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Apple Stores Replace Kids' Table iMacs With iPads
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I think that's down to terminology though, my daughter does know how to get into itunes and play specific albums (based on their cover art)/make videos play but I've never explained it to her like that as "itunes" is a totally alien concept to her. I could probably say "watch Pocoyo episode 4" if it was on her iPod.. She doesn't need to be able to operate settings and so on, nor would any kids her age. I have middle-aged friends who'd call me up to ask how to do a really rudimentary settings change rather than work it out themselves, so it's not just experience based.
Some of the most intellectual and well read people I know seem pretty apprehensive of doing things wrong and essentially cant use computers/electronic devices well (by my definition anyway) as they're afraid of experimentation. They only do things once they've been taught. I find it pretty frustrating sometimes. Their knowledge still gets them by on the web/iphoto/word etc, but anything more complex and they cant get through. I think our kids are better off than them, even the ones who can't necessarily read yet.
I just want to nurture that experimental side.I'm not disagreeing by the way it's just an interesting topic. Where do you draw the line at "can use the device"? My girl can use it for all the things she'd need to use it for, learnt in a similar way to how I did. She'll understand it a lot better once she can read, she learnt to read "play", "help", "Hungry" (kinenctimals, haha) from totally non-educational games on her iPod. If it wasn't for the iTunes security she'd have bought a load of games from the store too. (she understands how that works but has no concept of currency or value yet)
That's smart. The second some goon brought up some porn and someone's kid found it, they could get sued. It might sound dumb, but about a month ago there was a story on here about some lady in her 80s who walked into their class door and is suing Apple for an absurd amount of money.
Apple is taking no chances and I can't blame them.
My just-turned-2 year old loves the iPad...but I have to say, there are VERY FEW quality educational games for kids under 5.
We own 4 I think. I've scoured for hours (the iTunes app store is horrible to find/browse kids stuff).
Apple's really missing the boat here...if they spent a little time making it easier to find kids educational stuff (not games!), the iPad sales would exploding even more. Of course I think there are simply very few kids educational apps out there. I've gladly handed over $5 per app...if I were an app developer I would seriously consider the kids market of EDUCATIONAL apps...math, reading, spelling, puzzles, logic, flashcards, vocabulary, 2nd languages, etc.
Anyone remember Fraction Factory from the early 80's on the //e? I LOVED that interface and interaction!...it was purchased for my younger sisters.
We own 4 I think. I've scoured for hours (the iTunes app store is horrible to find/browse kids stuff).
Apple's really missing the boat here...if they spent a little time making it easier to find kids educational stuff (not games!), the iPad sales would exploding even more. Of course I think there are simply very few kids educational apps out there. I've gladly handed over $5 per app...if I were an app developer I would seriously consider the kids market of EDUCATIONAL apps...math, reading, spelling, puzzles, logic, flashcards, vocabulary, 2nd languages, etc.
Anyone remember Fraction Factory from the early 80's on the //e? I LOVED that interface and interaction!...it was purchased for my younger sisters.
I think our kids are better off than them, even the ones who can't necessarily read yet.
I agree. iPads are so wonderful for young children. And they probably are the future of computing.
I get what you're saying. It's just that when I said one had to read to use a computer, I didn't mean simple things like Angry Birds. I was talking about web browsing, Microsoft Office, etc. I said it in response to someone's assertion that computers in the classroom would foster illiteracy. But you do want to get them started young. Get them to memorize commands and icons, to learn that touching this opens that. That's how it all starts.
One should never use technology as a babysitter of course, but as a learning tool they're incredibly powerful.
This is a good move in some respects, but IMO Apple is once again forcing change too soon.
It makes sense to have iPads at the kids table. Kids take to iPads very easily, and tablets are the future of the home PC. But it isn't certain yet that tablets are the future of the workplace PC. I think it would benefit children to be exposed to both tablets and PCs.
My own daughter loves to use my iPad. At just 6 years old, she navigates it just fine. She knows where all of her apps are and how to use them. She navigates Netflix like a true American.
On a side note, my daughter started Kindergarden this year. I was delighted to see two eMacs in her classroom. I remember growing up in the 80s and 90s, we always used Apple computers in schoool. It's good to see some things haven't changed.
Would have been an interesting experiment to have two tables one with iMacs and one with iPads and see how the kids reacted to the two tables,
Apple may well have tried this out in secret somewhere anyway!
I do not own an iPad but friends/relatives do and the interesting thing also is that the "oldies" love to have a play with the Pad, seems to be much less intimidating than a "computer"
Code is a good method of teaching kids logic... Of course, I can probably only see that because I know how to code.
I agree...learning to code (Basic is perfect) is just a valuable skill to have. You don't have to master BASIC like I did in the early 80s...but understanding the LOGIC of If...Then, GOTO, variable definitions, etc. Sure, 3 year olds won't get it, but a 12 year old SHOULD. If the kid doesn't understand it then it's likely they won't do well in mathematics...no big deal. But learning to UNDERSTAND logic at 10-14 years of age instead of waiting for 11th grade math courses or college Logic courses is so valuable in my opinion.
I used to program night and day while I was a kid and in college. Understanding how programming/logic works has a huge huge huge impact on my overall business life as a Software PreSales person. Of course, I could have just been gifted in logic in the first place and learning Basic was just a natural for me...that I didn't really "learn" logic but rather experienced it through code.
They learn a lot from play at this age, and there are a lot of games (like most of Toca Boca's titles) which have some educational value but are more fun than education. It does seem odd that there are so many apps for babies and toddlers, but once things get a bit more complex there are less and less apps. I guess "puzzles and logic" can be covered by more traditional games. I'm happy when my daughter plays most games anyway. Most of her edu slanted stuff is geared toward creativity.
As for pure education at that age the TeachMe games are nice, and my daughter likes abc PocketPhonics (teaches writing too!) There are tons of flashcard apps, "ABA flash cards" series are free i think. I wish iTunes had a better interface and more dynamic categories for sub-sections within educational apps too.
yeah i saw this the last time i was in the store, it's pretty cool.
I played some nba jam, and saw some of the other kids-oriented apps, and they were very, very nice.
one thing, there was no safari. maybe they didn't want kids/adults getting on to certain sites at the kids station......
I played some nba jam, and saw some of the other kids-oriented apps, and they were very, very nice.
one thing, there was no safari. maybe they didn't want kids/adults getting on to certain sites at the kids station......
'iToys' are becoming more and more capable and will soon (if not already) replace the PC needs for many.
Going forward, you're going to be more likely using an iPad over a PC in schools and in (many, but not all - read strictly high end) workplaces too.
Connected mobility is the new 'power' in IT. Most people's CPU needs have been surpassed for a looong time. (And no, don't be offended, if you're reading a geek site like this then you're probably not the 'typical user'.)
Ah I see, I didn't quite catch where you were coming from. I totally agree, computers in the classroom shouldn't do anything to contribute to illiteracy. It's all down to the teaching and the curriculum. Tablets and computers done properly can only enrich people's education, I think.
I have the same issue too. The education software back in my day was so much better in the sense you could actually learn the curriculum you were being taught and get a better understanding of it. If only those companies would develop for mobile devices.
I'm having a hard time finding anything for my brother to use that would grab his attention and be educational at the same time.And yes, Toca Boca apps are great. No doubt about that.
Just what we need. I am in my mid 20s and my IT education was primarily word processing and office applications. I pity those kids these days who won't even get the level I got, and instead spend their time consuming videos and pictures on these devices.
The goal of teaching kids how to code (as IT classes in schools should be) seems further and further away with each story like this
I kind of agree. When I was a kid I had access to "casual" systems like the Gameboy, NES, etc as well as an Amiga, Spectrum and later a PC. A lot of my friends were in the same situation.
I was the only one who preferred the Amiga and PC route because I could create on them. 20 years later I'm now a creative director at my own game studio and executive producer on some console games, and I lecture and mentor in the field too. And get nominated for GOTY awards and fail every time grumble mumble...
My friends with those "casual" (how I hate that word!) games still just play those games in their latest form. None of them had any drive or push to create instead of just consuming.
But hey there are countless examples of people who just played games in their childhoods, or played no games at all going on to do great things for gaming. This is just my little story of my own little experience.
But I totally agree that kids need devices they can create art, music, software, websites, videos on. The iPad can do those things but I'd rather give a creative child an iMac with Midi keyboard, Wacom and some great insurance.
No, but to develop all the software that runs the hardware in the doctors and dentist offices and most other biological, chemical and phyical sciences -- not to mention the software that powers your iPhone and iPad -- it's very important. Or even the cool graphics you see on television (especially on sports programs) -- all stems from coding, databases, etc.
I may be biased because I write software every day to do various calculations, but it's true.
I noticed it at two stores here in la, one of them like three weeks ago.
But they were both full. Might have been cause it was after school so like dad picks up junior and stops at the Apple store on the way home.
