OS upgrades 2024: macOS/iPadOS/iOS: Education

Updates and impact of iPadOS and macOS Sequoia

Notes

• Handwriting brings Apple Pencil and handwriting support, bolstering functionality with Apple Intelligence (which we cover later on).
• Smart Script smoothes out and spell checks handwritten notes for fluidity, while “maintaining the look and feel” of student’s handwriting.
• Continuity is extending to the Mac, supporting work across multiple devices, and empowering students to learn using the best tool for the job at any given moment.
• Math Notes introduces a novel way of calculating mathematical problems using written expression, using and solving problems using the student’s own handwriting.
• Live Audio Transcription supports student comprehension, sentence structure and understanding of punctuation by transcribing spoken/recorded speech, visibly showing them the words and punctuation in real-time.

When paired together, students’ focus remains on processing the information and learning, and less time worrying about what their notes look like or the nuances of sentence structure for a language that may be different from theirs.

Calculator

Having the calculator app on the iPad supports students where they need access to the tool, but are not allowed to use phones in classrooms. The addition of the Calculator app has other enhancements that take student use so much further.

For example, unit conversions were added alongside digital and scientific calculator modes, allowing for conversions to take place natively — no more need to search online — Calculator on iPad “let users quickly convert length, weight, currencies, and more.” Tapping convert now gives you two rows on the screen: one where you input the value you’re converting from, while the second row displays the value you’re converting to.

Device customization

Students love to feel like their devices are personalized to them. With iPadOS 18, the level of customization is greater than ever. Where schools allow this via their MDM solution, students will be able to change the position of apps on the screen to anywhere they want to place them.

This works really well alongside custom backgrounds, but having access to study prompts directly on the screen:

• Alleviates the financial burden associated with supplies, like paper and toner, used in the creation of placemats.
• Saves additional cost and time relating to keeping information on placemats updated.
• Provides students easy access to necessary resources where they are learning — directly from their iPad.
• Customizing the ways users can easily set up their windows on Mac to enable multi-app use aids is research and note-taking.

Another way customization benefits the learning environment is by supporting students with visual impairments by changing the color tint of apps or by changing the UI to dark mode to boost contrast or simply to remove distractions.

Freeform

Similar to the Notes app, Freeform provides students and teachers with additional ways to express their understanding or sharing of learning. Improvements to the navigation of the app provide new ways for sharing your thoughts. For example, providing access to shared sections of work as a fluid-style presentation versus a more linear keynote. Additionally, it also allows for sharing those sections via links, simplifying and promoting collaborative work with classmates.

Accessibility

Apple provides new enhancements to accessibility features that not only support those learners with access to controlling and using their devices how it’s most comfortable for them.

One incredible feature that leverages the array of technology and advanced sensors packed into Apple devices is Eye Tracking. It enables users to control their devices with just their eyes. By scanning your eye movement, this technology controls the pointer on the device, allowing you to use the device hands-free (not unlike how the Vision Pro works).

This introduces novel ways to still use your device while performing manual tasks. Imagine a student in a science lab working on an experiment hands-on but they need some guidance from their iPad or messy, creative lessons where you simply can't (or shouldn’t) touch the device but can still access it. Eye Tracking allows them to keep their hands where they need to be while scanning through the document on their device — all without compromising safety or the work being performed.

Another new accessibility feature is Hover Text, which provides a large text view of anything you hover the device pointer over. It enables a more focused view of text for students that may require that to support their understanding of terminology or just to better focus on the words in a text.

Apple Intelligence

Integrating generative AI models to support macOS, iOS and iPadOS devices (in a future release of macOS, iOS and iPadOS), Apple Intelligence provides new opportunities for learners and teachers alike. Additionally, thanks to the seamless integration between Apple hardware and software, features powered by Apple Intelligence save students time, allowing them to refocus on understanding concepts.

There is no denying that the new writing tools and language models support students in their unique approach to learning. Some examples of how Apple Intelligence achieves this aim in education are:

• Quickly summarizing text, helps students to comprehend information more easily.
• Creating images that visualize concepts from simply a word description.
• Helping you in ways that are unique to you, based on awareness of your personal context.
• Running in a protected space ensures privacy and security are never compromised and compliance remains maintained.