Came across this on Twitter recently and it’s given me real pause for thought.
Travis Allen is an 18-year old student from Georgia, USA who has started something called the iSchool Initiative. In brief, he is an advocate for getting technology into the classroom in the shape of iPod Touches.
He makes the argument that if all students had the Apple devices running a collection of apps there would be considerable learning, cost-saving and environmental benefits for schools. Check out his manifesto on YouTube.
A few reflections:
- Firstly, I wish more students took such an interest in their learning. I vigorously applaud Travis’s efforts and I hope his school/college is taking him seriously.
- The benefits of using mobile tech on a one device per student basis are well documented and certainly Apple owns the market at the moment. No one else comes close yet.
- I do feel slightly uneasy about the exclusive Apple nature of the proposal, though. I admit there is a lack of credible alternatives right now but when you are beholden to one supplier for hardware and content there may be problems further down the line. What happens if Android really takes off in 24months time and has a killer education app?
- For me the ideal situation would be when these core apps are available cross platform (I don’t know enough about the market to know if developers are making apps available for Apple and Android etc). That would then free up the students/staff to choose a device tailored to their needs.
- Travis mentions a cost of $150 per student. Is this just his cost per device? Is it one off or per year? What about wireless infrastructure? Content creation and management? I’m sure he’s right about cost savings, but his headline figure looks too good to be true.
- Travis argues that there can be communication between staff and students “anytime, anywhere”. If you have the iPod device you need wireless internet access. Go out into the field and you lose connectivity. The iPhone brings all sorts of technical complications but is actually a more exciting device. Some of the augmented reality apps that are starting to surface could transform field trips and opportunities for informal learning.
- Lastly, the restriction on websites available to those “dedicated to eductaion” seems a little draconian. Where do you draw the line? Is Twitter educationally useful? YouTube? Facebook? It feels more like a proposal to calm the fears of worried parents and staff and is therefore a political rather than pedagogical move. If you lock down access to the internet you risk losing the benefits of collaboration and creativity using web2.0 apps.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t have adowner on this. Travis’s idea is exciting and is a great vision for the future. Follow him on Twitter and give him feedback and encouragement.
Travis, if you’re reading this please comment back and keep us updated about your progress.
2 Comments until now
Hey Chris, Travis Allen here, founder and director of the iSchool Initiative. Thanks for creating this blog about me! I love the questions you raise and your overall opinion about the subject. My iSchool Initiative video was made early on before i even created the iSchool Initiative organization and when i knew oh so little about the “real world.” Because of this, much of the information on my video has dramatically changed.
I have done more thorough research on what the potential of my idea and realized much change is needed in my video. You bring up blocking website, I agree with what you say, where do we draw the line? And yes i added that partly to keep worried parents and teachers at bay. =P My high school currently does it with their computers and so i at the time, i thought why not do it to the iPod Touch? I have come to realize it is definitely not the best choice in my opinion.
i have gone in a new direction though with the iSchool Initiative, instead of focusing my time on figuring out all the details of just how the iPod touch will work in school, I am getting people all over America together for THEM to decide how it will work.
The idea of the iSchool Initiative is to create a “meeting place”
for people to discuss there opinion and also keep spreading the word about the iSchool Initiative. Why should i be the one to decide our future in education and why not let America decide? =)
I also realize the dangers of limiting myself to the use of Apple (even though i do agree, as of right now they have the best product) and so that is why the iSchool Initiative is about bringing technology in general to the classroom.
I will definitely keep you updated on where i am going with this and also i look forward to hearing more of your opinion. I also ask that you sign up for my forums on my website where hopefully in the future will be where discussions that change American Education forever and ask that anyone else reading this do the same. I plan on making a new video that is more realistic and more videos about other educational devices.
Thanks again for the blog and hope to hear from you soon! (Also make sure you join the iSchool Community on my website, Anyone else reading this please do the same!)
I am impressed with Travis’ ischooladvocate concept and follow-through; particularly his statement of the need for educators (and board members) to support innovations that come from within the classroom and from around the world. I am an educator and know so little (but am eager to learn, much more so than many colleagues. American schools seem to be behind those in other countries in embracing the web as a learning tool.
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