1. iMessage: Students can iMessage anyone over a WiFi connection - via email address OR if they can create an account on your iPad.
The fix: set a restriction on your iPad that doesn't allow new accounts to be created. Here's how.
- Click your "Settings" icon, then "General"
- Click "Restrictions" then "Enable Restrictions" and enter a 4-digit code. (Remember this code!)
- Scroll down and click "Accounts"
- Click "Don't Allow Changes"
- Now students can't add accounts and can't access iMessage (unless they know your Apple password)
2. X-Ray iPad: Students sometimes think it's hilarious to change the color scheme to negative, making your iPad look like an x-ray.
The fix: simple! Triple-click the home key.
3. Icon Home Screen: If you swipe your icons and you see the odd illusion of the icons both sweeping sideways AND staying behind at the same time, someone has set your home screen to a photo. I've found iPads that have a screen shot taken of the home screen, which is then set as the home screen.
The fix: change your home screen picture and restrict photo usage. This also will keep them from taking pictures of any- and everyone.
- Go to your photo gallery and delete any pictures that you don't want students to access.
- Click your "Settings" icon, then "General"
- Click "Restrictions" then "Enable Restrictions" and enter a 4-digit code. (or enter your code when you're prompted)
- Scroll down and click "Photos"
- Click "Don't Allow Changes"
- Now students can't add or alter photos (unless they know your Apple password)
4. The Upside-Down Screen trick: Rotating the orientation of the screen and the cursor so that it's 90, 180, or 270 degrees off. This happens on PCs.
The fix: hold down CTRL and ALT and press the left arrow or up arrow.
5. Google Docs: Google Docs has a chat feature that can appear when you share your document with others.
The fix: unfortunately, you can't lock out this feature on everyone's account. I tell students not to use it and then just monitor, monitor, monitor. If you see the tell-tale sidebar with multiple messages, it's time for a lecture about proper usage of technology in class.
