Technology and Learning: Big Business and Careful Considerations

In the early 1990’s I had a conversation with the marketing director for a large direct-order computer manufacturer and I asked why he did not market the company’s products directly to the education market.  His response was that he did not believe there was enough of a need and that school districts were a challenge to navigate.  At that time Apple dominated much of the K-12 space and offered substantial discounts for schools and educators.   

Education was not ready for the rapid and transformational changes the personal computer industry would bring for the next two decades, and technology companies, many of which were started in garages or on a shoestring, were not quite sure what to do with schools.  

Currently, the education market is in the cross hairs of many hardware manufacturers and software publishers.  Schools have become big business to these companies, and as educators, it is our responsibility to evaluate new technologies and determine whether they are the best tools for the students we serve.  

Recently, there has been a fair amount of media hype related to Apple’s announcement to provide interactive textbooks for iPads.  While this is a great idea and certainly appeals to those of us who have watched our children buckle under the weight of a five textbook backpack, it’s important that we not be lured to such a siren’s song without considering the implications of this technology.

For such technology to be truly transformational, it’s important that content can be created and consumed on any device.  The iPad textbooks are a step in the right direction, but they can only be used on an iPad.  In the Clarkstown Central School District, interoperability between any number of devices is an essential component in our decisions.  

However the real determinant is how a tool (any tool) will engage our students in their learning and encourage them to create and connect rather than simply consume.  I’ve written about the iPad textbooks in more detail here.

What are your thoughts about the technology changes that you or your children are experiencing?