Ever Changing Tech World!
Written by Ken Task
An Edu Blogger from TechRepublic attending BBWorld in Vegas, reports:
' … a private equity firm had agreed to purchase Blackboard for $1.6 billion and change about a week and a half ago.'
' … Blackboard announced partnerships with every major US higher education publisher. … the details of which will be emerging over the next few days'.
Ok, that's higher ed … but wonder how long before those same publishers of K12 textbooks begin to offer an online component using BB to their K12 customers. Hmmmm … wonder what BB looks like on an iPad or Android tablet device right now?
The day of one OS for all is fading into 'best OS for the job/device'. Take, for example, recent exchanges of likes for Google+ … then combine that with the interest in iPad's. If Google ever made the decision to get totally behind their Android and coupled Google+, Edu, and all of their online apps (Android Honeycomb 3.2 just now rolling out to mgft), wonder how that would 'shift' the market? Wonder, also, if that would 'shift' the current interest in 'iP-everything'?
The old issues of compatibility and getting this to talk to that are still around (hopefully fading as well). So from what I gather, a typical situation in an ISD might be: Windows on the desktop, iPad for tablets, servers to match - some wouldn't be local - but in the cloud. The ISD's LMS might be Moodle for local (blended) and Project Share for Professional Development - throw in Blackboard remotely hosted for your textbooks - which also means there needs to be an iPad/Android app from BB, Project Share, Moodle, and Windows to match. And let's not forget remote access from device back to our ISD desktop/resources - wirelessly and from any location on the planet! Hmmmm … am imagining that very little of that would be 'free' so all it takes is $$$!
One thing for sure … gone is the day where folks were thinking 'all in one place' and 'standardized' - be that docs or media files. The 'one place' now IS the net! Think we're living a change where teachers ARE becoming 'apps administrators' - via browser, of course (in some cases, that's scary!). And local tech support will have to grow out of their comfort zone with 'pick-your-platform' eco-systems (specialist) into 'other' and multiple - so a working knowledge of iOS, Linux, Android is becoming a desired trait. Just think, a tech who had certifications in MS, Apple, Android, Google, Linux would have a 'chest full of medals' - so much so, it's doubtful they could stand erect and their 'certs wall' for those 'shingles' might need re-enforcing! Actually, someone with all that would more than likely have an impressive e-Portfolio out on the net somewhere - their own 'blog', with FB and Google+ and 'whatever' interlinks!
That's just the 'tech'! What of teachers and colleges who prepare teachers? Higher Ed going to start providing 'sub-shingles' for a BS Ed with emphasis on say LA + iPad/Android + GoogleDocs + Live360?
Another thing for sure … one doesn't lack options!
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