which can make 

tablets ineffective because they can't be fixed or updated to reach its full potential. In conclusion, 

tablets are on the rise however, I believe they shouldn't replace textbooks because they introduce 

funding and technological issues that result in gap between poor and rich even though their is some 

positive results.

Alvarez, Brenda. "As More Schools Embrace Tablets, Do Textbooks Have a Fighting Chance? - NEA Today." NEA Today. 31 July 2013. Web. 08 Feb. 2016. <http://neatoday.org/2013/07/31/as-more-schools-embrace-tablets-do-textbooks-have-a-fighting-chance-2/>.