Project a timer on your iPad for your class

A simple and useful idea: Open up a TIMER app on your iPad and project it for the class when they are doing something for a given amount of time (group work, quizzes, transitions, labs, etc). It helps students budget their time, while freeing you from being the time-keeper. There are lots of free apps, including the "Clock" app that is on your iPad by default. I personally like the app called "Timer+" (available on Self-Service) because it allows you to store and label different timers, so you can quickly select ones that you use on a regular basis.

EZ Seating Charts with SMART SEAT App

The Smart Seat App for iPad is an easy way to create your classroom seating charts breaking classroom doldrums and  recreating the learning environment for the students.

Check out the video for some of the features -the iPad app is a little different from the app shown in the video.  On a daily basis you may use Smart Seat to make notes by clicking on a student name, for example" absent needs to take test" or " good participation"  or "homework missing".

 It's efficient and simple

Set up your classes- select New empty Class-give it a title

Copy class roster from Attendance on Compass

and then paste into Smart Seat

and hit "Done"

Now you need to arrange the seats /desks- hit MORE- and then seating charts. Use your finger to pan up/down and right /left to increase and decrease the number of seats.

 You can project the seating chart from the reverse perspective so students can find their new seat easily upon entering the classroom.  Then email the chart to yourself and print out for a substitute teacher.

 And best of all, the next time the students ask " can we change seats"- with the swipe of a finger or a daring click of the random button- it's done.

Using Guided Access on the iPad

Using Guided Access on the iPad

Link to video on iTunes

Here is how you would explain to your students how to initialize the "Guided Access" mode on their iPad :

1.  Open "Settings"
2.  Go to the "General" tab
3.  Tap "Accessibility"
4.  Tap "Guided Access" (under 'Learning')
5.  Turn "Guided Access" ON
6. Tap "Set pass code".  Type "1,2,3,4” (or whatever you'd like they pass code to be, but make it easy).
7.  Make sure "enable sleep" is OFF.
8.  I would also make sure that "Auto correct" and "Check spelling" are turned OFF when using Guided Access:  go back to the first page of the "General" settings, tap "Keyboard", turn "Auto correct" and "Check spelling" OFF.

When you are ready for the students to activate the "Guided learning" mode, have them:

1. Open MyMitty to access the quiz.  
2. Once it's open, have the students press three times the "Home" button and the window will shrink.
3. Have them draw a rectangle around the URL window and Google search window (make sure they're completely covered in grey).
4. Finally, have them press the "Start" button.
5. Also, make sure the “motion” button (bottom right) is “OFF”. If left on, the student can move the iPad from “landscape” mode to “portrait” mode and this will turn “Guided Access” off.

When they've completed the assessment and want to quit out of the "Guided learning" mode, they need to click the "Home" button three times again, enter the pass code , and tap "End".

I would suggest have the students do the set up earlier (maybe the day before), so that all they need to do is open the assessment and then start the "Guided learning" mode without having to do the set up.