Saturday’s Apple: Apple in Education

[Magnus]

If I have any profession, it would be teacher. I’ve been teaching for about twelve years, mainly IT, at colleges and universities in four countries around the world, including the UAE. And we know Apple has always been very prominent in education, but here in the UAE they seem absent from many areas, apart from the usual suspects, so to speak, like design and media.

So why is that?

I’ve been teaching at one of the HCT colleges in the Emirates for almost three years now and the only visit from ABM (or Apple IMC ME, Apple’s representative in the Middle East) that I’ve been aware of is one demonstration of podcasting for a small (about 5) group of people. That’s it. There’s been no larger demonstration or awareness-campaign, no attempt at spreading word about Apple and Macs, etc. Admittedly something might have been going on that I didn’t know about, but as a teacher in IT, you would think that Apple would do more to make me aware of the options.

And it’s not like there is no market, even among IT students. Whenever I take my Mac to class, students look at it longingly saying the want one, and often it happens that a student wants to try it out. That’s why I have a demo account set up in Mac OS X on my MacBook Pro, so even if they want to try it, they don’t end up accidentally see the upcoming exam paper. Whenever I demo Mac OS X or some applications like iLife to my students, they go “wow”, “amazing”, and “I want one!” There’s an interest there that’s not being capitalized on.

One reason usually given for Apple’s apparent lack of presence in education here is that Macs are more expensive than PCs. And it’s true, you can buy a PC a lot cheaper than a Mac, at least if you just look at sticker price. And that’s probably even more of a problem here in the Middle East with Apple prices higher than the US, but that can’t be the only explanation.

I suspect education is the key, no pun intended. If I look around me at my IT-teaching colleagues, hardly anyone has a good idea of what Macs are really about, what Mac OS X is, and what software is available. The usual myths and misconceptions are everywhere, like Macs are only for designers, Macs are not compatible with anything, etc. And that’s among IT teachers who really should know better. But I’m not sure we can blame them. It seems to me that ABM should have been doing more to educate the teachers about Apple and Macs, and they’ve lost out on a great opportunity to spread Macs to more classrooms, more teachers, and more students.

It’s time for a change.

Education of the market is something we’ve believed very strongly in when starting EmiratesMac.com the EmiratesMac Apple User Group, and Shuffle. And it’s something that is not being done enough. I’m not necessarily talking about the traditional mass marketing now, even though it would be cool to see an Arabic Mac versus PC ad on TV. I’m talking about being out there among customers, talking to them, engaging them in discussions and debates online on web sites as well as offline at meetings and gatherings. Those are interactions that are not happening right now and if they are they are not in public which means they are not being noticed. It’s time to change that, and we’re going to do our part.

[Infiniteloop]

i am a student in UAEU in information tech collage, my mac stands out even with teachers since i am the only mac user in the University it is fun to show of, i think many got interested in the mac (some people thought it has no GUI and i cant surf the net etc etc)

[Magnus]

i am a student in UAEU in information tech collage, my mac stands out even with teachers since i am the only mac user in the University it is fun to show of, i think many got interested in the mac (some people thought it has no GUI and i cant surf the net etc etc)

Cool, how would you like to be EMUG representative on your campus?

[Infiniteloop]

Cool, how would you like to be EMUG representative on your campus?

what do i have to do? as long as its not something hard sure why not

[Magnus]

what do i have to do? as long as its not something hard sure why not

Not much really, we list you on the EMUG page, and we'd love to get you some Shuffles each month to give out to people. You'll be the first point of contact on your campus when it comes to EMUG with questions etc.

If you're interested we'll also hook you up with Apple IMC ME and you can be one of their reps too (then there's money and some other things involved). More on this to come shortly.

[Infiniteloop]

Not much really, we list you on the EMUG page, and we'd love to get you some Shuffles each month to give out to people. You'll be the first point of contact on your campus when it comes to EMUG with questions etc.

If you're interested we'll also hook you up with Apple IMC ME and you can be one of their reps too (then there's money and some other things involved). More on this to come shortly.

sure that sounds simple but isnt shuffle for MACs? they are mostly windows users, and i need to check if they would let me give out the magazines, you know stupid University rules etc..

[Magnus]

sure that sounds simple but isnt shuffle for MACs? they are mostly windows users, and i need to check if they would let me give out the magazines, you know stupid University rules etc..

Well Shuffle covers iPod, iPhone and other stuff, and there's always the hope that someone will see the light and switch Isn't there any other school or department at your campus that perhaps use Macs? Like media, design, communications, or something? Anyway, we can continue this in private. I'll send you some details.

[Magnus]

So let me ask everyone, what's your experience with Apple in education in the Middle East? Are they active? Do they arrange activities? Do they support you as Mac users? Tell me all, the good and the bad. Infiniteloop wrote that he's "the only mac user in the University" - is that a common situation? If so, what would you like for Apple to do to help you out and improve that situation? What can EmiratesMac Apple User Group do to help?

[iaindxb]

I remember using an Apple Classic in school in the UK. There was an upgrade from ATARIs, I remeber wanting a powerbook then also as a few of my friends wanted them. I don't know what they have now or how long they kept apples for.

As for out here, my daughter is in school here and they have a PC in every class and work on PC in ICT. She hasn't had a go on my Mac yet as I am always on it!!!!! But I think she would get it quicker than a PC, I do a little with her and she does get confused with it!!!! If I had more cash lying around she I would get her a MAc now, (she has a older Laptop) but at the moment I am waiting for the EE pc to come out. I think she needs to learn from an early age that every computer does not run Windows!!!! Like a lot of people seem to think.

[medopal]

I remember in mu univ in Palestine there was two PowerPC G5 in graphics and multimedia college, but i never remember they used them in something efficient, and they were just for "expert" students to use!!!!!!!