Batman and The Joker, Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, Mr Krab and Plankton. All iconic and equal rivals, they are all fiction unlike two of the most common rivals today; Apple and PC. With their similar technology, with them both having huge fanbases, with them both having a huge influence it’s going to be next to impossible for them not to compete against each other.
It’s getting more and more common for schools to use lots of technology. It just makes education easier and more interesting, nothing wrong with it. But the catch is which of two most popular brands of technology should be used in schools. Apple or PC?
Apple is so widely known for their technology and how it’s presented. From iPhone to iPads, iMacs to ipods. They took the world by storm. If Apple was introduced into school there are a lot of things that would prove to be useful, like apps. Apps can be powerful learning tool and cater to the needs of a wide variety of people. Media students could use iMovie for their work, music students can use igarage and it goes on and on. As a student it’s safe to say that carrying all those textbooks is very tiering and very straining. And it’s Apple to the rescue with its wonderful iBook feature. IBook allows you to have hundreds of books but not suffer the weight. Let’s face it that would be very handy and save lots of locker space. So far apple is sounding pretty right? It’s a shame nothing can be 100% perfect.
One of the problems is that they can get a bit complicated to use if you are doing heavy schoolwork. They can also be a bit finicky. A problem that arises is that you are unable to have more than one window open at a time. The fact that many school related applications may require adobe flash and unfortunately iPads don’t provide that can be annoying. All students would have experienced having to write painstakingly long essays. They take a long time and typing on a small keyboard, on a small device it’s very frustrating. So in that department iPad are not going to work.
The other option for schools is the golden olden PC. PC has proven over time to be reliable and consistent. They make typing those long essays so much easier. Researching these essays becomes instantly easier because you can have more than one window open at a time so it cuts down time. For teacher the use of PCs can make teaching the classroom more engaging for the students. Multimedia presentations are a lot more fun using PCs rather than the vintage style of posters. PCS have been used in school for a while now, and they prove to be liked and enjoyed by teachers and students alike.
Sometimes though PCs don’t live up to their reputation, they can really easily crash and brake. Battery life isn’t as advanced as iPads and it takes longer to charge. Storage of PCs can be frustrating whether it’s a computer lab or a laptop. Computer labs make seating of classrooms rigid and teaching is hard not to be one on one. With laptops its more flexible but carrying them in your bag leaves little space for textbooks. In the classroom the use of laptops can be off putting for teachers because it creates a wall between the student and the teacher.
PC and Apple both have pros and cons, both create different atmospheres for learning. The prices are pretty similar though! At the end of the day both are going to help learning in similar ways, it’s a matter of preference.
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Another fantastic post!!
ReplyDeleteSuch an interesting comparison, you have given me so many ideas to take to our meetings. Very well researched and both sides were considered brilliantly! I especially like your opening sentence - well done!!!