Improving Access to Tech - Apple's Education Event

Recently, I watched Episode 660 of the This Week in Tech podcast, where, among other things, they discussed Apple's Education Event that was held on March 27th. As someone who rallies for better access to technology, and is interested in how it can be applied to education, I wished to learn more about the event, and how others viewed the reveals.


Competition

Rather than compete with devices like Chromebooks, Apple's 2018 education edition iPads are meant to be their own niche. Apple's philosophy has almost never been to dominate the market. Instead, they work to provide the best experience possible for their smaller, more specialized market. These new devices are meant as ease of access for schools that were already considering them for educational use.
Despite this, the next day, Google announced the first ever Chrome OS tablet the next day called the Acer Chromebook Tab 10. It has a similar price point, but offers no advantages in terms of specifications or teaching ability compared to an entry-level iPad or a Chromebook.


Features

The main draws to the 2018 iPads are the affordable price point and Apple Pencil support.
The 2018 iPad has a 2.34GHx processor and 2GB of RAM, making for a rather powerful device at a budget price. It's attractive even without the education discount. Currently, the iPad with the closest specs to it is the 1st Gen. iPad Pro 9.7", which is priced at $600 for a 32GB model.
Also, the Apple Pencil used to be exclusive to iPad Pro models. It is also offered at an education discount, from $100 to $90. As minor a discount as that is, it adds up when being purchased in bulk for teaching environments. Using a stylus also provides better teaching opportunities, and better accessibility and opportunities for other users.


Benefits and Detriments

As is usually the case with technology, there are always those who wish to incorporate it, and others who will never see them as relevant. The 2018 iPad is no different, although Apple was never hoping for the 2018 iPad to be used in every school for every purpose.
The most common argument against using iPads and other tablets in classroom environments is its lack of physical keyboard, and is one of the most quickly cited dealbreakers. Many argue the core technology experience involves a keyboard, mouse, and monitor. Using external Bluetooth keyboards can also present their own problems, with students linking their keyboard to another student's device to send answers or disrupt them. Also, it is argued whether a student should focus on their handwriting more, or their typing.
Then is considering whether the iPads are even useful or viable for a teaching environment. Even at their $300 price, buying enough for every student is massively expensive. Whether that many are even needed is debatable. A variety of devices such as tablets, laptops, and desktops may be desired, although linking their content together may prove difficult. Apple devices have always been closed environments, so a reliance on cross-platform third-party applications and websites would be required. Considering the content on the iPads, Apple has fewer specialized developers for specialized content, and every class needs different content and teaching tools.

An argument in favor of using iPads in classrooms is the opportunities and interests they can generate. Most importantly, they provide pre-exposure to real-life use of technology. This is growing more important as technology becomes more prevalent, and sometimes even necessary, in daily life. Also, a student using them can become interested in how they work, or find more enjoyment in some subjects by using them. For example, a student who enjoys designing presentations or artwork using the Pencil may desire to become a graphic designer. This could be useful for students who would otherwise be unsure of what they wish to pursue further on in life.

In Conclusion

Seeing support for better accessibility to technology is something that is deeply important to me, especially as I see how integral it is becoming to everyday life. This reminded me of something I'd Tweeted about several weeks ago, about the Android Go OS for low-end Android smartphones. No one should be blocked from education or work opportunities because they cannot afford the tools they need. Small steps forward like these allow everyone to better succeed in a tech-based world.

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