Also see:
- Inkling Announces Launch of Its Digital Textbook Platform
- Inkling brings textbooks to Apple’s iPad, wins funding from Sequoia
- Textbooks Up Their Game Inkling Adapting College Best Sellers for iPad, Capitalizing on Interactive Features
- Inkling – Adding value to digital textbooks
- Replacing a Pile of Textbooks With an iPad
As I sat down to review The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine, which was provided to me as the online version, I wondered, how would this textbook look on my new iPad? Would it be readable? Would it be better than on my desktop? Would it be any better than a “real” textbook? Could this be a new era where information really does get to the bedside?
The short answer is yes—The ESC Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine Online is very readable on the iPad, and as such I think it marks another step in the ongoing shift of information online, making it more mobile. But is an online textbook the answer to “point of care” information in medicine? No, but it is a very useful step forward in helping bring evidence-based information and guidelines to clinicians into day to day practice.
The type of learning materials that can be produced by an organization such as Virtual Heroes is the type/quality of material that will be produced in a vision that I have been calling “The Forthcoming Walmart of Education.”
.
.
Also see:
- Duke U School of Medicine Expands Virtual Game Use for Future Doctors — from CampusTechnology.com by Dian Schaffhauser [via SteveKnode.com]
The Duke University School of Medicine is expanding its efforts to train future doctors in clinical skills through 3D virtual games. The school, which has about 421 students in its MD program, is once again teaming up with Virtual Heroes, a company that creates training products for healthcare, federal systems, and business. Virtual Heroes, a division of research and engineering firm Applied Research Associates, worked with the school in 2007 to create 3DiTeams, an immersive environment that allows participants to play a role in a team medical setting.
From DSC:
This is why I would encourage the U.S. government to see if they can get 1-2 billion — from the billionaires who are donating much of their wealth to charitable causes — in order to create such professionally-done, interactive, engaging, team-created learning materials. Then make those materials available — free of charge — throughout the world.
Murdoch says iPad is a game changer — from PadGadget.com
News Corp announced their 4Q numbers [August 4] and during the earning call News Corp CEO, Rupert Murdoch, said the iPad was a “game changer” for the media industry.
News Corp has eagerly embraced the iPad and was one of the first media companies to launch a newspaper title for Apple’s new device. The Wall Street Journal app quickly shot to the top of the apps charts and has been a top download since the launch of the iPad back in April.
News Corp management is very excited by the tablet format with Chief Operating Officer Chase Carey saying the iPad has “transformed people’s expectations and the opportunities around mobile.” Carey went on to say “it is also a device that for the first time really starts to deliver on the promise of multimedia, where you can see how you could…go between what traditionally would be video content, printed content, advertising that really is attractive that you could penetrate through and engage with.”
Also see:
New online business model will succeed, says Rupert Murdoch
McGraw-Hill Education: Product Manager – Student Innovations
Profession: Marketing -> Product Management
The McGraw-Hill Companies is driving the education, financial services, and business information markets through leading brands such as McGraw-Hill Education, Standard & Poor’s and J. D. Power and Associates. McGraw-Hill Education addresses virtually every aspect of the education market from pre-K through professional learning.
Using traditional materials, online learning and multimedia tools, we empower the growth of teachers, professionals and students of all ages. Our technical innovations are changing the way people learn, with e-books, online tutoring, customized course Web sites and subscription services. We are also a leading provider of reference and trade publishing for the medical, business, engineering and other professions. McGraw-Hill is investing in and committed to innovation, both in its business and in shaping the future of higher education.
The Learning Ecosystems Group is the team responsible for defining that vision of the future. We are building businesses that meet the needs of higher education students – products that can be directly marketed to students and to institutions, including our current GradeGuru product as well as the significant digital platform products in our short-term pipeline. The Learning Ecosystems Group is thus offering a unique and exciting opportunity for an experienced Product Manager in our New York City offices. The ultimate aim for this Product Manager is loosely to develop, deliver and monetize products/ services that will give students the tools they need to meet their course goals, as well as to drive the research, ideation and vision for new product(s)/ service(s) that are responsive to the needs of students.
Essential Accountabilities
- Manage and conduct research to understand and synthesize student tasks, presenting and sharing the findings across the MHHE business.
- Analyze market and product opportunities in the context of primary, secondary and competitive research. Continually collect, distill, and disseminate foundational research to inform product development.
- Build prototypes and/ or wireframes to define functional requirements that can be market tested to determine and prove market potential.
- Develop and thoroughly document/ articulate the vision and business case for the product(s) to gain buy-in from stakeholders across the organization. Clearly communicate a cohesive strategy and product road map.
- Drive product implementation in collaboration with vendors and business analysis and design partners. Build out the detailed functional requirements and design of the initial product/ service based on research, wire-framing, prototyping, user testing, experimentation and iteration.
- Drive the growth of the product/ service(s) over time, both in terms of the product road map/ functionally and customer base and revenues.
- Build out the monetization plans and business model elements to drive the product to ultimate profitability, setting aggressive targets.
- Ensure all resources are in place across the product and working in concert to achieve the ultimate success of the business, including analytical, design, technical and sales/ marketing resources as appropriate. Articulated accountabilities for team members for successful execution and delivery of the overall business objectives and targets.
- Work in collaboration with the existing MHHE sales, marketing and strategy team for maximum productivity, efficiency and product success as well as manage customer needs in collaboration with the existing MHHE customer service group
- Resource and lead a marketing team to drive rapid growth through a sound marketing and PR plan based on our understanding of our market segmentation motivations, our stakeholder interests, social media marketing tools, the power of PR and a grassroots, viral approach.
- Bachelor’s degree; Master’s degree preferred
- 8-12 years experience in related field, at least 2-3 as a lead product manager
- Proven ability to deliver…
Kiwa Media Group is an award winning media company developing iPhone/iPod Touch & iPad Apps, digital content for books, producing film & television programs & digital content for the mobile music industry. Kiwa Media also provides software solutions for ADR and Language Dubbing across the globe. The company is led by President, Rhonda Kite.
Kiwa Media Group brands include QBook, SingQ, VoiceQ & Kiwa TV & Film Production. Kiwa is a registered Mac OS and iPhone developer.
Example product –> QBook – Bringing your stories to life
QBook™ is an interactive read-along digital colour picture book format designed by Kiwa Media for young children. QBook is an eBook, iPhone and iPad app that combines a narrators voice with original picture illustrations and touchable text that is synchronised to highlight and sound when words are touched.
From DSC:
Let’s picture that you are a 3-4 year old…and your parents get you one of these iPads. You begin to learn to read like this using an app like QBook. You grow up knowing this type of technology exists and you use gadgets like this all the time. They keep you engaged…they give you control of the content, pacing, etc.
Now fast forward to college. You’ll quickly see why I preach the dangers of the status quo.
Podcast: William Rankin on Mobile Learning with the iPhone and iPod — Educause
William Rankin is Associate Professor and Director of Educational Innovation at Abilene Christian University. In this interview from the EDUCAUSE 2009 Conference, Rankin discusses ACU’s mLearning Initiative, which deployed mobile devices to the entire freshman class. This created unique opportunities to pilot applications, overcome challenges, and create partnerships.


















