Today Apple announced an innovative plan that could revamp how we teach our children. Partnering with the top publishers of textbooks (Pearson, McGraw-Hill, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), together they will begin to make textbooks interactive. A student would be able to digitally dissect a frog, search for content within the book, and explore what interests them in new ways.
A free app will also be made available that will allow teachers to create lesson plans and ebooks for their students as well.
Could Apple's latest announcement change the face of Education or will this be another great idea taken down by the sheer magnitude of practical application hurdles?
I love my iPad, it's a tool that I have come to rely on for my work and entertainment. But I use it for my kids as well. I have an entire page dedicated to apps just for my kids. From interactive kids books to games that teach music and math (love Nickelodeon's Team Umizoomi app!) my iPad has become a great tool for teaching in my household already.
But, I have to ask which students will be able to use this technology? Sure high school etextbooks will start at $14.99, but who's going to pay for the iPad to read it on? In a time where school budgets are stretched so thin kids are falling through the cracks, will the children that need this innovation the most truly get it? Or will it only be used in wealthy suburbs and private schools?
Having read many, many textbooks in my life (and fallen asleep on them more than once) I hope for my kids' sake and yours we will find a way to bring this technology to every school, because I think this could be the difference for so many kids.