Push for tablets in class

TECHNOLOGY giant Apple is making a play to become an ingredient in school bags after unveiling a student-friendly version of its tablet computer.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook revealed its new schoolfocused products at Chicago’s Lane Tech College Prep School yesterday, telling an audience including 300 teachers that the company had big plans for schools.

“Technology has an important role to play in the classroom,” Mr Cook said.

“We’ve been at this for 40 years and we care deeply for education. We know our products can help bring out the creative genius in every kid.”

Apple’s new classroomfriendly iPad will offer many of the same features as Apple’s existing 9.7-inch tablet computer, including the same form and sensors, though it will let users write on the screen using Apple’s Pencil for the first time, and let students create digital books and augmented reality apps.

Apple also revealed a new app called Schoolwork, due in June, in which teachers can assign students homework inside apps rather than worksheets or textbooks.

Australians bought 1.65 million tablet computers in the last six months of 2017, according to the Australian Tablet Computer Market Study to be released by research firm Telsyte, almost half of which were Apple iPads.