Education by Apple Will Not Reach Schools in Need or Transform the Textbook Industry

by Holly Shoemaker

On Thursday, Apple announced plans to revolutionize the education industry with the iPad. The company introduced iBooks Author, a new app to create interactive textbooks, iBook 2, a place to store and buy e-books, and iTunes U, software that allows teachers to plan lessons and communicate with students via the iPad.

Textbook Approval Process and Access

I agree that apps offer the ability to update textbooks more quickly. I made a point last week how apps offer more timely information to physicians. However, I do not see at this time how Apple will get around the approval process for textbooks. While Apple will partner with publishers like Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and McGraw-Hill, these publishers may only contribute a small amount of books. States usually take about five years to approve a textbook. Therefore, I wonder if students will have to continue using out-of-date e-books.

Apple controls the content it makes available. If an e-book is only available through iTunes U, will schools really want Apple to control what they make available to students? This has the potential to bring up a host of legal concerns.

Strategy Will Not Reach Schools in Need

Apple’s strategy may work better for colleges and universities where students and teachers have more access to iPads. While Apple has said this could transform K-12 education, I do not see primary, grammar or middle schools widely adopting this, especially in certain schools systems. I have observed teachers in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Many schools do not even have funds to modernize their buildings. Newer approaches to teaching are certainly needed – perhaps even more in failing schools. However, Apple’s strategy will not reach schools in poor neighborhoods that need the most assistance. Granted, I do not think it is Apple’s intention to target these schools.

Concluding Thoughts

I have a lot more questions than I do answers regarding Apple’s latest move. I am all for products designed to reach different types of learners. However, Apple has some large hurdles to overcome with state laws and lengthy approval processes.