Create Inclusive Classrooms with iPad

Apple products are designed with accessibility features built in, enabling students with a wide range of abilities to connect, learn, create, and collaborate in the ways that work best for them. In our Apple Professional Learning Live session, we explored iPad features that compliment the abilities of every learner.

Here’s a recap on each of the experiences and a top tip to share to take you into the new school year! 

Listen to Text with Spoken Content

Spoken Content is a powerful way to bring auditory components to text.  From Speak Selection, Speak Screen, and Typing Feedback, these customisable features make it easier for students to follow along.  Take it further by adjusting the settings such as pitch, built in voices, highlight content, words or sentences in the style and colour of their selection, truly enabling the iPad to be a personalised device for learning.

To enable:

1. In Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content > Enable Speak Selection and Speak Screen.
2. Open a note, document, or webpage with text.
3. Double tap and drag to select a sentence.  Select to speak.
4. In Settings, explore Spoken Content voices and other settings like Speaking Rate and Highlight Content.

Focus on Learning with Background Sounds

Background sounds can minimise everyday sounds that might be distracting, discomforting or overwhelming.  With options such as ocean, rain, bright or dark noise, Background Sounds can play continuously in the background to help you focus, relax or rest.  

To enable:

1. Open Control Centre, Select +, then under Hearing Accessibility, tap Background Sounds.
2. Tap to enable Background Sounds
3. Tap and hold Background Sounds to adjust and personalise your sound.

Get a Closer Look with Magnifier

Magnifier works like a digital magnifying glass, using the camera on your iPad to increase the size of anything you point it at.  For individuals who are blind or have low vision and seek more details about their physical environment, Detection Mode in Magnifier uses input from the camera, LiDAR Scanner, and on-device machine learning to provide smart features such as People Detection, Door Detection, Furniture Detection, Scene Recognition, Text Detection, and Point and Speak.

To enable:

1. Swipe to open Control Centre.  Press and hold the screen.  Select + to add a Control.
2. Under capture, select Magnifier. Tap away from Control Centre.
3. Find an object in your environment to magnify.
4. Swipe to open Control Centre.  Select Magnifier.
5. Adjust Settings.  Explore options and Capture.

Top Tip! - iPhone and iPad Accessibility Assistant

The Accessibility Assistant shortcut can help you find accessibility features built into your device that you can enable to assistant a learner.  Utilise this assistant and be provided with detailed advice you can use yourself in the classroom, and share with the student’s parents.  

Download this mini poster below for your staffroom: 

 

Apple's commitment to accessibility ensures that every student, regardless of their abilities, has the opportunity to thrive in an educational environment. By leveraging these built-in features, educators and students can create more inclusive and effective learning experiences. Explore the accessibility options on your Apple devices today!

Continue your Learning 

• Bring an Apple Professional Learning Specialist or Provider to your school (Australia) >
• Bring an Apple Professional Learning Specialist or Provider to your school (New Zealand) >
• Learn more about Compnow Academy offerings >