Apple iOS 6 Guided Access Boon for High-Stakes Testing with iPads

Screen shot of Apple iOS 6 running Guided Access on an iPad
Guided Access in iOS 6 disables the Home button and restricts touch input to certain areas of the screen.

During its Worldwide Developers Conference 2012 in San Francisco this week, Apple introduced a new feature that addresses both user accessibility and testing needs when its mobile devices are used in schools. "Guided Access" allows for the lockdown of an iOS 6 device to limit its use to a single app. The feature disables the Home button and restricts touch input to certain areas of the screen. iOS 6, which is expected to be released in fall 2012, is compatible with iPad 2 and the next version of the iPad, as well as the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPhone 4S.

Apple touted Guided Access as being especially useful to students with disabilities such as autism, since it can help them remain on task and focused on the current content.

The feature also will surface as an important one in schools with iPad programs that hope to use the tablet devices for state-mandated testing. By being able to lock down the environment, educators will ensure that students won't be able to go outside of the high-stakes online testing environment, for example, to access a browser. That's an important consideration as the Common Core for State Standards are introduced in schools all over the country and the two assessment consortia--Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) and Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)--introduce their state-created online assessments starting in 2014.

One education technology company already has plans for Guided Access. Immediately following Apple's keynote news, Pearson Education announced its intention to use the new feature to bring TestNav to the iPad soon after the release of iOS 6. TestNav is Pearson's online test delivery system. Current versions of the application work on Macintosh computers running OS X version 10.4 or later and Flash. iPads aren't currently supported. (The program also runs on Windows and Linux machines.)

In a statement, the company said, "With the new capability of Apple's Guided Access feature for the iPad, we look forward to working with increasing numbers of educators in all states and districts to accelerate the transition to innovative assessment--and moreover to expand access to digital learning for all students."

Another accessibility-related feature announced in iOS 6 is integration of VoiceOver, a screen reader for blind and low-vision users with three Apple components:

  • Maps, the company's newly announced mapping and navigation app;
  • AssistiveTouch, a feature that replaces hardware buttons with software equivalents for easier navigation, introduced with iOS 5; and
  • Zoom, Apple's screen magnifier.

Last, Apple said it was working with "top manufacturers" to introduce "Made for iPhone" hearing aids for the iPhone 4S that will deliver a "power-efficient, high-quality digital audio experience." No release date was attached to that announcement.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • person signing a bill at a desk with a faint glow around the document. A tablet and laptop are subtly visible in the background, with soft colors and minimal digital elements

    California Governor Signs Off on AI Content Safeguard Laws

    California Governor Gavin Newsom has officially signed a series of landmark artificial intelligence bills into law, signaling the state’s latest efforts to regulate the burgeoning technology, particularly in response to the misuse of sexually explicit deepfakes. The legislation is aimed at mitigating the risks posed by AI-generated content, as concerns grow over the technology's potential to manipulate images, videos, and voices in ways that could cause significant harm.

  • Brainly Releases AI-Powered Test Prep Service

    AI education solutions provider Brainly recently announced a new service called Test Prep, designed to create personalized study experiences to boost both test scores and student confidence, a news release reports. Test Prep offers customized daily tasks that adjust to the student’s class schedule, removing the stress of study planning and time management.

  • glowing neural network-like structure and balanced scale

    California AI Regulation Bill Moves to Assembly Vote with Key Amendments

    California’s Senate Bill 1047 (SB 1047), the "Safe and Secure Innovation for Frontier Artificial Intelligence Models Act" has cleared the Assembly Appropriations Committee with some significant amendments.

  • Indianapolis Public Schools Adopt DreamBox Math

    Thanks to a new partnership with Discovery Education, all Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) K–8 students and teachers will gain access to DreamBox Math, which blends curriculum and continuous formative assessments that adapt to student needs to boost achievement.