When it comes to educational technology, educators are always looking for fresh digital resources that can improve student learning. Whether students are learning in the classroom or remotely, laptops and tablets are now necessary tools.
So now which between a tablet and a laptop should teachers use in the classroom? Let’s differentiate.
Laptop vs Tablet – Which Should Teachers Go?
The answer is contingent on a few factors, particularly where the device would be mostly used.
Both a laptop and a tablet offer the opportunity to use a screen for topic presentations as well as the capacity to take notes more quickly than by hand. These resources also assist students in conducting research, managing their assignments, and corresponding 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 practical than smartphones, making them ideal for errands like web browsing, research, watching videos, and playing mobile games. Due to their adaptability, mobility, and capacity to run a range of programs, tablet PCs, or tablets as they are more often known, are flat, thin mobile computers that are highly popular.
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. The use of a tablet is very simple, and you can share presentations on projection screens in conference or school settings. Plus, a tablet can be navigated with just a few swipes, which is easier than 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
External keyboards are far superior to tablets’ built-in touchscreen keyboards. While touchscreens are practical in many ways, they might not be the greatest choice for labor-intensive jobs. 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.
Creating Office documents is one of their best uses. You may use it to deal with things like photos, music, video, and more because of its excellent interoperability. Due to their powerful capabilities, extensive software selection, availability of numerous external media, and larger internal storage, laptop computers are quite popular. It’s all about the specifications, fast motherboards, and speed that tablets do not have.
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 the 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, or attend club meetings in a café, long battery life is important.
The ability to work from any location in the home or office is one of the joys of having a laptop for the online teacher. On your balcony, you may watch the sunset in the afternoon or receive some fresh air. How about a change of scenery in a unique coffee shop nearby?
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.
