When it comes to learning devices, educators are looking for new digital tools that can expand their teaching ability and enhance students’ learning experience. The choice also influences a child’s participation and classroom interactions to some extent.
So now which between a tablet and a laptop should teachers use in the classroom? Both are useful so we need to differentiate to know the difference.
Laptop vs Tablet – Which Should Teachers Go?
The answer is contingent on a few factors, particularly where the device would be mostly used.
A laptop or tablet both carry the combination of screen capability, and topic presentations, including recording notes much faster than writing by hand. These tools also help students research and keep track of their assignments as well as communicate with their teachers.
What we need to check is how accessible each device is when it comes to lecturing, project making, local telecommunications, portability, and accessibility.
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TABLETS
PROS
Tablets are more portable and convenient, making them perfect for casual tasks like online surfing, research, video watching, and playing mobile games. Tablet PCs, or Tablets as they are more often known, are thin and flat mobile computers that are quite popular due to their adaptability, mobility, and programs that can carry out a variety of tasks.
Since teachers are on-the-go professionals, lugging around heavy devices can possibly lead to a potential decrease in productivity. In this case, a lightweight computer is portable. Imagine how you can easily fit a tablet into any sling bag or backpack.
Using a tablet computer is a great way to start enhancing those who are beginning to master computer skills. Not to mention how convenient it is to use when making presentations from room to room and building to building.
Tablets are wireless devices. You can connect to the internet and access a Wi-Fi signal without the need for a cord or wire. As long as your battery is full and working, you can work at your convenience all the time.
Teachers make a ton of presentations. A tablet is super easy to use and you can share a presentation in projection screens inside the classroom or meeting rooms. One bonus! Navigating the tablet is done with just a few swipes, a thing that is hard to do with a laptop.
The majority of tablets offer an intuitive user interface and a huge selection of imaginative and instructional applications. Here, educators can use a variety of tools to create a more engaging learning environment. Additionally, most tablets outperform smartphones in terms of cellular data access capabilities (which laptops typically do not have). Additionally, a tablet has much better hardware than a laptop and is much less expensive.
When buying a tablet, look for the right Display. Note that the “display panel” is the interface to give you images and text. You definitely want to have a quality interface for all your viewing angles. Also consider the size, resolution, brightness, and coating.
CONS
Tablets that come with touchscreen keyboards are way inferior to external keyboards. Touchscreens are convenient in a lot of sense, but they may not be the best option for heavy-duty tasks. Also, are you comfortable enough to work on a screen that’s about 10 inches? You may need a larger one with a versatile keyboard.
Some online learning apps may not be applicable on some tablets. You have to understand tablet operating systems to be able to get the right device for your virtual purpose. Chances are you would need a more expensive model that can provide speaker quality and stellar displays, or that with features closer to a desktop.
Go for a tablet if:
You simply want a companion device to bring everywhere. Basically, a tablet can provide your basic digital needs: checking email, sending messages, or posting to social networks. It’s the perfect device to use when looking for entertainment. Do you like TV, watch movies, listen to music, shop for something, or look for eBooks. In short, this device is not only light to carry but simple and easy to use.
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LAPTOPS
PROS
Laptops are larger but are more efficient in terms of productivity.
They are best for real work such as creating Office documents. Because it offers great compatibility, it allows you to work with images, music, video, and more. Laptop computers are popular due to their powerful features and far more software available, multiple external devices, and larger internal storage. It’s all about the specs and high-performance motherboards, and speed that are not available on tablets.
The laptop is still quite handy and convenient despite not being as portable as a tablet. It makes use of the kinds of programs and software needed for creating, modifying, and documenting spreadsheets—tasks that teachers can perform on a daily basis. It offers advantages of a desktop that are not present in tablets. It contains connectors and a keyboard that are quite helpful for many kinds of academics.
Battery life is another vital feature. Note that charging stations are not available everywhere. So if you go from one room to another, attend club meetings in a café, long battery life is important.
For the online teacher, part of the delight of using a laptop is the freedom to work anywhere around the house or workplace. You can get some fresh air in the afternoon, or catch the sunset on your balcony. What about a change of atmosphere in a quirky coffee shop near your place?
When it comes to portability, a laptop’s compact size is designed to be carried from one place to another. So it can be carried in a laptop case or backpack. This is one feature that makes a laptop ideal for classroom use.
The benefit of their processing prowess comes in addition to all the previously mentioned qualities. In order to maintain peak performance, laptops can adjust their performance while using less battery power. This is very important when selecting which device is better for multitasking and instructing pupils.
CONS
Laptop batteries use more powerful hardware but they don’t run as long as tablets. The average laptop normally runs up to four to eight hours compared to a tablet’s 10-hour usage. Portability-wise, laptops are bigger and heavier so may pose risk for accidental hand-slips. They also have shorter battery life.
Go for a laptop if:
You want to invest in a primary computer that you need for work, school, business, creating documents, writing content, designing, or any other task that requires high performance.
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Now, Which Between a Tablet and a Laptop Should Teachers Use in the Classroom?
No matter the demographic, students and teachers have been accustomed to using electronic devices for school, work, or leisure. For teachers, the right kind of device, helps tremendously, in making all tasks as smooth sailing as possible.
Laptops remain powerful in terms of mobile computing. They may not compete in terms of lightness, running times, or convenience, but they offer more functionality and flexibility for a teacher’s job.
The decision of choosing which tablet or a laptop makes a better teaching tool is entirely up to the teacher. A lightweight and user-friendly device may sound appealing to one teacher, but may not sound great for some who would rather use a heavy-duty computer. Ultimately, it all comes down to preference and individual convenience.
I hope these guidelines help you solve your tablet vs. laptop search. Do you have something to share? It would be great to hear your thoughts in the comments.
