Tim Cook Calls Chromebooks 'Test Machines', Discusses Testing at Hour of Code Event

[MacRumors]

Apple CEO Tim Cook today spent some time at a New York City Apple Store during its Hour of Code event, commenting on what Apple hopes for the future of education and discussing the success of Google's Chromebooks in the education market.

In an interview with BuzzFeed, Cook was asked about Google's Chromebooks overtaking Apple's iPads as the most popular devices in American classrooms. Cook said that Apple wouldn't be following Google's strategy in the education market, calling the lower-priced Chrombooks that have taken over American classrooms "test machines."

BuzzFeed notes that Cook is alluding to one reason Chromebooks have gained in popularity in the education market. As schools turn to computerized testing their need for cheap devices with integrated keyboards and trackpads has increased, rather than tablets that cost more, like Apple's iPads. Apple, says Cook, is not interested in advancing testing.

Instead, Cook said that Apple is interested in "helping students learn and teachers teach, but tests, no." Apple wants to create products "that allow kids to learn how to create and engage on a different level."

In an interview with Mashable at the same event, Cook expounded his thoughts on testing, saying that the classroom of the future is based around problem-solving, creating and learning how to express yourself.

"I'm not a fan of teaching to the test," said Cook, "I think creativity is so important. Training the mind how to think is so important. Teaching to the test, to me, is too much about memorization. In a word where you've got all the information you've got right here," Cook gestured to my iPhone, "your ability to memorize what year a war was won and all this kind of stuff isn't very relevant."

The education market has long been important to Apple. More recently, Apple has promoted iPads in the classroom with education profiles showing how some educators are using the device to teach their students. In March, the Cupertino company overhauled its iPad education program to simplify sharing and apps.

Article Link: Tim Cook Calls Chromebooks 'Test Machines', Discusses Testing at Hour of Code Event

 

[Slix]

Tim Cook gets it. Why "learn" to take tests on what they remember when we all have readily available access to devices that can look this information up almost instantly?

I think the idea that creativity is more important that memorization is spot on. We all need less useless facts in our heads and more creativity in our heads.

 

[thmshale]

I have a chromebook myself and I like it a lot, but when it comes to the education market Tim is right. I work in a school district that recently gave every high school student a windows laptop. The only way I ever see them used is when their math or science teacher assigns homework online. It all just seems like a very expensive way to marginally improve education.

 

[hh83917]

Well...just returned a chrombook, but I'm not sure if you can compare a $150~300 chromebook and the cheapest mac mini costing $499, not counting screen, mouse and keyboard.... Plus, most chromebook apps are free... If I'm getting my kid's first laptop, I'll get a chrombook, because if it break, I won't get a heart attack.

All tools serves some purpose...

 

[stewy]

Creativity is the future. Because we won't need bridges in the future... Just a bunch of finger paintings and poems.

 

[TechZeke]

Well...just returned a chrombook, but I'm not sure if you can compare a $150~300 chromebook and the cheapest mac mini costing $499, not counting screen, mouse and keyboard.... Plus, most chromebook apps are free... If I'm getting my kid's first laptop, I'll get a chrombook, because if it break, I won't get a heart attack.

All tools serves some purpose...

Or, you could just get an Otterbox. I personally know at least 3 sets of parents who use an Otterbox on an iPad and let the children use it. Seems to work very well, and the kids don't have to be stuck on some crappy Chromebook.

There's no way I'd let my future kids suffer on a Chromebook. Would spend the extra $100-$200 in getting a cheap full Windows laptop. At least they will know how to use something actually useful.

 

[dearfriendx]

I agree with his sentiment to some degree. In the US, it seems our professors pressure us to not only know (memorize) information but also apply it to real life, enable us to think critically. From my research, it seems a lot of other countries (not all, by any means) have their students simply memorize and regurgitate terms, definitions and dates--not much critical thinking and application.

 

[Benjamin Frost]

I find Cook's views on learning mistaken.

We have had the ability to look up dates for hundreds of years. Just because it is easier doesn't mean it isn't a good idea to learn dates. In fact, the best way to learn is by writing things out by rote, by copying, because it helps the brain to remember. It's no good spouting about creativity if there's nothing there to start with.

As to chromebooks: it is a shame that Apple's keyboard for the iPad Pro doesn't have a trackpad. It's also a shame that Apple don't make a cheap iPad. They used to make iPods to cater for all budgets. They should make iPhones and iPads to cater for all budgets, rather than conceding the education market to Google, otherwise all those children will grow up on Android and be lost to Apple.

 

[jpgr15]

Tim Cook gets it. Why "learn" to take tests on what they remember when we all have readily available access to devices that can look this information up almost instantly?

I agree with the sentiment of your statement but it reminds me of a statistic I saw a couple years ago.. Something along the lines of 15% of all Internet traffic being related to cats or kittens.

I don't know if it's funny or sad that the first generation to have all of history at our fingertips mostly uses it for cat pictures, memes, or to ask Google questions like 'are dogs just retarded wolves'.

It's also a shame that Apple don't make a cheap iPad. They used to make iPods to cater for all budgets. They should make iPhones and iPads to cater for all budgets, rather than conceding the education market to Google, otherwise all those children will grow up on Android and be lost to Apple.

Isn't the iPad mini or even Air a cheap iPad? Or the 5s a cheap iPhone?

Agree on the children on Android portion. I had Macs in my school district from kindergarten through 12th grade. Macs were the first computer I ever used. Still love them today.

 

[rmatthewware]

Creativity is the future. Because we won't need bridges in the future... Just a bunch of finger paintings and poems.

Because building bridges have nothing to do with creativity... You wouldn't want people learning better ways to make bridges, better ways to lay them out, better ways to maximize traffic flow. Bridges that automatically de-ice in the winter or that can change the number of lanes that go in each direction depending on the time of day. Cook might have oversimplified his point in his statement, but I think he's on the right track.

 

[OneMike]

Chromebook fills a void as iOS devices and such. No need to be a hater Tim.

 

[nathanonlaptop]

As an Education Student in College, I honestly hope standardized testing is on the way out. It is a waste of time and loads of money. I recently conducted a survey on usage of technology in the classroom, and as expected, students want more technology with objective learning, less paper and less bookwork. I personally don't learn from books, but from experiences. Apple has such a strong development base devoted to creating concepts and ideas never imagined, and I want to make sure they continue to adapt to needs. Chromebook's have great integration with google classroom, allowing for a great online architecture and standardization across devices of all types. iPads aren't built around a user account like Chromebooks, which means devices aren't as easy to share within the school. I plan on being a Technology Coordinator when I graduate, and I already see several other competitors in the market.

 

[jedwards87]

Creativity is the future. Because we won't need bridges in the future... Just a bunch of finger paintings and poems.

Please tell me you are not really that ignorant. You know damn good and well what he is talking about.

 

[stewy]

Please tell me you are not really that ignorant. You know damn good and well what he is talking about.

Just using exaggeration in an attempt at humor.

 

[abdullamac77]

Not sure what Tim is on about. What does tests have to do with the discussion? I have both Macs and Chromebooks in my household and I don't see the Chromebooks anyway less in creativity, problem solving and learning. It's a great machine for learning in fact (can't play Steam games for example). I wish Apple could consider doing something similar in the education space as Chromebooks are far more affordable and does the job..

 

[Dephtones]

I have a $200 15 inch chrome book and I love it. Perfect for browsing the web and watching Netflix. Damn good speakers for a laptop, regardless of price. HDMI out to boot.

 

[stewy]

I have a $200 15 inch chrome book and I love it. Perfect for browsing the web and watching Netflix. Damn good speakers for a laptop, regardless of price. HDMI out to boot.

You must be mistaken... They're only for for taking tests

 

[Aldaris]

Creativity is the future. Because we won't need bridges in the future... Just a bunch of finger paintings and poems.

I had an architecture professor once say... "We should have got you all at kindergarten, now we have to break all the stuff you've been taught, would have been so much better to get you when you were still in the sandbox and playing with blocks". Creativity and individuality is being suppressed in today's education environment-it's all test test test. Tim is right. We all basically have a super computer in our pocket.

 

[DaveTheRave]

It's also a shame that Apple don't make a cheap iPad. They used to make iPods to cater for all budgets. They should make iPhones and iPads to cater for all budgets, rather than conceding the education market to Google, otherwise all those children will grow up on Android and be lost to Apple.

All they have to do is allow multiple accounts on iOS. No reason why only one person can be logged into an app. Enable user accounts and multiple students can share an iPad.

 

[AchillesLastStand]

I really like Apple's thinking on creativity and their hardware/software, but I agree with some earlier posts that lower cost devices (both OS X and iOS) would help widen Apple's reach. For example a $100 iPad (some Amazon Fire ones are much less than that) or a $200 laptop.

To hit these prices I guess they would need to cut a few features like retina displays, Touch ID, latest processors, mem, storage, etc., but I think there would be a big market, especially in education. Anyway, just a thought

 

[Gimboid]

All they have to do is allow multiple accounts on iOS. No reason why only one person can be logged into an app. Enable user accounts and multiple students can share an iPad.

Why bother when you can have 2 or 3 chromebooks for the price of one ipad? The chromebooks are just as capable as learning machines, have keyboards and can use mice if needed. Tim Cook will probably never make an economy ipad or macbook for schools because there's no profit in it. Schools need to economize, and you don't do that by buying the most expensive tablet you can find. It's common sense and pragmatic.

 

[Thermonuclear]

Sounds like sour grapes to me. Cook knows that Apple, for all of its supposed technical prowess, is unable to make a US$200 notebook of any kind, let alone sell one at a profit.

Chromebooks are great little machines. I bought one for myself plus two more as gifts. I could buy a couple more and still have spent less than the price of a MacBook Air. Yet each machine is just as good as a MacBook Air when it comes to browsing, video chat, movie playing, and just about every task seen by K-12 students and non-technical college students. The Chrome App Store is big and grows bigger every week. And a Chrome machine doesn't take an hour or more just for a system software update. Plus each one comes with 15 GB of free cloud, better than Apple offers.

What will US$200 get you from Apple? Two of their new iTumor battery packs, one for use and one for backup. Or it could be used to buy three or four adapter dongles for a new MacBook, giving it some of the ports which appear standard on every MacBook Air -- a machine with more power than a MacBook at a lower price.

I have a $200 15 inch chrome book and I love it. Perfect for browsing the web and watching Netflix. Damn good speakers for a laptop, regardless of price. HDMI out to boot.

My Chromebook's display is smaller at 13", but that's okay because it takes up less space. And as you say, it has HDMI output, a feature I use regularly to watch rocket launches from NASA TV full screen on my 24" 1080p monitor. My only added expense was the HDMI cable, and it may be possible to get a ChromeCast gizmo, drive it from the Chromebook, and go entirely wireless.

 

[JimmyHook]

Chromebooks are full of fail. Don't even get me started on the Pixel... over a grand for a web browser lol

Sounds like sour grapes to me. Cook knows that Apple, for all of its supposed technical prowess, is unable to make a US$200 notebook of any kind, let alone sell one at a profit.

Chromebooks are great little machines. I bought one for myself plus two more as gifts. I could buy a couple more and still have spent less than the price of a MacBook Air. Yet each machine is just as good as a MacBook Air when it comes to browsing, video chat, movie playing, and just about every task seen by K-12 students and non-technical college students. The Chrome App Store is big and grows bigger every week. And a Chrome machine doesn't take an hour or more just for a system software update. Plus each one comes with 15 GB of free cloud, better than Apple offers.

What will US$200 get you from Apple? Two of their new iTumor battery packs, one for use and one for backup. Or it could be used to buy three or four adapter dongles for a new MacBook, giving it some of the ports which appear standard on every MacBook Air -- a machine with more power than a MacBook at a lower price.

He knows that kids will learn better with interactive iPad apps instead of Google "Sheets" in a silly web browser

 

[nostaws]

I'd rather code with a keyboard and trackpad/mouse. And if we are trying to prepare students for future jobs, we are going to need many more programmers.

 

[sudo1996]

I hate both machines but would choose the Chromebook as an education device just because of the keyboard and mouse. iPads really are built as toys for messing around with games. The Chrome OS is also a pretty bad limitation, but it's fine for elementary school at least.

Also, what does Tim Cook have against testing as a teaching strategy? He's challenging the most common teaching strategy to look all "progressive" and pretending like the iPad is supposed to be the replacement for it. Yeah, it has flaws, but there's no good alternative, especially not coming from Apple! For learning purposes, it's not bad as long as you design the tests well. My only concern is that it's unfair as a tool for assessment because some students are smart and know the material but just aren't good at taking tests.