Learning Apps and Tools
Apple Updates Education Apps, Launches Apple Teacher Portfolio
Apple
today launched Apple Teacher Portfolio, a new recognition badge
available through Apple Teacher Learning Center. The company also
updated its Schoolwork and Classroom apps, as well as its Everyone
Can Create curriculum.
The new Schoolwork
and Classroom apps are available now in beta form through AppleSeed
for IT. Schoolwork adds the ability to export items created within
the app and import from other platforms. It also adds enhancements to
navigation. Classroom is adding the ability to invite remote students
into a learning session. It is also adding interface enhancements
(such as showing students’ battery life, remote status and
platform) and has been rebuilt using Mac Catalyst to provide “a
seamless experience between iPad and Mac,” according to Apple.
Apple Teacher
Portfolio is available now. “Apple Teacher Portfolio gives
districts a platform to ask the right questions and help teachers
reflect on their work in meaningful ways,” said Felecity Treptow,
technology integration specialist at D.C. Everest Area School
District in Wisconsin, in a prepared statement. “A portfolio is a
way of showing pride in what you’ve learned or created. My very
first educator portfolio still sits on my shelf at home, and I love
looking back at it as an important chapter of my life’s work. I’m
excited to give this tool to teachers across our district, so they
too can be proud of the work they create throughout their career, and
to see their learning journey through tangible artifacts.”
Finally, the
Everyone Can Create curriculum has received several updates.
According to Apple: “New updates across Apple’s Everyone Can
Create curriculum take advantage of the latest features of iPad and
apps such as iMovie, Clips, and GarageBand. The Drawing guide has
been updated to include motion graphics and animation in Keynote,
while Photos now covers the creation of animated GIFs using Keynote,
and the Camera and Photos apps. The Video guide will explore creating
short films using a green screen and other special effects, and Music
adds new podcasting features using GarageBand.”
The Everyone Can
Create guides are available
for download now through Apple Books.
Further information
can be found on Apple’s
education portal.
About the Author
David Nagel is editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Technology Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal and STEAM Universe. A 25-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art and business publications.
He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at or follow him on Twitter at @THEJournalDave (K-12) or @CampusTechDave (higher education).