An increasing number of schools provide tablets and laptop computers for students to use in school, replacing books and other printed materials like exams and assignments. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?

Lately, a lot of educational institutions worldwide have replaced physical books with electronic devices

such

as tablets and laptops. Just like how there are two sides to a coin,

this

development is

also

two-sided. The benefits of using electronic devices are that everything is digitalized and

hence

documents can be easily organized and tracked,

while

the disadvantages include getting distracted easily and the health issues that come hand-in-hand with using

gadgets

for longer periods of time. On the one hand, the

world

is technologically advancing at a really faster pace. Exposing children to the digital

world

at a young age would make them more comfortable with handling E-documents and

gadgets

which are vital skills required in the near future. Importantly, teachers can track the progress of

students

easily using electronic

gadgets

. Previously, in the pen-and-paper

world

, assignments could get misplaced or lost which is no longer a concern in the digitalized

world

.

For example

, 70% of teachers in the USA found it easier to keep track of homework, tests and assignments that were submitted digitally by

students

, when compared to paper-based submissions.

On the other hand

,

students

, especially teenagers, misuse these

gadgets

by installing social media apps

such

as Facebook and Instagram.

As a result

, a lot of

students

get distracted by using these apps during lecture sessions.

Furthermore

, getting exposed to the blue light emitted from the screens of these electronic

gadgets

, for extended periods of time could strain the eye and cause headaches.

For instance

, 30% of

students

in the USA suffered from migraines since many schools shifted to digital learning. In conclusion, using electronic

gadgets

in school could be a boon when used correctly and it can help

students

get better academically, by tracking their progress.

Conversely

, it can

also

distract

students

and take a toll on their physical health which could lower their grades.