Apple Teacher Portfolio & Schoolwork Updates - Apple News

Apple Enhances Educational Tools and Introduces Apple Teacher Portfolio

This morning, Apple unveiled a series of updates designed for its suite of classroom applications, alongside the introduction of a new recognition program for educators known as the Apple Teacher Portfolio. Instructors who successfully complete nine lessons focused on fundamental skills utilizing iPad and Mac devices will be eligible to submit a portfolio showcasing their work.

Upon completion, teachers will be officially recognized as Apple Teachers and gain the ability to share their portfolios with peers, serving as a demonstration of their expertise and instructional design capabilities.

Apple Teacher Learning Center and Curriculum Updates

The pathway to earning this badge is through the Apple Teacher Learning Center, Apple’s self-paced educational platform for teachers. This resource is specifically crafted to assist educators in integrating Apple technologies into their teaching practices.

The platform provides guidance on utilizing iPad and Mac applications for a diverse range of creative projects, including art creation, video production, animation, audio recording, page layout, podcasting, data tracking, and music composition.

Throughout the lessons, Apple furnishes customizable templates that teachers can adapt or combine to develop unique projects leveraging Apple software such as Keynote, GarageBand, and iMovie.

Updates to Schoolwork and Classroom Apps

Alongside the new portfolio program, Apple has released updates to its Schoolwork and Classroom applications, as well as its “Everyone Can Create” curriculum. This curriculum has long emphasized the utilization of Apple’s creative tools, including iMovie, Clips, and GarageBand.

Within Schoolwork, educators now have the capability to share assignments with colleagues by exporting projects, which can then be imported into Schoolwork or other compatible platforms. Improvements have also been implemented to the sidebar navigation for faster access to classes, assignments, and student accounts.

The Classroom app has been updated to better support remote learning environments. This functionality, while beneficial, would have been particularly impactful during the peak of U.S. school closures in 2020.

The update allows teachers to invite remote students to Classroom sessions, providing the ability to guide them to applications, view their screens (with student consent), and monitor their engagement levels. Furthermore, the software has been rebuilt using Mac Catalyst, ensuring compatibility across both iPad and Mac devices, including those powered by Apple’s M1 chips.

Enhancements to the “Everyone Can Create” Curriculum

The “Everyone Can Create” curriculum has received several minor updates. The Drawing guide now incorporates motion graphics and animation within Keynote, while the Photos section covers the creation of animated GIFs using Keynote and the Camera and Photos apps.

The Video guide now explores the creation of short films utilizing green screen technology and other special effects. Additionally, the Music section introduces new podcasting features within GarageBand, according to Apple.

Currently, over 5,000 K-12 institutions globally are utilizing this curriculum.

Competitive Landscape

Last year, Apple also updated its Schoolwork and Classroom applications, adding features to support distance learning, such as cloud-based assignment management and FaceTime integration. However, Google has made significant strides in the education sector.

During the pandemic, Google aggressively offered its software to schools and teachers, and the demand for its low-cost Chromebooks doubled in 2020. Google Classroom experienced substantial growth, reaching over 100 million active users by April 2020, and exceeding 150 million users by February 2021.

Apple has not disclosed user numbers for its own educational software. However, by encouraging teachers to develop and share portfolios, Apple aims to increase the adoption of its tools by directly engaging educators in the process.

The Apple Teacher Portfolio is available now through the Apple Teacher Learning Center. The “Everyone Can Create” guides are available as a free download on Apple Books, and updated versions of Schoolwork and Classroom are currently in beta testing through AppleSeed for IT professionals.