3 Ways to Keep Students Accountable on iPads

Managing student devices is always a challenge; however, with the right tools and strategies, you can proactively address student use and misuse of devices. In my experience, I have found effective classroom management begins with keeping it "REAL" with technology:

1. Routines - establishing routines for student use of technology, workflow, etc.

2. Expectations - clear, consistent, and realistic expectations.

3. Accountability - realistic and appropriate consequences for student misuse.

4. Learning Opportunities - provide students with a safe environment to learn from their mistakes and make adjustments.

Over the next few posts, I will concentrate on providing you strategies for proactively addressing student use of technology. Today I want to concentrate on tools for keeping students accountable with iPads:

Tip # 1 - Screens Bright and In Sight

I usually have a rule for students to have bright screens (50% or higher). Dark screens often lead to trouble; therefore, I feel that it is imperative to keep student devices within viewing distance. I realize that this is not always feasible in every classroom, but even being able to view a student's eyes can help increase accountability.

Tip # 2 - Apple Classroom

Apple Classroom is a game changer for managing student iPads. Essentially, the App provides teachers with a way of monitoring, controlling, and sharing resources with student iPads. Here is a brief tutorial on how to use it.

Tip # 3 - Use the Battery Feature in Settings

A little-known feature of iOS 12 is the Battery Settings feature, which provides information on which apps were used and for how long. This is a very useful feature when keeping students accountable. For example, if you asked a student to write an essay in Google Docs, you can go into the Battery Settings feature to verify if the student's actions were in question. Here is a brief video I made for staff at my school on using the feature: