Apple Classroom

This is a GAME CHANGER for anyone who uses iPads in their classrooms.

Here's the gist of the app:

• From your teacher iPad (yes, you'll want to keep one aside for you to use) you can control what apps your students are using.
• You can also "lock" the iPad when you expect students to stop working and listen to you:)
• You can remotely open an app that you want students to go to. I can see this being an AMAZING feature for our youngest students, so you can save valuable time instead of going to students one at a time to help them find the app you want them to use.

What exactly is Classroom?

Classroom is an iPad and Mac app originally launched by Apple in early 2016 with the release of iOS 9.3. The app allows teachers to control the school-issued iPads that students use in their classes in various ways.

How do I get started with Classroom?

The first thing you'll do is add your teacher information to the app, then add the classes you teach. You pick the name and identifying color for each class, then you're ready to start.

While in the section for one of your classes, tap the Add button in the row of controls or tap the Add Students button in the blank field. Instruct your students to open Classroom in the Settings app and enter the code you give them. This will enroll their iPads in that particular class.

What can I do now that I've started my classes?

At the start of each class, the app offers an overview of what each student is doing on their iPad. You can see who has logged in, the apps students open, and you can also group students by who are using each individual app.

You can also view the recent apps of individual students, and open apps, books, or websites on their iPads for them.

So I can control how they use their iPads?

Yes. It doesn't matter if you're opening an app, a book, or a website, you can open those same items on specific iPads. You can also open them on every iPad in a class at once to provide a guided lesson for everyone.

You can also lock one or more class iPads to a particular app, book, or webpage once they have been opened in order to provide your students with greater focus.

In order to do all of this, you'll be using the Open and Navigate buttons in the control row, depending on what you want to open.

What about group support?

Classroom allows you to organize your students into groups based on activity. Just tap the Group button, select a group of your class' students, then name the group.

Tap each group to see only what the students in that group are up to on their iPads. Just as you can with the whole class, you can open apps, books, and websites for a smaller group of students, as well as lock the group's iPads to keep them on task.

What about multiple user support?

Classroom supports multiple users via an iOS feature called Shared iPad. Teachers an assign multiple students to one iPad. When students are instructed to retrieve "their" iPad, they'll look for the one with their picture on the Lock screen. Tapping on their picture and entering their four-digit pin will pull up their specific homework, apps, and documents.

Is there any way to use Classroom to check in on students' progress?

In addition to showing you which apps students have open, you can also view what's on the screens of each class iPad. Tap the Screens button to be shown a view of what each student is looking at on their iPad in real time.

You can tap an individual student's screen in order to see what they're doing. As you watch, the status bar on that student's iPad will turn blue so they know you're watching and ready to help.

What else can I do?

If a student has some particularly standout work that you notice, for instance, you can share it with the class if your classroom is equipped with an Apple TV. Just tap on the screen of the student whose work you'd like to share and press the AirPlaybutton. Then choose the classroom Apple TV and share that screen.

Classroom has also made sharing links and documents with students easier, as it's now done using AirDrop rather than share extensions. Your students can also share links and documents with you in the same way.

You can also lock each iPad at the end of each class so you can make announcements without worrying that your students will be too distracted to listen.

Alright, how do I get the app?

Classroom is available for anyone to download on the App Store for free.

• Free - Download Now