How Apple’s iOS 6 Guided Access Feature Helps Students Stay on Task
iPhone and iPad users have been waiting patiently for the release of iOS 6 and now they’re happy that it’s finally here. iOS 6 was finally released by Apple on September 19th with new and improved features that are both helpful and pleasing to the eye.
One feature in particular that teachers and parents like the most is it’s newest feature: Guided Access. With Guided Access, teachers and parents can help their students stay on task by locking their iPad into a single app and temporarily disabling controls on certain areas of the device. That way, teaching is made easier and students can focus on learning.
Let’s say you want a student to read from the Kindle app, but don’t want them to click on the controls on the top or bottom of the screen.
To begin using Guided Access on the Kindle app, you first need to enable it in your settings. Go to general and then accessibility, where you should see Guided Access. Touch Guided Access and slide to turn it on.
When you press the home button three times, the screen will show you the Guided Access page and it will tell you to circle areas on the screen you would like to disable. The circles you draw will create a shaded rectangle on the area you want to block out.
You can also disable hardware buttons, like the volume and power button, using options on the lower left corner of the screen. Once you’re satisfied, touch resume and your student is ready to read.
According to Scott Forstall, Senior Vice President of iPhone Software at Apple, single app mode is being used in more ways than one. During his presentation at the 2012 WWDC event in June, he said that some schools have started adopting iPads and administering tests on them while single app mode.
“Single app mode allows the teacher to lock the iPad into the test so that students can’t look up answers on safari,” he said.
It’s great that Apple is thinking about more than just their tech followers. With features like Guided Access, students with disabilities are able to move forward in their education and grow along with the rest of the community.
