Tablets may be on horizon for Alabama high school students

Two Alabama lawmakers have proposed a new initiative to enable high schools around the state to purchase tablet computers and other mobile devices for their students, the Associated Press reports.

Rep. Jim McClendon and Sen. Gerald Dial, both Republicans, are pressing for the state to sell $100 million in bonds in an effort to get these devices into the hands of high school students. The legislators argue that the digital textbooks accessed on tablet computers will save schools money in the long run.

Tablet initiatives in schools are still relatively sparse, given the tight budgets on which most educational institutes operate, but they are growing as educators recognize the benefits of the technology in the classroom. Among other advantages, tablets can introduce a new element to the learning process that keeps students more engaged and provides them access to more resources than ever.

The Associated Press does not specify what brand of tablet the legislators are pushing for, or whether they've requested a certain brand at all. The report does state that McClendon and Dial are proposing the purchase of pen-enabled tablets, which could be used by students for homework and during tests.