Reference:
This review comprises of three related articles as listed
below.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-57357054-17/apple-to-host-january-19-education-event-in-new-york/?tag=mncol;txt
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57360688-37/apple-unveils-ibooks-2-for-digital-textbooks-self-pub-app-live-blog/
Review/Summary:
CNet tells us about Apple Computers
hosting the ‘education event’ in New York on January 19th. As described in the article,
Apple usually hosts events in the Silicon Valley of California. Yet, this year the event was scheduled
in the proximity of textbook publishers.
Apple announced their plans to partner
with major textbook publishers like Pearson, McGraw Hill, and Houghton Mufflin
Harcourt. Apple is hoping to
control the market with their IBook 2, iTunes U, and digital versions of textbooks.
iBooks 2 is a digital version of
textbooks that will work with the iPad.
It has interactive features, streaming video, and the ability to mark assignments
as complete. They currently
have two textbooks from Pearson and five from McGraw Hill. There are also, free books coming
available.
Apple is calling iTunes U as the go
between hub for professors and students.
It will offer a place for assignments, syllabus and messages. The students will be able to do
assignments, streaming video, textbooks, and full integration to iBooks. Additionally, iTunes has a feature were
students can register for classes.
iPad and ITunes U applications are free, but textbook are not free.
Apple’s education announcement describes
how they are partnering with major textbook distributers to use iBooks2, their
hardware solutions of iPad, and Internet based iTunes U. This will serve as the catalyst to
enhance electronic textbooks to all levels of academia.
Reflection:
This
announcement offers several solutions for students and teachers. What I like about the
announcement is that the general public becomes aware of future uses of technology
in the classroom. Schools have to
buy books. Why not offer iPads,
eBooks, and iTunes U to lighten the load and offer interactive solutions. For the Universities, iTunes U sounds
like a D2L and Livetext combined.
Apple had
solutions for the classroom in the ‘80s with the Apple 2E, 2GS, and
Macintosh. Software manufacturers stepped
up to the plate and offered learning tools for schools. That technology is what most users
started out on. Now, Apple
Internet based textbooks offers education a solution to engage learners. Additionally, textbook distributors are
highly motivated to create interactive learning tools and I hope assessment
solutions to make teaching easier for teachers.
For me, this
type of announcements is for developers to get to work developing. users to
start learning about what is available, and for purchasers to develop budgets
that afford them turnkey solutions for schools. I look forward to putting my hands on it and getting to
work.
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