Pros and Cons of Tablets in Schools
Digital devices have become a standard part of education in the U.S. According to the Institute of Education Sciences, an agency within the U.S. Department of Education, 88% of public schools had a one-to-one computing program that provided every student with a school-issued device during the 2024-25 school year. Among those schools, 27% made tablets available to students.
The widespread use of tablets in schools, from preschool through college, gives teachers new ways to present information and support different learning needs in the classroom. For students, tablets can make lessons more interactive and provide greater flexibility in how they engage with the curriculum.
However, the growing reliance on this technology also carries risks. Digital devices can distract students and increase screen exposure, particularly if they begin to replace face-to-face interaction or hands-on learning. Understanding the potential pros and cons can help educators use tablets purposefully while preserving other essential learning experiences.
History of Tablets in the Classroom
Computers have appeared in schools in various forms since the 1960s. Over time, smaller devices, simpler interfaces, lower costs, and the expansion of wireless internet have made educational technology available to more students.
Several developments have contributed to the widespread adoption of digital devices in schools:
1980s: PCs enter more classrooms. As PCs became increasingly common, schools found new ways to incorporate computers into classroom instruction. Graphical user interfaces, such as those offered on Apple computers, also made computers more accessible to children who had little or no previous experience with them.
2005: One Laptop per Child begins. Founded at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the One Laptop per Child initiative sought to facilitate access to digital technology as a way to address educational inequities. The team behind the initiative reports that it has provided more than 3 million educational laptops to children worldwide.
2010: Apple introduces the iPad. Although tablets had existed in earlier forms, the iPad helped make touch screen devices a mainstream alternative to laptops. Just three years later, Apple reported it had sold more than 4.5 million iPads to U.S. schools.
2010s: One-to-one programs expand. During the decade, more schools began assigning each student with an individual laptop or tablet. By 2019, approximately 28% of school districts had a one-to-one policy at all grade levels, according to a report in Education Week.
2020-21: Remote learning accelerates device adoption. School closures during the COVID-19 pandemic required districts to rapidly expand technology access. By March 2021, 90% of school district leaders reported providing a device to every middle and high school student, while 84% said they were doing the same for elementary school students, according to Education Week.
How Are Tablets Used in School?
Tablets can support a wide range of classroom work, enabling students to complete assignments, develop new skills, and even receive feedback from teachers. Below are some of the most common ways tablets are used in education today.
Accessing Digital Lessons and Resources
Students can use tablets to read e-books, view instructional videos, access online lessons, and consult digital reference materials. Teachers can also use digital learning platforms to share course materials.
Skill Development
Educational apps allow students to practice skills in areas such as language learning, creative design, mathematics, and basic coding. Students can also develop everyday technology skills as they work with digital tools.
Note-Taking and Research
Students can type or handwrite notes, annotate digital texts, sketch ideas, and work on diagrams using a touch screen or stylus. They can also save articles and organize research materials in one place.
Assessments and Teacher Feedback
Teachers can use tablets to administer quizzes, manage assignments, and review student work. Digital platforms can also enable educators to share comments and organize information about student performance.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Tablets in the Classroom
Tablets can expand the ways students access information and participate in lessons, but they also raise concerns schools have to consider. Evaluating both sides can help educators make more informed decisions about when and how to use them.
The table provides a brief overview of the most common advantages and disadvantages of tablets in schools.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Interactive learning opportunities | Distractions and classroom management challenges |
| Support for different learning needs | Increased screen exposure |
| Portable access to educational resources | Unequal access outside school |
| Convenient assessment and feedback | Technical problems |
| Opportunities to develop technology skills | Potential loss of hands-on and social learning |
Advantages of Tablets in the Classroom
When teachers use them strategically, tablets can provide students with new ways to engage with the curriculum. Their portable design and built-in features, including interactive and accessibility tools, can also help teachers respond to a wider range of learning needs.
Below are some of the most notable benefits of using tablets in school.
Interactive Learning Opportunities
Touch screens can make lessons more participatory by enabling students to respond to prompts and interact with content as they learn. This may help them stay engaged and take a more active role in learning.
Research on touch screen learning has produced some encouraging results, particularly for young children. A systematic review of 53 studies on the effects of touch screens on young children’s learning found that most reported positive outcomes, although a substantial number produced mixed findings. The researchers noted that results varied depending on how the technology was incorporated into instruction.
Greater Flexibility and Personalized Learning
Some educational apps adjust activities based on student responses. This feature can enable students to revisit topics when needed or move more quickly through material they already understand.
Tablets can also include assistive features that benefit students with disabilities or who experience other barriers to accessing course material. Depending on the device and software, students may be able to:
Have written text read aloud
Use a stylus or audio recording instead of typing
Adjust how information appears on the screen
These features can help educators make lessons more accessible. However, the technology doesn’t replace individualized instruction. Teachers still need to determine whether a particular tool is suitable for the student and the learning objective, taking into account both the child and the quality of the content.
Portability and Access to Resources
Tablets are generally smaller and lighter than laptops, making them easier for students to transport. A single device can also provide access to online lessons, e-books, and other digital reference materials.
Some tablets come equipped with cellular connectivity, enabling students to access online materials without relying entirely on Wi-Fi. This can help address connectivity challenges for some students. Although most U.S. students have internet access at home, fixed broadband remains less accessible for certain populations. Roughly 1 in 4 students in rural areas, lacked broadband service in their homes, according to a 2023 report from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Assessment and Feedback
Using tablets in the classroom can make it easier for teachers to collect assignments, administer tests, and review student work. Teachers can also use digital platforms to provide comments and keep information about student performance in one place.
This can shorten the time between completing an activity and receiving feedback, helping students identify areas where they’re performing well and where they may need more support. Teachers can also use assessment results to adjust lesson plans and address gaps in understanding.
Disadvantages of Tablets in the Classroom
Although tablets can support learning, they can also create challenges that schools and educators need to manage.
Below are some potential drawbacks of using tablets in the classroom.
Distractions and Classroom Management Concerns
Tablets designed to be used for educational purposes may also provide access to games or messaging tools. Even when schools restrict certain platforms, students may still shift their attention away from schoolwork.
This can be especially challenging with younger children, who are still developing self-regulation skills. Teachers may need to spend additional time monitoring screens and redirecting students, as well as resolving login and software issues. Guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics notes that teachers experience more classroom management challenges when games, social media apps, or messaging platforms are accessible on school-issued devices.
Increased Screen Exposure
Using tablets for lessons and assignments adds to the amount of time students spend looking at screens. According to Common Sense Media, children age 8 and younger spend about 2.5 hours a day on screens, and research shows that screen time tends to rise as children get older.
Although educational activities differ from passive entertainment, frequent device use can still displace other important parts of the school day. Overreliance on tablets may leave less time for valuable learning opportunities, including:
Hands-on activities involving physical materials
Movement and play
Direct interaction with teachers and classmates
These experiences are particularly important in early childhood education, where students often learn through exploration and social interaction. Tablets may complement these activities but shouldn’t fully replace them.
Technical and Financial Challenges
Tablets require ongoing support and maintenance beyond the initial purchase. Devices can break, batteries can lose their charge, and software or network problems can interrupt learning.
As a result, schools may need to budget for repairs, replacements, technical assistance, software licenses, and connectivity. These ongoing expenses can make classroom technology costly to maintain. The purchase price of a tablet represents only part of the investment, since schools also have to account for the support and infrastructure needed to keep these devices in working order.
Unequal Access Outside School
Providing every student with a tablet doesn’t eliminate disparities in access outside school. Some families may lack dependable internet service, leaving students at a disadvantage when assignments require them to connect from home.
School policies also vary regarding whether devices can leave the building. According to the Institute of Education Sciences, 46% of schools with one-to-one programs allowed students to take devices home during the 2024-25 school year, while 37% did not.
Assignments that depend heavily on tablets can therefore create additional barriers for some students. Educators should consider student access beyond the classroom before making digital work a requirement.
How Can Teachers Manage Tablet Use?
Teachers can help ensure that tablets enhance student education rather than detract from it by setting clear boundaries and choosing digital tools with purpose. Consistent routines can also minimize distractions while preserving time for hands-on activities and face-to-face interaction.
Establish Clear Expectations
Students should understand when they can use tablets in class and which apps or websites are permitted. Teachers can reinforce these expectations with simple routines, such as requiring screens to be down during instruction or class discussions.
For younger children, teachers may need to model these behaviors and provide regular reminders. Clear procedures can also make transitions between tablet-based and nondigital activities smoother and reduce the amount of time teachers have to spend redirecting students.
Limit Access to Unrelated Content
Schools can use device management settings to block inappropriate content and restrict access to games, social media, messaging platforms, and other applications that may distract students. In some cases, teachers may be able to limit students to only the tools required for a particular lesson.
While these steps can reduce distractions, teachers still need to monitor device use and respond when students move away from assigned tasks.
Balance Screen-Based and Hands-On Learning
Before incorporating tablets into the curriculum, teachers should consider whether the technology meaningfully supports the material.
Tablet-based activities should also leave room for students to work with physical materials and interact directly with classmates and teachers. This balance is especially important for younger students, who often learn through play and exploration.
Communicate With Families
When students take school-issued devices home, families should understand when tablets are needed to complete assignments and how students should be using them. Teachers can explain the purpose of tablet-based assignments and provide guidance on separating schoolwork from entertainment.
Families should also know how to report technical issues. Open communication can help educators better understand the challenges students may face outside school.
Taking a Closer Look at Classroom Technology
The benefits and challenges of using tablets in schools continue to evolve as technology becomes more common in students’ daily lives. The following resources provide additional information on classroom screen use and the importance of balancing technology with other forms of learning:
American Academy of Pediatrics, Screen Time at School: This resource provides guidance on how educators can make classroom screen use more purposeful. It discusses active and passive technology use, accessibility tools, potential distractions, and strategies to prevent digital instruction from replacing hands-on learning.
Edutopia, “‘My Tablet Isn’t Charged’ and Other Device Woes”: This article provides practical tips for managing one-to-one devices in elementary classrooms, including creating reminders for students and establishing routines for putting away devices.
Common Sense Media, “Screen Time in School: Finding the Right Balance”: This article helps teachers evaluate whether classroom technology supports the curriculum and offers guidance for making screen use more intentional.
Everyschool, The EdTech Triangle: This research-based framework groups educational technology into transformative, supportive, restrictive, and disruptive uses to help schools evaluate digital tools and lesson plans.
International Society for Technology in Education, Setting Conditions for Success: Creating Effective Responsible Use Policies for Schools: This guide provides insights to help schools develop policies that establish shared expectations for responsible use of school-issued accounts, networks, and devices.
Education Next, “Logged In, Tuned Out”: This article takes a critical look at the expansion of one-to-one technology and considers whether greater access to digital devices has translated into improved learning outcomes.
Getting the Most Out of Educational Technology
Tablets can support learning while giving educators more flexibility in how they deliver instruction, but they’re most effective when they have a clear educational purpose and appropriate limits. By balancing tablets in the classroom with hands-on and social learning, educators can make technology a more meaningful instructional tool.
