Strategy development by looking back

This past week has been a weird one: I didn't really feel like blogging, although I posted another CONTRAST photo here. This week has been an inspirational one though.


Steve Jobs

Lots and lots and lots of (good) stuff has been posted about Steve and about the way he changed the world, and how he accomplished that within Apple. Why do people do the things they do (see my previous post in Dutch about this subject)? Why did Steve do the things he did? He wanted to make great things. He wanted to keep it simple. He wanted your grandmother to be able to use the iPad. Guy Kawasaki the other day got an hour to share his experiences with the online audience of the Facebook Success Summit. Take some time to at least listen to a part of this: http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-steve-jobs-changed-the-world-this-week-in-social-media/


All these retrospectives made me think of the Commodore64 most us (older) geeks have owned or used at one point in the past. Being curious by nature, I checked Wikipedia last night and this piece of fine machinery had sold up to 17 million units in a 12 year (1982-1994) time span! Prices were just under $600 at a time (1982) where a gallon of milk on average would set you back $2.20 (now $3.50). Try to imagine that we would still be able to buy (new!) computers that were just released in 1999... Just try to remember what type/model your main computer was back then? For me this was the time I was getting ready to move to the US and start working at CyberCash (later part of VeriSign Payment Services; now part of Paypal). I remember using mIRC for IRC on a Windows 3.11 Intel 486DX computer. It was the computer that I also tried compiling the 1.2.8 Linux kernel on, which would take at least an hour and a half! Can you imagine still using that?


Change
Yes, a lot has change since then. We buy iPads that range around the price of an old Commodore64 back in 1982. Not one, but two, three of more, so every family members can use one. The iPad is the PERSONAL Computer per sang. It is not made to be used by multiple users; it's made for YOU and YOUR personal computing experience.


Android (and most likely Microsoft's Windows 8) tablets follow suit. The Android tablets allow you to combine multiple (Google) accounts in one device. Not so that multiple users can use the device without getting into each other's stuff, but to make the experience even more personal and foremost: simple and convenient.


How does all of this apply to education? Why are people doing the things they do and use iPads (or other tablet computers) in education? Andy Brovey describes a few reasons:

• "First is size. Apple’s tablet is easily held, shared and stored away when not in use. Previously when students wanted to show or share their screen to others, the teacher or peers needed to go to the machine. Now the machine comes to them."
• "Next, consider battery life."
• "Finally, the iPad is versatile. [...] The iPad becomes the app."

The first two reasons are simply technical improvements. They are important, yet not as significant as the last reason mentioned. Read this again: "The iPad becomes the app." All of a sudden it's about the content (again). About what actually is the added value, instead of the cool gadget the iPad is perceived to be by people. The iPad becomes like a book to the teachers. It's not complicated to operate and doesn't require technical background to use, as Steve Jobs wanted your grandmother to be able to operate it :-)

So, are you using iPads or other tablet computers in your teaching? How does it fit your curriculum? How do your students use them? Please feel free to share in the comments.