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An AI tool could help with student work.

SDLA Quick Fix Idea · QF-089

An AI tool could help with student work

Use only district-approved AI services and follow the approved purpose and data rules.

Teacher

Can I paste student work or records into an artificial intelligence (AI) tool?

Quick Fix

Use only district-approved AI services and only for an approved purpose. Approval for one tool or activity does not automatically authorize every kind of student information.

Before entering any content

  • Confirm that the AI service is district approved for the intended users and task.
  • Remove student names, identification numbers, contact information, and other personally identifiable information unless the district has specifically authorized their use.
  • Do not include confidential records, disability information, grades, disciplinary information, or identifiable student work in an unapproved service.
  • Use the smallest amount of information needed. When possible, substitute a fictional or de-identified example.

Review what the tool returns

Check the output for accuracy, bias, accessibility, and whether it remains appropriate for the instructional purpose. AI-generated material can sound confident while being incomplete or wrong.

When in doubt, stop before pasting. Ask the district's technology, privacy, or instructional-support team whether the specific tool and data use are authorized.

Keep in mind: Do not place confidential student records, disability information, grades, or identifiable work in an unapproved AI service.

Proposed downloadable resource

Application review or security report templatePlanned resource · no file linked during editorial review

Optional editable resource supporting “An AI tool could help with student work.”

How am I supposed to manage student screen time?

SDLA Quick Fix

How can I track classroom screen time?

Use a simple lesson timer and activity log to stay within local limits without turning classroom management into individual student surveillance.

Teacher

My school has a new screen-time limit. How can I manage lessons and show that my class is staying within it?

Quick Fix

Track the activity, not each child. Start with one week and adjust.

  1. Confirm what counts Ask for the district definition, grade-level limit, daily or weekly reporting period, whether homework is included, and which activities are exempt. Do not assume that every minute a device is open counts the same way.
  2. Set a lesson budget Write the planned device minutes in the lesson plan. Reserve the screen for work that needs it, and move directions, discussion, drafting, practice, or reflection off-screen when possible.
  3. Run one visible timer Start when students begin the screen-based part of the activity. Pause when devices are closed or students shift to paper, discussion, manipulatives, or another off-screen task.
  4. Record actual class minutes Log the activity, planned minutes, and actual minutes. Mark required assessments or approved accommodations separately so the regular instructional total remains understandable.
  5. Check the cumulative total At the end of the day or week, compare the total with the local limit and coordinate with other teachers when the policy applies across courses or includes homework. Revise the next lesson before students exceed the cap.

One-week starter log

Copy this table into your lesson planner

Use one row per class activity. Keep student names out of the log unless your district specifically requires individual documentation.

Date Class activity and purpose Planned minutes Actual minutes Required or exempt? Next adjustment
Mon. Research two sources for science claim 15 18 No Print source excerpts before Tuesday
           

Copy-and-paste language

To help our class stay within the screen-time guidance, I am planning [number] minutes of device use for [activity and instructional purpose]. The rest of the lesson will be completed through [discussion, paper, hands-on practice, reading, or another off-screen activity]. Please let me know if another required assignment will add device time to this same reporting period.

Keep in mind: App, browser, content-filter, or device-management reports may help identify patterns, but they may not equal actual instructional screen time. Use them as a cross-check—not as the only record—and follow district privacy, retention, and access rules.

I need to share student work publicly.

SDLA Quick Fix Idea · QF-088

I need to share student work publicly

Check district publication, media-release, copyright, and accessibility requirements.

Teacher

I would like to post student work on a public website or social platform. What should I verify?

Quick Fix

Work through these checks in order.

  1. Check publication requirementsCheck district publication, media-release, copyright, and accessibility requirements.
  2. Limit the audience and informationConfirm the authorized audience and remove unnecessary personal information.
  3. Use approved publishing toolsUse district-approved publishing tools and document consent when required.

Keep in mind: Student work, names, images, voices, and location details may be protected even when the instructional intent is positive.

Proposed downloadable resource

Application review or security report templatePlanned resource · no file linked during editorial review

Optional editable resource supporting “I need to share student work publicly.”

I want to use a new instructional app in my school. How should I start?

SDLA Quick Fix Idea · QF-081

I want to use a new instructional app

Check the district's approved-app catalog and request process.

Teacher

I found an app that would help my class. What should I do before asking students to use it?

Quick Fix

Work through these checks in order.

  1. Start with the approved-app processCheck the district's approved-app catalog and request process.
  2. Describe the instructional and data needsDescribe the instructional purpose, grade level, data the app collects, account requirements, accessibility information, cost, and available alternatives.
  3. Wait for approvalWait for approval before entering student information or assigning account creation.

Keep in mind: A free app or teacher-paid subscription is not automatically approved for student use.

Proposed downloadable resource

Application review or security report templatePlanned resource · no file linked during editorial review

Optional editable resource supporting “I want to use a new instructional app.”

iPad camera or microphone does not work in an instructional app

SDLA Quick Fix Idea · iPad

The Camera or Microphone Does Not Work in an Instructional App

Determine whether access is blocked for an installed app, for one website in Safari, or by a district-managed restriction before changing any privacy setting.

Teacher

An instructional app or website says it cannot use the iPad's camera or microphone. Should I change an app permission, a Safari setting, or contact our technology department?

Quick Fix

Protect student privacy: enable the camera or microphone only for the specific district-approved instructional app or website and only when the learning activity requires it. Do not broadly allow access for unfamiliar apps or sites.

First, identify where the student is completing the activity.

Installed iPad appReview that app's access under Privacy & Security.

Website in SafariReview permissions for that particular website.

Managed restrictionA missing, locked, or unchangeable setting may require district support.

Quick hardware check

  • Open the iPad's Camera app and point it at a blank wall or other non-student area. Confirm that an image appears.
  • If available, make a brief non-student test in Voice Memos and play it back.
  • If both tests work, the hardware is probably functioning and the problem is more likely a permission or app setting.

Follow the path that matches how the activity was opened.

  1. If the student is using an installed app
    • Open Settings > Privacy & Security.
    • Select Camera or Microphone.
    • Find the approved instructional app and turn on only the access it needs.
    • Return to the app, close and reopen the activity, and try again.

    If the app is not listed, it may not have requested access yet. Return to the app and start the camera or recording feature so the permission request can appear.

  2. If the student is using a website in Safari
    • Open the instructional website in Safari.
    • Tap the Page Menu button beside the address field, then open Website Settings.
    • Set Camera or Microphone to Allow for that approved site, or choose Ask and approve the next prompt.
    • Reload the page and restart the activity.

    Safari's general defaults can also be reviewed under Settings > Apps > Safari > Camera or Microphone, but a site-specific exception is preferable when appropriate.

  3. If the setting is missing, locked, or will not remain changed

    Stop and contact district technology support. Device management, Screen Time, age-based settings, or an application policy may control the permission. Do not remove a management profile, erase the iPad, or install a second copy of the app.

  4. Look for the privacy indicator

    When the camera is being used, iPad displays a green indicator. When the microphone is used without the camera, it displays an orange indicator. Control Center can also identify an app that recently used either feature.

  5. Test the original activity again

    Return to the exact assignment link or activity, verify that the student is using the intended district account, and make a short non-student test. Confirm both that the tool receives video or audio and that the activity can be submitted as expected.

The Camera or Voice Memos test worksThe iPad hardware is responding. Concentrate on the instructional app's permission, Safari website permission, signed-in account, or activity settings.

The built-in test also failsRestart the iPad after saving work. If the problem continues—or settings are managed—send the device to local technology support.

What to include in a support request

  • the iPad asset number and model;
  • the instructional app or complete website name;
  • whether the student used an installed app or Safari;
  • whether Camera or Voice Memos worked in the hardware check;
  • whether the permission was off, missing, grayed out, or reverted; and
  • a screenshot of the message with unrelated student information hidden.

Official Apple guidance

Restoring access to instructional apps I am using in my classroom

SDLA Quick Fix Idea

Restoring access to instructional apps I am using in my classroom

A practical, professional way to turn an unexpected technology block into a constructive review.

Teacher

My district suddenly blocked Pear Deck on district computers. I have used it successfully for years, pay for it myself, and have about 150 presentations built around it. How can I make the case for restoring access without putting myself at odds with the technology department?

Quick fix guide

Ask for a review, not a workaround. The block may be a filtering mistake, an authentication problem, or an intentional decision based on privacy, security, accessibility, purchasing, or curriculum requirements.

  1. Save the exact blocked URL, error message, date, device, and browser.
  2. Ask whether the block is technical or policy-based and whether the app has already been reviewed.
  3. Explain the instructional need and the effect on students—not just the personal cost of the subscription.
  4. Offer to complete the district's approved-app process and provide vendor privacy and security documentation.
  5. Ask whether a limited pilot or approved transition plan is possible while the review is completed.

Keep in mind: Do not use personal hotspots, VPNs, alternate domains, or student personal accounts to bypass district controls. A productive outcome is a clear explanation, a fair review pathway, and an instructional transition plan if the answer remains no.

The app keeps asking students to create their own accounts

SDLA Quick Fix Idea · QF-083

An app asks students to create accounts

Stop and check whether the district has approved the app and the account-creation method.

Teacher

A classroom app asks each student to create an account. Is it safe to proceed?

Quick Fix

Work through these checks in order.

  1. Pause account creationStop and check whether the district has approved the app and the account-creation method.
  2. Review data and access requirementsDetermine what student data is collected, whether parental consent or a district agreement is required, and whether single sign-on or teacher-managed access is available.
  3. Proceed only with directionUse it only after receiving direction.

Keep in mind: Do not direct students to misstate their age, use personal email, or accept terms on behalf of the district.

Proposed downloadable resource

Application review or security report templatePlanned resource · no file linked during editorial review

Optional editable resource supporting “An app asks students to create accounts.”

The iPad Is Talking and Normal Taps No Longer Work

SDLA Quick Fix Idea · iPad

The iPad Is Talking and Normal Taps No Longer Work

Recognize when VoiceOver is active, use its basic gestures to regain control, and turn it off only when you have confirmed that it was enabled accidentally.

Teacher

The iPad announces everything the student touches, a box moves around the screen, and tapping an app no longer opens it. Is the iPad broken?

Quick Fix

Ask before changing the setting. VoiceOver is Apple's built-in screen reader and may be an intentional accessibility accommodation. Ask the student and follow the student's accessibility plan or assistive-technology guidance. Turn VoiceOver off only after confirming that it was activated accidentally or is not currently needed.

These clues usually indicate that VoiceOver is active:

The iPad speaks and outlines itemsA single tap selects an item and VoiceOver announces its name.

A normal tap does not open the itemAfter selecting an item, double-tap anywhere on the screen to activate it.

One-finger scrolling no longer worksSwipe with three fingers to move through a page or screen.

Use the iPad while VoiceOver is active

  • Select and hear an item: tap it once.
  • Activate the selected item: double-tap anywhere on the screen.
  • Move to the next or previous item: swipe right or left with one finger.
  • Scroll one page: swipe up or down with three fingers.

If VoiceOver was enabled accidentally, try these methods in order.

  1. Ask Siri to turn off VoiceOver

    If Siri is available, activate Siri and say, “Turn off VoiceOver.” This is usually the fastest method because it does not require navigating with unfamiliar gestures.

  2. Try the Accessibility Shortcut

    Triple-click the top button on an iPad without a Home button, or triple-click the Home button on an iPad that has one.

    • If VoiceOver is the only assigned shortcut, it may turn off immediately.
    • If a menu appears, tap VoiceOver once to select it, then double-tap anywhere to activate the selection.
    • If nothing happens, the shortcut may not be configured. Move to the next method instead of repeatedly clicking.
  3. Turn it off in Accessibility settings

    Navigate to Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver. Remember: tap each item once to select it and then double-tap anywhere to open it. Select the VoiceOver switch and double-tap to turn it off.

Verify the result

Tap an app once. If it opens normally and the iPad no longer announces every selected item, VoiceOver has been turned off. Reopen the student's instructional app and confirm that ordinary tapping and scrolling work again.

If VoiceOver turns on repeatedly

  • Do not remove accessibility shortcuts or managed settings without confirming that they are not required by the student.
  • Ask local technology or assistive-technology support to review Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut.
  • Provide the iPad asset number, model, and the action that occurred immediately before VoiceOver started.

Official Apple guidance

The Student Is Stuck Inside One App on their iPad

SDLA Quick Fix Idea · iPad

The Student Is Stuck Inside One App

Determine whether Guided Access, Apple Classroom, secure testing, or district device management is intentionally keeping the iPad in one app—and identify who is authorized to release it.

Teacher

A student's iPad will not return to the Home Screen or switch apps. It keeps the same app open. Can I release it, or does this require a passcode or technology-support ticket?

Quick Fix

Confirm the purpose before trying to exit. A one-app lock may support an accessibility accommodation, classroom activity, kiosk function, or secure assessment. Do not interrupt an active test, guess passcodes, erase the iPad, or remove district management.

Three different controls can produce a similar symptom:

Guided AccessA local accessibility feature temporarily restricts the iPad to one app and uses its own authentication settings.

Apple Classroom lockA teacher who selected “Lock in app after opening” can release the student from Classroom.

District App LockDevice management or secure testing may enforce one app. The app can reopen even after the iPad restarts.

Before touching the controls, ask:

  • Is the student currently taking a secure or state assessment?
  • Did a teacher use Apple Classroom to open and lock the app?
  • Was Guided Access intentionally enabled as an accommodation or focus support?
  • Does the device normally function as a kiosk or dedicated single-purpose iPad?

Follow the path that matches the situation.

  1. If this is an active assessment or intentional accommodation

    Stop. Follow the testing coordinator's directions or the student's accessibility plan. Do not force-close the app or attempt to defeat the lock merely to restore ordinary navigation.

  2. If the teacher knowingly started Guided Access
    • On current iPadOS versions, triple-click the top button. On an older iPad with a Home button, triple-click the Home button.
    • Authenticate using the Guided Access passcode, Face ID, or Touch ID that was configured for the session.
    • If the Guided Access screen appears, select End.

    Version note: Apple indicates that iPadOS 18 and earlier may use a double-click to pause an active Guided Access session.

  3. If the teacher used “Lock in app after opening” in Apple Classroom

    In Classroom, select the affected student or group, choose the Unlock action, and select Done. Only use this path when you or the responsible teacher intentionally applied the Classroom lock.

  4. If a passcode appears and you do not know it

    Stop and contact the authorized staff member or technology support. The Guided Access passcode may be different from the ordinary device-unlock passcode. Do not ask the student to disclose a personal passcode and do not repeatedly guess.

  5. If no Guided Access controls appear—or the app immediately returns

    Treat the device as potentially managed in App Lock or Single App Mode. A restart may not release a managed lock because the selected app can reopen automatically. Submit a support ticket rather than erasing the device or removing its management profile.

Teacher-remediable versus support-required

  • Teacher-remediable: you started Guided Access and have its authorized passcode or biometric authentication.
  • Teacher-remediable: you applied the lock through your current Apple Classroom session and can select Unlock.
  • Support-required: the Guided Access passcode is unknown, Classroom does not show an applicable lock, the app reopens after restart, or the iPad is in a managed testing or kiosk configuration.

Copy-and-paste support request

Email or help-desk ticket

Subject: iPad locked in one app — asset #[ASSET NUMBER]

Hello,

Student iPad asset #[ASSET NUMBER] is currently restricted to [APP NAME]. The student cannot return to the Home Screen or switch apps.

Context: [regular classroom activity / assessment / accessibility support / unknown]
Time first observed: [DATE AND TIME]
What happens when the top or Home button is used: [DESCRIPTION]
Result of the Guided Access shortcut: [no response / passcode prompt / Guided Access screen / not attempted because testing was active]
Apple Classroom status: [teacher lock released / no lock shown / not used]
After restart, if authorized: [app reopened / issue cleared / restart not attempted]

Please confirm whether this device is in Guided Access, Classroom Lock in App, App Lock/Single App Mode, or a secure testing configuration, and release it if appropriate. No passcodes are included in this message.

Thank you,
[NAME / CLASSROOM / CONTACT]

Official Apple guidance