Helpful Tips

Links for Students

On DDSB computers, you may have used School Connect to put links for students in your class folder. There is no central folder on class iPads. Try making a Google Site (like this one!) to put your links on. Load it on your classroom iPads, share, and choose Add to Home Screen to make it look like an app. now when you change or add links, videos or other resources to the site, it is updated on all of your student devices!

Add a Bookmark to Home screen

Apps, not Programs

Unlike Windows computers, you do not assign programs to iPads. You can install apps from the App Catalog. These are collected centrally and available to all DDSB devices. If you would like additional apps added, please submit them to the Technology Approval Process.

Pre-installed apps

Apps that come pre-installed from Apple may prompt for an Apple ID. These apps need to be deleted and replaced from the App Catalog to launch properly. These apps include iMovie, Keynote, and Garageband, Numbers, Pages, Clips and iTunes U.

Guided Access

You can set an iPad up to be locked into a single app. In Guided Access mode you have the ability to restrict hardware buttons so the iPad cannot be put to sleep, volume changed, or block touch on certain parts of the screen or the whole thing.

Guided Access Mode Instructions

Siri

Siri, Apple's digital assistant, is available on your classroom iPads. Students can press and hold the home button to be prompted by Siri. Students can ask a wide variety of queries of Siri. Siri also serves as the dictation function on iPads. Young learners can use the microphone button on the keyboard to activate dictation mode and allow them to generate text and ideas without the expectation of typing.

Battery

Charging your iPads every night will ensure that your batteries will last the entire school day. Batteries will not overcharge.

Store your devices in the provided Tech Tubs and keep them in a safe location in your classroom.

Printing

Classroom iPads do not connect to DDSB printers. Files can be transferred to a DDSB computer or shared in the cloud (Google Drive or OneDrive) for printing from a computer. Grabbing a screenshot of student work (home button + power) is a great way of documenting learning.