Thinking the possible……….

“It’s the way we sell’em”

Bicycle for the mind

ICT that sells itself
“Changing One Person at a Time” was once a proud mantra that Apple supporters voiced, and yes, that was how a great deal of the spread of understanding of what Apple brought to the world became embedded. It appropriate that the mid ‘90s Apple tagline still fits – except, today, that “One Person at a Time” has become a torrent as self-discovery, and the underlying message that “it works” renders others like rabbits in headlights. Apple is upon us, and you either dodge or hop on board.
Parallel Universes
Think about Apple for a moment. As a company it focused on two key stakeholder communities in the recent past – The professional end of the Creative and Design sector, and on Education. These communities were almost seemingly diagonally opposite each other (which confused the heck out of industry pundits later), but stop and think for a moment. What was common here? Apple? Certainly, because Apple does what Apple sees is the place to be seen. This was about an expansive range and type of computer (ICT) uses, but underlying it was a set of principles that you, as a computer user either “got” or “didn’t get”. A computer is a computer isn’t it? This was not an either - or proposition. This was about making the very best product, whatever the cost to do so, and if necessary it’ll mean some potential computer users will find the reasons for decisions on how they are made somewhat difficult top comprehend. The “Computer for the Rest of Us” was the earlier strap line still. Remember that?
"Design is a word that's come to mean so much that it's also a word that has come to mean nothing. We don't really talk about design, we talk about developing ideas and making products"
Jonathan Ive, the London-born Head of Design (developing ideas and making products) for Apple.
Apple, and Jobs in particular knew he had to take a totally new approach – and preconceptions of what a computer was had to be broken. Apple had to innovate by bringing together a whole series of small changes that ultimately changed the face of computing forever, but none of which could have had the same impact on its own. That was the brilliance of Jobs (and his team). It was the ability to step back, with the knowledge of what was possible, and to see potential routes to new ways of doing things, to satisfying needs in an industry yet to really find its feet, and create maps that others emulated (copied) and explored. Apple did listen to customers, but it also realised that those customers were locked into a vision of the work that operated traditionally, was constrained by “machine” restrictions, but that needed to be free to be creative and able to develop ideas, study, share – and it developed iteratively. The secret was to be several steps ahead in terms of what would be possible, to listen to the customer, and to understand what could provide solutions to their problems (and desires). It was to place a lot of safe bets, to be willing to change perceptions and to boldly go where....., Well you get my point. Apple never just sat back and watched, but was and is always in that place just over the horizon - willing to look back and see the market developing.
Mega Hertz Mega Hurts or Mega Hearse?
Mhz is not just about speed of a computer doing things (Millions of operations per second) , it’s better using the power of a machine to do things BETTER, more intelligently. Apple used to use the image of a cyclist as part of a wonderful marketing campaign, where the Mac was thought of as a “Bicycle for the Mind”. The idea was never fully explained to me, but I saw it as accessible, easy to come to terms with, fun and more than anything else, fun.
I love the example given by Nitin Pradhan, CIO at the US Department of Transportation, when he referred to the car industry of the 60s - and innovation. He said “Like an internal combustion engine, you need spark then compression to generate horsepower.  ..... ideas spark change – experienced experts manage change.” Well, Apple has always been a “young company”. It has always been a systems/design thinking company.
So, no hearse needed here then.
Preventing “evaporation” while growing the pool

Steve Jobs, Computers are like a bicycle for our minds. - Michael Lawrence Films

Apple, in its early days, focused a great deal of attention on education. It gave away computers, but much more importantly, it brought in expertise from teaching and learning to help it develop the right sorts of products to help open up learning opportunities. It used its professional starting point in the creative print arena to bring educators an environment in which they could engage learners and encourage creativity in ways other platforms had to follow. In the USA there was the development of the ACOT programme (Apple Classroom of Tomorrow) which explored what could be achieved by learners given access to rich ICT environments. It trained teachers, and eventually it trained teachers to train teachers with the Apple Distinguished Programme. Along the way, with the development of the internet and the web, Apple developed products that delivered information and collaborative spaces for educators to exchange ideas and work in cooperation. In all cases these were free. In the UK, the Scots grabbed the Apple Classroom of Tomorrow programme and made terrific leaps with Apple, yet in England and Wales, with the Government focus on the BBC Microcomputer, the opportunity was all but missed. That was such a shame. In or around 2000 Apple embarked on a huge teacher training initiative in Scotland training over 10,000 teachers as part of the New Opportunities Fund Programme. I know (and it still gives me a kick) I ran that for Apple UK.
Universities and College were the recipients of a great deal of funding in the nineties and into the early naughties, much of that funding arising from European Regeneration Funding and cross European Development. Apple (in the UK) was able to work with several major projects by assisting with ingenious and generous funding.
Apple UK was the founding sponsor of NAITFE (now NILTA) in FE.
Apple UK supported the first IMS programme in Europe (University of Wales, Bangor led)
Apple UK was the only external supporting sponsor of FEDA’s QUILT, FE teacher training programme.
Apple UK supported NAACE
Apple supported UCISA
Apple supported ALT
Apple supported DIME
Each of these (and it is not at all exhaustive) relationships was an investment in customers at a time when the story for Apple was mixed, but when dedicated followers needed to know Apple was there for them. Today, life is much easier. Apple is now established, and far from a niche that needs to explain its existence.
See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob_GX50Za6c
New users - they are lining up as Apple has reached that point on the acceptance curve that means momentum, to a certain extent, powers it. Alas, the newer users will not have the sort of extensive experiences of the hard fought days when I, for one was asked at an interview, “How did you feel, working for a failed IT company”.
I think people today, and new Apple converts may be less inclined to see the reasoning, but they understand that products that just work are products worth using. It is not rocket science really, and somehow I cannot feel anything but sadness for those, supposedly intelligent and switched on ‘experts’” who still do not “Get It”.
“Apple might be the world’s most valuable company, with a market capitalisation of $556bn (£354bn), but its design chief insists it is not in business for the money.”
The Telegraph 30th July 2012
Shigeo Shingo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shigeo_Shingo) said that when you’re trying to improve things it should be easier, better, faster, cheaper in that order.
I once had a badge from Apple that just had a red logo, and the words “I Get IT”. Surely that is what everyone wants to do?

John Rudkin BEd(Hons) Design Education
http://www.johnarudkin.net
johnar@me.com

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Retention Policy?
iPads in Education

Students at Jefferson Christian Academy were surprised (today) with news they will be getting an iPad next year.

http://www.johnarudkin.net/resources/JCA-students-to-get-iPads-in-2013.mp4

See:
http://eastjefferson.myfoxal.com/news/schools/108842-jca-students-get-ipads-2013.

I’m sure this story about iPads in Education will be updated and unfold. As schools around the world, the USA (and a small number in the UK), it seems that many have argued the pros and cons of bringing technologies such as iPads into the classroom.

I fear one thing they often forget to do is talk to the students. The reaction at East Jefferson is wonderful. I feel sorry for those graduating, but the pizza will, I am sure, be good, but how do you deal with the “just-misseds”. iPads in Education really are becoming recognised as valuable learning aids.

What is an even bigger issue I fear is that changes in the way ICT is perceived and supported from UK central government needs to be informed about the possibilities that new technologies bring. You find plenty mored about that subject across my blog, and across my website. So, while we deliberate and ignore what plainly is right in front of our eyes (this stuff really does work!), how many more UK students will miss out on an education that brings them up to date.

If you want to know the arguements for and against new technology in education, call me.

We can discuss, but let me show you how, where and what evidence there is for making the change, and the massive benefits it brings, not only to your students, but to your school as well.

Do it. Don’t wait.

e john@johnarudkin.net m 07708 933705

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How the iPad Has Changed Us.

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Shut Down or Restart

Shut Down or Restart. Interesting decision that has to be made on many a digital device. I think something is missing. There is a lot of wonderful ICT work going on in schools, and that needs to be retained, so its a “Hard Reset” to me.
No commentary at this stage, but it would appear there are broad areas of agreement between Michael Gove and the RSC in this, its latest report on the state of ICT in British Schools.

http://royalsociety.org/education/policy/computing-in-schools/report/

The Computing in Schools project looked at the current provision of education in Computing in UK schools, informed by evidence gathered from individuals and organisations with an interest in computing.

Key points of the report include:

1 ) The current delivery of Computing education in many UK schools is highly unsatisfactory. Although existing curricula for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) are broad and allow scope for teachers to inspire pupils and help them develop interests in Computing, many pupils are not inspired by what they are taught and gain nothing beyond basic digital literacy skills such as how to use a word-processor or a database.

This is mainly because:

a) the current national curriculum in ICT can be very broadly interpreted and may be reduced to the lowest level where non specialist teachers have to deliver it

b) there is a shortage of teachers who are able to teach beyond basic digital literacy

c) there is a lack of continuing professional development for teachers of Computing

d) features of school infrastructure inhibit effective teaching of Computing

2 ) There is a need to improve understanding in schools of the nature and scope of Computing. In particular there needs to be recognition that Computer Science is a rigorous academic discipline of great importance to the future careers of many pupils. The status of Computing in schools needs to be recognised and raised by government and senior management in schools.

3) Every child should have the opportunity to learn Computing at school, including exposure to Computer Science as a rigorous academic discipline.

4) There is a need for qualifications in aspects of Computing that are accessible at school level but are not currently taught. There is also a need for existing inappropriate assessment methods to be updated.

5) There is a need for augmentation and coordination of current Enhancement and Enrichment activities to support the study of Computing.

6 ) Uptake of Computing A-level is hindered by lack of demand from higher education institutions.

The text of this report is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike.

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Release top all Ofsted connections - Parentview

Readers who are parents, guardians or for that matter, people who work in local schools might find this information particularly interesting:

Ofsted has launched Parent View, a new online questionnaire that will allow parents and carers to give their views on their child's school at any time ofthe year. Covering over 22,000 schools across England, the 12-question survey will help other parents as they make important choices about their child's education and provide Ofsted with information about schools that will help inform priorities for inspection.

Want to take a look?

You can access the site at http://parentview.ofsted.gov.uk/ after which you'll be able to search for results for schools or if you have children attending a school, register to complete a questionnaire.

The questions have been carefully chosen to cover those issues that parents have told Ofsted are the most important to them. They are also designed to provide Ofsted with the information to support decisions about inspection and will give headteachers a direct route into gathering the views of their parent group.

Launching Parent View, Baroness Sally Morgan, Ofsted Chair said:   "Parent View will give mums and dads a voice and will give Ofsted important feedback about their children's schools"We hope you find the new 'Parent View' service useful, if you'd like to tell us what you think of the new service, please use the contact us page

http://parentview.ofsted.gov.uk/contact

Ofsted

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Watch these videos

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