by Jason Snell
Bradley Chambers on Apple’s education event
Bradley Chambers has been managing Apple devices in education for a long time, and recently wrapped a long tenure as co-host of the Out of School podcast. I had the pleasure of meeting Bradley in Chicago the other day, where he was (appropriately enough) liveblogging the event for 9to5 Mac. With the liveblogging over, now he’s weighed in with his take on the event as a whole.
It begins with some reality checking of the claims from Apple’s most recent education-themed media event, in 2012:
So here’s something to consider: how much from Apple’s 2012 education keynote has made a difference in the years since? I’d argue nearly nothing…. If the 2012 strategy didn’t have any lasting impact, why will the 2018 edition be any different? Are the visions really that different?
As I rewatched the 2012 keynote and pondered the 2018 keynote, I realized that Apple is yet again trying to craft a future for education that I am not sure fits with reality…. Education didn’t need a faster iPad. Education didn’t need Apple Pencil support. Those are great features for a consumer-friendly iPad, but education needed a clearer signal from Apple that they understand how school districts actually operate around the country and around the globe.
That’s tough-but-fair commentary from someone who lives in the education world every day.