There may come a day when the traditional textbook is a thing of the past. After all, Apple announced some impressive download figures of iTunes U content just this morning. But all those teachers and students downloading materials need a way to view the content, and this afternoon Apple released some staggering numbers in regards to iOS devices in the classroom.
Speaking to TechCrunch, Apple has announced the company sold more than 8 million iPads directly to educators, globally. In the US alone, Apple has sold 4.5 million iPads to educational institutions, according to a statement provided to AllThingsD. Obviously, those are huge numbers, and it's interesting to think how tablets may continue to grow into standard learning materials.
And moreover, it may be a reflection of how education is changing as a whole. As online classes become more and more prevalent, companies like Apple could stand to reap the benefits. iTunes U, and its iOS-specific content, could mean an entirely new market for Apple.
Last year, MacLife took a deep look at how the iPad is changing classrooms, during a time when Apple had announced direct sales of 1.5 million units to educational institutions. Obviously, adoption of iOS in schools has expanded rapidly since, as Apple has moved another 3.5 million iPads into the classroom in less than 12 months.
Apple also announced downloads of over 1 billion from iTunes U this morning.
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