Two Quick Tricks for iPad PD
Screencasting & Time Trial hacks for PD and tutorials
My school district is deploying 1:1 iPads in grades K — 12 starting in September. As a Technology Integrationist, my time this summer is devoted to Professional Development work with select groups of teachers to get our initiative started on the right foot.
Just about every Technology Integrationists in my district is tasked with the exact same assignment. I wanted to share two quick tricks that are making my Professional Development tutorials more meaningful.
1. Assistive Touch:
Settings > General > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut: AssistiveTouch
With Assistive Touch enabled, a triple click on the iPad home button will bring up a draggable home icon on your iPad’s screen. If you have ever broken the home button on your iPone or had a friend who has done so, you may recognize the Assistive touch feature. While I do not use the main Assistive Touch features, I do drag the button to whatever part of the screen to show my teachers how I am creating content or moving through apps during PD sessions. I also use the Assistive Touch when recording instructional screencast videos. While there are other options to trace the “clicks” and navigation on the iPad, this feature is built in to iOS and can be activated / deactivated in a snap.
2. Reflector App: Trial Extension
User > Library > Preferences > reflector.plist
Reflector is a Mac/PC application that harnesses the iPad’s Airplay feature, mirroring your iPad screen to your computer. Think of it as an Apple TV at 1/10 of the cost. I use this application to record instructional videos, project learning products to the board with the Camera app, and have participants display content to the board too. At $12, this app is indispensable. Reflector also gives a 7 day trial period for their application.
This summer, my district is wrapping up details for the 1:1 implementation, and may deploy an app like Reflector and a bevy of other goodies to every iPad and/or educator in the district. That being said, I did not feel like spending $12 on an app that may be given to me within a matter of weeks. I decided to find a better solution. *As a disclaimer, this process was, and is, only meant for the interim solution described above and should not be used for unethical or morally reprehensible purposes*
Reflector allows a free .dmg download and a 7 day trial. No information from your computer is transferred back to Reflector during that trial period. During the installation of Reflector, the application creates a file on your computer to act as a timestamp to measure your free 7 day trial. After that time, a purchase is required to continue using the application.
However, if we can locate that timestamp file and delete it, you can essentially run that trial period as many times as you like, until your district makes a final decision. Here is how to go about that process:
When you want to restart your time trial, navigate to this location on your hard drive: ~user > Library > preferences. Look for a .plist file that contains Reflector, delete that file, and empty the trast. Restart your computer to restart your free 7 day trial. Done.
These two quick tricks have made my Professional Development sessions infinitely more meaningful to my teachers and the district implementation of 1:1 iPads. I hope they are of use to you, too.