As previous rumors suggested, Apple’s education press event took place this morning in NYC and they unveiled new software for educators /students. The Cupertino-based company unveiled iBooks 2 for the iPad, iBooks Author, and iTunes U apps for schools and administrators. Of course an iPad or iOS device is required to take advantage of the new apps/services.
Starting with iBooks 2, introduces new full, interactive textbooks priced at $14.99 or less from textbooks companies like Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, McGraw-Hill, & Pearson. Eliminating the need for multiple books within a backpack and replacing it with an iPad. The app is available starting today within the App Store for free.
Next up is iBooks Author app for your Mac that allows anyone to create their own book filled with great content, 3D diagrams, videos, pictures, etc. The Author app is made easy to use with textbook templates & layouts that you can drop/drag content with no problem. The Author app is available for free in the Mac App Store also, starting today.
And lastly introduced today was the iTunes U app for the iOS family (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch) that gives users the ability to take courses on your mobile. The app allows teachers the ability to manage courses, lectures, assignments, books, quizzes, & syllabuses. The app also offers free educational content from universities like Cambridge, Duke, Harvard, Oxford, & Sanford as well as grades K-12. Starting today it along with everything else announced today is available for free.
Jobs’ legacy still continues to thrive with revolutionary ways to help the world through technology like what was unveiled today. My only concern is the schools systems without the budget for iPads, that will continue to fall behind the curve of education.
