The iPad comes in a few versions now, it can be hard to keep track of them all. There’s the 12.9″ iPad Pro, the 10.4″ iPad Pro, the 9.7″ iPad, and the 7.9″ iPad mini—which has a 4 year old processor—is somehow more expensive than the 9.7″ iPad. With the iPad Pro, the entry to the iPad became far more expensive, so Apple introduced the low cost iPad. Apple tried to use it to push the digitization of schools, but at $329, even the current iPad is too expensive for many school districts, at least with its current feature set. The far more desirable iPad Pro, which would be perfect for education due to the Apple Pencil, is so far out of any public school’s price range it would be absurd to try to use it in K-12 education.
That’s where this new low cost iPad comes in. It will replace the existing $329 iPad with a version that will appeal to educators. The new iPad could cost the same $329, or, as some rumors have stated, could even be less expensive. Apple could bring the most attractive education-related feature from the iPad Pro to this low cost device: Apple Pencil support.
It’s the perfect kind of thing for Apple to launch at their education event this week.
Is a Low Cost iPad too Good to be True?
If this sounds like a dream device, you’re not alone. A low cost iPad that would be perfect for education and Apple Pencil support? The Apple Pencil has been only for the high-end iPad Pro for a few years now, could Apple be ready to bring it to their cheapest computing device? Apparently, yes, according to famed Apple reporter Mark Gurman of Bloomberg. Gurman has had his fingers on Apple’s pulse for some time now, often capable of combining inside information with Apple predictions to come up with accurate rumors. He believes Apple’s going to finally win back schools with low-cost iPads focused on education.
Through Mark Gurman doesn’t comment on it, a previous rumor stated that Apple could release a $259 iPad. If Apple finally does update the iPad mini, this could be a price point for it. The iPad mini is good for reading, and is about the size of a Moleskine notebook, therefore great for taking notes by hand. Apple Pencil support would therefore be a welcome addition. Although, Apple Pencil support should, at this point, be on all of Apple’s products.
A Return to Education
ClassKit and the Classwork app could help teachers and students work together
I’m a software engineer. My interest in computers goes back long before I ever touched one. However, I do have very clear memories of the first one I used. It was an Apple II we had in my second grade classroom. I was one crafty second grader and would trick my teacher into thinking I had completed my work for the day so I could play on the computer. Number Munchers and Oregon Trail were among my favorite games. I wanted to know how these computers worked. Having a computer in the classroom inspired me to become what I am today.
Number Munchers was one of my favorite games.
After that, I remember the PowerPC and PowerMac computers in classrooms. I remember when the first iMac came out, and a few of the teachers got them for their classrooms. I’d sneak over into my friend’s class sometimes to look at it during the free time at the end of the day while waiting for our busses to arrive.
Apple used to have a home in my education. However, I noticed my school was phasing out Apple computers. Windows PCs were gradually replacing my beloved Macs. It wasn’t long before the only Macs I could find were in the art classrooms. Apple, through its own pricing, had become obsolete in the classroom. Now, Chromebooks are cheaper than anything Apple offers, and schools are choosing them over Apple’s devices.
What Can We Expect?
The iPad mini would be great in the classroom
We can definitely expect a new low cost iPad on Tuesday. It will likely have Apple Pencil support. It will cost anywhere between $259 and $359. Apple may finally update the iPad mini as well, though we haven’t heard anything else on this. There’s also a slight chance that Apple will release a new low-cost MacBook to replace the MacBook Air. Though it hasn’t been discussed, Apple may even update the Mac Mini.
As far as software is concerned, we will likely see the introduction of ClassKit and an app called Classwork. This will allow teachers to track student’s progress across apps, and sync students’ devices with their teacher’s. It’ll be a great way to unite teachers and students, allowing for more rapid feedback on papers and work.
The Apple Pencil is great for taking notes
It’s great to see Apple focusing on education again. Education in the U.S. has unfortunately fallen behind the rest of the world. We’re not doing enough art education, our foreign language education is seriously lacking, reading and writing skills need improvement, our math scores are falling behind, knowledge of world history, current events, and geography is terrible, books numerous, outdated, and heavy, and teachers assign far too much homework. Injecting technology could solve many of our problems in schools, and Apple may be the company to finally get it right.
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