iPads and Textbooks Over eight million Apple iPads have been sold directly to educational users around the world (1), as more and more schools replace textbooks with iPads. Recent market research indicates that the global mobile education market could be worth $70 billion within six years and predicts that demand for smartphones and tablets could reach an additional $32 billion by 2020. [ The New Media Consortium, "The 2012 Horizon Report," (555.7 KB) net.educause.edu, 2012). The move to iPads makes sense for several reasons: easing the burden on students, providing access to additional information, and saving money. In many ways, textbooks are inferior to iPads for today's students. Change is happening. In November 2010, the U.S. Department of Education released its National Education Technology Plan, a detailed blueprint for how schools can improve learning through technology. One of his recommendations is to take advantage of mobile devices (“the technology students already have”) in the classroom. In his January 2011 State of the Union address, President Obama said, “I want all students to be able to learn from digital textbooks. » On February 1, 2012, the U.S. Department of Education and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in collaboration with several technology organizations, released a downloadable "Digital Textbook Handbook" to "encourage collaboration, accelerate textbook development digital learning and improve the quality and penetration of digital learning in K-12 public education. [Federal Communications Commission, “Digital Textbook Playbook,” (2.55 MB) www.fcc.gov, February 1, 2012. The American Association of Publishers states that the average net unit price of a printed K-12 textbook 12th grade was $65 in 2010. [44] A 2005 report by ...... middle of paper ...... iPads are more difficult to use than textbooks. There may be a learning curve for some students, but they must learn how to use technology to thrive in the 21st century. While there are reasons not to use an iPad at school, the pros outweigh the cons of having a more convenient feature. rich and profitable alternative to textbooks. Works Cited: 1) "Apple has sold more than 8 million iPads directly to education worldwide, with more than 1 billion iTunes U downloads | TechCrunch." TechCrunch. Internet. May 20, 2014. .2) “Study: Heavy backpacks linked to spinal problems.” - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports. Internet. May 20 2014. .