Apple launches "Field Trip to the Apple Store" program

[AppleInsider]

Apple continues to come up with innovative ways to introduce younger generations to its family of products, the latest of which invites teachers to book a field trip to a local Apple retail store ahead of the holiday shopping season.

"Take your students on a Field Trip to an Apple Store for an unforgettable learning experience," the company says on a new website dedicated to the initiative. "On their Field Trip, students can create something amazing right on the spot. Or they can bring in a project they’ve already created and turn our store into a theater, sharing their achievements with parents, teachers, and friends."

The goal is to introduce K-12 students in the US and Canada to the world of Apple products right before they'll be filling out their holiday wish lists. As such, the company said it will be taking reservations from teachers from now through November 21st. Teachers can request up to three date options and an Apple Store specialist will contact them by telephone within 48 hours to seal the deal.

Apple also asks that teacher name a "School Champion" who can gather and present their school’s content, help distribute invitations to the event, and act as the key contact for the Apple Retail Store hosting their Field Trip. In return, the company will provide the School Champion with a complimentary one-year One to One personal training membership.



During their field trip, Apple said students can use Macs to create photo albums in iPhoto, edit video in iMovie, build websites in iWeb, make Keynote presentations, or even compose their own songs in GarageBand. Apple Store Trainers and Specialists will be on-hand to answer questions and give expert, on-the-spot advice, the company said. Every participating student will also leave clad in a free Apple T-Shirt.

Of course, parents are welcome to accompany students on the one-hour field trips.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[CREB]

Capitalism at its finest—get 'em while they're young! I love Apple for many things, but this is bloody crass and a waste of valuable tax dollars.

[BRussell]

Ugh. "And tomorrow, a field trip to Walmart and on Friday, McDonalds!"

[breeze]

Learn the difference between quality and junk and see what a difference it makes to your future when you have good tools and superior support....

Clever idea !

[DeaPeaJay]

What teacher in their right mind would sign up for this? I think we should *cut* funding for education if all their going to do is waste it on field trips like this.

more money ≠ better education

[claremont]

What the fuck is this Apple. Notice how your stock has lost half its value in the past 5 months? Probably time to focus on improving your products....

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by BRussell

Ugh. "And tomorrow, a field trip to Walmart and on Friday, McDonalds!"

LMAO!

"Hey, kids! If you apply now, one day YOU can work a cash register!"

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by CREB

Capitalism at its finest—get 'em while they're young! I love Apple for many things, but this is bloody crass and a waste of valuable tax dollars.

Schools are notorious for these kinds of things. I remember when we would have 1/2 day "assemblies" which amounted to Disney movies being shown in the gymnasium for the whole school. Who knows if the teachers created these things just to go for a cigarette break. Looking back, I could have easily skipped several grades and not missed a thing.

Your tax dollars at work.

[rtdunham]

that's a great idea. everyone benefits from an introduction to what the software and hardware around us can do. yes, it should be good for business. and that's bad, because....? but it'll also be enlightening for the kids. how many schools have the equipment or the skills to provide a comparable experience? I'll bet it's eye-opening for some of the students.

win-win.

[breeze]

Originally Posted by claremont

What the fuck is this Apple. Notice how your stock has lost half its value in the past 5 months? Probably time to focus on improving your products....

Hey big mouth ,

Apple is a leader in Educational software and support, many schools nationwide and colleges have equipped their students with Apple hardware and software solutions. Some are luckier than others ...1 year's worth of Free 1 on 1
tutoring is invaluable - It might help your perception some if you were lucky enough to appreciate it or get it offered to you ...

The difference between fully benefiting form a computer, software or iPod, is putting it to good productive use by knowing it's applications and how to better use them ie: more uses than emailing.

Not everyone can afford to pay for 1on1 tutoring and dedicated attention....

[jlaselva]

Deleted.

[ceolaf]

An hour at the store. Time to get together and get to the store. Time to get from the store and settle down the kids.

Wow. What a way to waste nearly half a school day. What is the educational value in this?

I would fire any any teacher who thought that this is a good idea.

[mstone]

Originally Posted by DeaPeaJay

What teacher in their right mind would sign up for this? I think we should *cut* funding for education if all their going to do is waste it on field trips like this.

more money ≠ better education

Our neighborhood elementary school had a big cow in the trailer on view today at the playground and all the kids were sitting on the ground for a presentation. "This is a cow, and these are cow patties." I think they would probably learn more valuable lessons at the Apple Store.

[Chris_CA]

Originally Posted by claremont

What the fuck is this Apple. Notice how your stock has lost half its value in the past 5 months? Probably time to focus on improving your products....

5 months? Try 5 weeks.
And in case you live in a cave, it has little to do with Apple or their products.
Everything is down a LOT!

[pdiddy]

Originally Posted by jlaselva

This is a clever idea on Apple's part: just like the cigarette companies, we've gotta hook 'em while they're young. Bring them in, let them play some games on the shiny new computers, and go home asking Santa for a new Mac Pro. Brilliant marketing strategy.

I hope it's ignored by those in the education field, though. Bringing kids, especially young ones, into the commercial environment of an Apple Store to play with expensive goods isn't learning, it's blatant product placement. Computers in the classroom are one thing, but an outing to the Apple Store is little more than an outing to McDonald's, to learn about how fries are made and how to operate the registers. They're both commercial experiences, lacking any higher degree of learning or intellectual stimulation.

The Apple Store is a retail operation. It's not a museum, or a nature preserve, or an aquarium, or what have you. Teachers, please don't expose your kids to such an insidious marketing ploy.

Man, I'm sorry you're having such a bad day. This would be a way better field trip than almost everything I ever went on as a child. The kids that go to this are going to be extremely fired up about technology, and yes, also Apple products.

You have to remember though, most of these kids have a crap PC at home that can't do anything but surf the web. If they're lucky their parents bought them a game or two, but that's pretty much it. I bet half the kids out there don't even know what it's like to own a real computer. I think it will make BIG impressions on the kids that go to it

And by all means, Microsoft ought to sponsor their own. Go into Best Buy or something and everybody can be given a handout with math equations they can punch into the calculator. Then they can all race to see who can paint a solid black picture in Paint. I'm sure that would make a lasting impression too. I for one hope Microsoft will get in on this idea too.

[UltimateKylie]

Beyond firing any teacher that thought this was a good idea (as mentioned above), This is also an extreme inconvenience. Thinking of my local apple store, a field trip of 30 would use almost all the computers in there. It maybe might work for the bigger stores, but still would be annoying to the customers.

Its funny that apple fanbois complain that Windows is indoctrinated into people from the start, but then Apple goes out and encourages the same thing. My school did have the iMac G3 in the office, and our computer lab had like a 6000 or 7000 series all in one that would crash constantly (its funny to read that bad design did cause that) so i'm not saying selling computers at a discount is bad... but this is over the top.

I know my local apple store is quite small and always busy when I go to it, and the staff aren't the brightest either, like opening up a second checkout computer instead having me wait 20 mins for the person that bought the macbook and EVERYTHING they suggested he get. Sorry, I was only getting the macbook with no extras...

[breeze]

Originally Posted by ceolaf

An hour at the store. Time to get together and get to the store. Time to get from the store and settle down the kids.

Wow. What a way to waste nearly half a school day. What is the educational value in this?

I would fire any any teacher who thought that this is a good idea.

Field Trips are supposed to be fun and expose kids to the outside world... They are not on account of "regular classes" and are budgeted and scheduled as such. Did you never have one?

[paxman]

Originally Posted by CREB

Capitalism at its finest—get 'em while they're young! I love Apple for many things, but this is bloody crass and a waste of valuable tax dollars.

I think there is a difference between taking the kids to an Apple store and letting McDonalds in to provide catering. Both 'capitalism at its finest' except one will kill ya and the other won't. I expect a trip to the Apple store could be a lot of fun. I once saw an Apple stall (playground) at an IT in Education Show and kids were making animations using the built in camera and some kid friendly animation package. Having said that the idea that a school goes to a specific hardware supplier for a school trip feels wrong. If apple offered a fun multimedia educational program they could bring to a school upon invitation, and then offered the in store solution as an option, it would sit a lot better with me. Its the 'packaging' that makes this initiative seem so 'bloody crass'.

If my kids got invited I wouldn't discourage it, however. They'd have a great day. Hey... NO SCHOOL!

[Bowser]

Ashamed of yourselves.

This thread is a testament to the power of the anonymity of the internet to turn people into bile spewing hate mongers. That's just sad. There hasn't been one iota of genuine debate over substantive issues here... just diatribe and bile.

But oh, I'm sorry... it's just human nature to be a spiteful, selfish, inconsiderate asshole. Particularly on the internet.

What was I thinking?

[gastroboy]

Shades of the Simpsons' outing to a box factory!

Luckily American freedom isn't compromised at all by corporate product placement.

Perhaps Apple could next sponsor loudspeakers in school playgrounds playing non-stop selections from the iTunes Store interspersed with Mac vs PC ads.

[Leonard]

I agree with Bowser. Man, I'd hate to have some of these people as parents. No field trips. What's this world coming to. I remember all sorts of fun field trips like visiting the local milk and ice cream manufacturer, the local bus manufacturer, etc. They were all advertising their products. And yes, I remember the few movie days, either in a classroom or gym, usually on something more educational, but sometimes just a regular movie.

I'm sure alot of teachers could turn this into an educational event, like creating your own class movie on a topic - teaching leadership, teamwork, cooperation, TV or Podcast creation and whatever topic your creating your movie on. You have to think beyond what Apple is advertising. Man you guys have no vision. I'm not even a teacher and I probably can think of several things that would be educational.

Ooooh, another good idea, a class on animation, such as clay animation or paper animation... man this could be fun.

[PXT]

If students are using Windows at school, then they may be learning that computers break and need to be fixed.

At an Apple Store event, they may learn that computers work and can be used to do things.

Even if they only remember that much, it is valuable, both to Apple and to the students.

I am sure that half the country avoid using computers to achieve as much as they would like because Microsoft have taught us that it's hard.

Additionally, my experience of Apple Stores is that the staff pretty much set the standard for good behavior!

[Leonard]

Originally Posted by UltimateKylie

Beyond firing any teacher that thought this was a good idea (as mentioned above), This is also an extreme inconvenience. Thinking of my local apple store, a field trip of 30 would use almost all the computers in there. It maybe might work for the bigger stores, but still would be annoying to the customers.

Stores are empty during the day (have you been to a mall during the school day? They're 3/4s empty), it's an excellent way to use a store during the day. If nothing else, close the store to customers. It's a temporary inconvenience.

[trevorlsciact]

ugh awful awful move on apples part, prolly wont make any noise tho so no big deal. but, seriously???

[floccus]

Has anyone thought that the "School Champion" would most likely be the computer teacher and that this is actually a rather useful way to showcase how computers can be used to create a project and present it in various forms? I could easily see some computer teachers setting up month long projects or the like, and then using the "field trip" as an exciting way to let the kids show off what they've done in an exciting environment, the theatre area. Even better if this is combined with art class.

This isn't as crass a ploy as all of you assume. Sure, they're trying to get kids excited in Apple products, but they already pretty much have them hooked on iPods anyways. This seems like an effective way of showcasing the strength of integration in Apple's software for education and content creation.

[Dorotea]

Originally Posted by CREB

Capitalism at its finest—get 'em while they're young! I love Apple for many things, but this is bloody crass and a waste of valuable tax dollars.

While not appropriate for schools, I do think that the concept works for other children's groups.

Many years ago when I was a brownie (jr Girl Scout), we went on many tours of local facilities. Naegele's christmas decorations, a candy factory and various other facilities. It could be fun for kids, just don't fund it with taxpayer dollars.

[BRussell]

Originally Posted by Leonard

I agree with Bowser. Man, I'd hate to have some of these people as parents. No field trips. What's this world coming to. I remember all sorts of fun field trips like visiting the local milk and ice cream manufacturer, the local bus manufacturer, etc. They were all advertising their products. And yes, I remember the few movie days, either in a classroom or gym, usually on something more educational, but sometimes just a regular movie.

I'm sure alot of teachers could turn this into an educational event, like creating your own class movie on a topic - teaching leadership, teamwork, cooperation, TV or Podcast creation and whatever topic your creating your movie on. You have to think beyond what Apple is advertising. Man you guys have no vision. I'm not even a teacher and I probably can think of several things that would be educational.

Ooooh, another good idea, a class on animation, such as clay animation or paper animation... man this could be fun.

I think everyone can see the value in field trips to museums, to parks, to the fire station to see the fire trucks, even manufacturers like you say. Just not stores.

I see that you're from Canada. I imagine it's not as much of a problem where you're from, but the commercialization of US culture - including schools - has gone too far, and that's what many of us are reacting to.

[UltimateKylie]

Originally Posted by Leonard

Stores are empty during the day (have you been to a mall during the school day? They're 3/4s empty), it's an excellent way to use a store during the day. If nothing else, close the store to customers. It's a temporary inconvenience.

Actually Apple.com says their stores are least busy early morning or late night and busiest during the day (Go to Apple.com, find your local store and then hit shopping hints). So I went early 10AM to buy my Touch... BUSY. (On a Friday) and then I went late night on a Tuesday to buy my Macbook... BUSY. So maybe they need to make this Apple store at Victor (Outside Rochester, NY) bigger but even my BF was shocked at how busy it was. But then as a reference I have been to the London, UK Apple store as well at 12 noon midday weekday and it was also busy. Granted this was a few years back in the PowerPC days.

In addition... I feel sorry for you guys that think Doughnut factories or Apple Store is a field trip and think i'm Anonymous and thus hateful. I would say my exact opinions to your face, i'm not soft spoken and will always say my opinions.

My field trips as a child was like going to Indian Reservations when I was in Tulsa, OK and we also went down to Oklahoma City to a Technology Museum which was very neat. In addition, later when I lived in Pensacola, FL my High School took as to the US Naval Air Force museum. Much bigger and better opportunities for learning.

[PXT]

I am in my 40s and recently started visiting my local Apple Store, and I have learned a lot !

I have learned that it is possible for employees at the ground level of a large company to be enthusiastic, knowledgeable, professional, polite and treat themselves and eachother with self respect, while feeling proud of the product that they sell.

Apple Stores are not just places that sell stuff, like Walmart. They really are different and I think there is a real lesson to be absorbed that they would not get from looking at people working in factories or old stuff in a museum.

The staff are not on commission and are trained to teach, already running workshops which are like classes. This is not a bad thing for kids to experience at all.

[Nvidiot4120]

Everyone views Microsoft as the Evil Empire of the computer world but in all honesty they don't look like such villains anymore.

I concur with the parallel to cigarette companies targeting children. Notice they offer incentives like Free Shirts? If this was really Steve Jobs trying to make an attempt at philanthropy then I apologize but have you talked to someone in an apple store lately? I'm not dissing Apple but they could really spend more money on training, granted their not any better than most big box stores but at least they (BB & CC) don't offer a field trip to their mecca of technological knowledge.

Most people are experiencing first hand the squeeze of a poor economy, what a great way to stimulate it by giving all our money to Apple. Remember when you were a child and your teachers would squeeze your parents for money to go on field trips that really had no educational value like a beach or amusement park (No joke, physics day)? Not only will proud parents be paying for johnny or jimmy to go to the apple store but then they'll be getting squeezed at home for that new Ipod or Mac product.

I love you Apple for giving me an alternative to Windows but seriously, leave my kids alone. If I have the money to give my kids a shiny Apple product and welcome them into a life-long cult then let me do it when i feel they are ready!

[eAi]

This page has been up for at least a month, I saw it by accident then...

On what basis are you saying this is 'new'? Has there been a press release about it, or did you just notice it...?

[columbus]

Where were the field trips like this when I was at school?

We went to museums, galleries and archeological digs.

It's not fair…

[Bengt77]

I'm not liking this. Really, I think it's morally wrong. I love Apple, but I'm really disliking this idea. And yes, of course field trips are cool. But not when it's really a marketing program. Really, really bad idea, in my opinion.

[t2star]

Wait, they're actually serious about this?

If my son's teacher wasted class time like this, I'd be pretty upset.

BTW, I love Apple's products, I'm using one right now.

[cameronj]

Originally Posted by CREB

Capitalism at its finest—get 'em while they're young! I love Apple for many things, but this is bloody crass and a waste of valuable tax dollars.

What tax dollars?

[cameronj]

Originally Posted by claremont

What the fuck is this Apple. Notice how your stock has lost half its value in the past 5 months? Probably time to focus on improving your products....

Time for you to turn off CNBC and go for a walk my friend.

Oh yeah, poor products are why Apple has lost half its value. Apparently every company in the US suddenly has bad products.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by Leonard

I agree with Bowser. Man, I'd hate to have some of these people as parents. No field trips. What's this world coming to. I remember all sorts of fun field trips like visiting the local milk and ice cream manufacturer, the local bus manufacturer, etc. They were all advertising their products. And yes, I remember the few movie days, either in a classroom or gym, usually on something more educational, but sometimes just a regular movie.

I'm sure alot of teachers could turn this into an educational event, like creating your own class movie on a topic - teaching leadership, teamwork, cooperation, TV or Podcast creation and whatever topic your creating your movie on. You have to think beyond what Apple is advertising. Man you guys have no vision. I'm not even a teacher and I probably can think of several things that would be educational.

Ooooh, another good idea, a class on animation, such as clay animation or paper animation... man this could be fun.

It would be different if the kids could go to a design, manufacturing or repair facility. Going to a store can be done on their own time.

[Superbass]

Originally Posted by Leonard

I agree with Bowser. Man, I'd hate to have some of these people as parents. No field trips. What's this world coming to. I remember all sorts of fun field trips like visiting the local milk and ice cream manufacturer, the local bus manufacturer, etc. They were all advertising their products. And yes, I remember the few movie days, either in a classroom or gym, usually on something more educational, but sometimes just a regular movie.

The difference is that the milk and bus manufacturer trips show kids how 2 important parts of their day are MADE, which is actually a mandatory component of most education systems in the western world; that is, drawing connections between daily products like food and cars to their respective manufacturing processes. Pretty important learning process when you think about it.

I don't think anyone here would mind kids being taken to a computer assembly plant to see how the whole process works, but the program described here with Apple is basically advertising Apple products in a shopping mall setting, with a date that specifically targets the xmas shopping period. The "product demonstrations" are the same sales pitches that adults get when they go to the Apple store, but probably with more of a focus on games and kid-friendly content.

Despicable!

[CREB]

Originally Posted by cameronj

What tax dollars?

If it is a public school then tax dollars are paying for that teacher, and mode of transportation. Hell, if it in California then you can rent the Terminator for a day (he needs the money for the defunct State budget).

[emoeric87]

Originally Posted by pdiddy

Man, I'm sorry you're having such a bad day. This would be a way better field trip than almost everything I ever went on as a child. The kids that go to this are going to be extremely fired up about technology, and yes, also Apple products.

You have to remember though, most of these kids have a crap PC at home that can't do anything but surf the web. If they're lucky their parents bought them a game or two, but that's pretty much it. I bet half the kids out there don't even know what it's like to own a real computer. I think it will make BIG impressions on the kids that go to it

And by all means, Microsoft ought to sponsor their own. Go into Best Buy or something and everybody can be given a handout with math equations they can punch into the calculator. Then they can all race to see who can paint a solid black picture in Paint. I'm sure that would make a lasting impression too. I for one hope Microsoft will get in on this idea too.

Just keep in mind that Apple has always been, like any multi-billion dollar corporation, concerned with one thing: making money. The very nature of businesses cannot help, at least on this level, but be machines concerned only with dollars coming out of a buyer's pocket. Whatever association you've made between trendiness, environmental friendliness, sophistication and Apple is a strategic, calculated move on Apple's part to suck your money from you. How else do you think they've made their money? (Not that this is bad, but just that it's something that most people aren't really aware of)

Exposing children to Apple as "cooler," "nicer to kids," "fun," just starts everything a little earlier.