Savvas Realize and issue with iPads (video plays but no sound).

This post deals with an issue my school had with Savvas Realize.  Our students would log in on an iPad using Google Chrome or Safari. They could navigate through the module (Elevate Science Module).  Choose a chapter (Systems, Reproduction, and Growth: Reproduction and Growth), choose a lesson (Lesson 1: Patterns of Reproduction), click on a video (Patterns of Reproduction). On a Macbook, PC, Chromebook the video worked fine, but on a iOS device (iPad or iPhone) the video played but had no sound with it. 

The teacher contacted Savvas support and provided all the info they asked for; what device was she using, current iOS, size of storage, memory, bla, bla, bla.  They sent her link to show her how to: clear the cache of the iPad, double check to see if the iPad was compatible (it was), bla, bla, bla.  After a couple of back and forths, they informed the teacher that they had "elevated her case status and were looking into it.  After all this she came to me with the issue.

Can't lie, I was stumped at first.  I was able to replicate everything mentioned above but still no solution, then it hit me like a bolt out of the blue.  A number of years ago our Science Department was having problems accessing websites with flash videos on the iPads, Apple has never support this on the iPad.  I did some research and found another browser (Puffin Browser), that allowed Flash to work on the iPad. 

Well I downloaded the Puffin Browser on the iPAD and LO AND BEHOLD the video worked, sound and all.  

I wish I could give you the exact details of why but at this stage of the game, I'm just glad it works.

I find it hard to believe that a multi-million dollar company like Savvas (formerly Pearson Learning) could not figure out why it was not working especially in today's world of remote leaning.  I was informed by the teacher that when Savvas came out to train our Science Department, she asked if there were any know issues with iPads-since we are 1:1.  The response was "No.  You are still using iPAds? Everyone else is using Chromebooks".  YIKES!!! Let's just say I'm not impressed. That being said, today will be my last day working at Georgetown Middle/High School.  I will be working at Savvas next week as a consultant---KIDDING!! :-) 

How to use Voice Over on the iPad to read books off Bookshare.org's Web Reader.

So I guess I am a little slow on the draw.  We create accounts on Bookshare.org for our students who need help with reading materials.  On March 2, 2017 I posted an article that told how to use Bookshare.org's web reader.  At that time it seemed as though you could only use the fully functioning web reader using a browser on a computer, but not on an iPad.  On the computer, the web reader gave you a "play" option, on the iPad this function was not available because the browsers would not support it.  

With this in mind, we would purchase and download the Voice Dream Reader App ($15) from the App store...then we became an 1:1 school and we started having more students that needed the Bookshare.org materials read to them on the iPad. I am sure we could purchase a license for Voice Dream Reader and push it out through our JAMF iPad management software but we do not have an exact number of students that need it and that number seems to increase every couple of weeks.  

Finally I decided to sit down and investigate if there was any way to use the iPad without downloading the Voice Dream App.  Here's is what I discovered.

I found that you have to use the Safari Browser...it will not work with Google Chrome...I guess Apple and Google do not play nice/

Let me just warn you that there are 2 ways to do this and here is my take...

• I would login to Bookshare.org, find and open the book and THEN turn VoiceOver on the iPad. 
• If you turn VoiceOver first and THEN login to Bookshare.org, just remember that you have to click once to select something (be it a link or even to type a letter) THEN double click it to enter. FYI-I did it this way first and it worked but my patience was severely tested.

1. Go to https://www.bookshare.org/ look to the top right and click “Login”.  Use the same username and passwords as they do in class.
2. Look in the middle of the screen under your name and click on #1 – view your assigned books (reading list)
3. Click on on your teacher's reading list (i.e. - Ms. Schaefer’s reading list)
4. Find book in that list…go all the way to the right of the book you want and click READ NOW

Commands to move forward and back pages are at the top of the screen (a left triangle to move back  page, a right triangle 

Now set up Voice Over on the iPad.

1. Go into settings
2. General
1. Accessibility
2. Voice Over
3. You may want to click on VoiceOver Practice first because once you turn VoiceOver on, the commands for the iPad change.
1. You tap once to select and item
2. Double-tap to activate the selected item
3. Swipe three fingers to scroll. (it is a little confusing at first but you'll get the hang of it.)
4. Turn VoiceOver by moving the toggle button to the right...it will turn green. 
5. Press the Home button once...the big button on the front of the iPad
6. Click the Safari icon once to select it a black box should now surround the icon.
7. Click the Safari icon twice to open it and get back to Bookshare.org.
8. Use the triangles to find the page you want, REMEMBER you have to click once to select and TWICE to move a page.  The icon to the left of the triangles (looks like a box with 3 lines with buttons at the end of them) allows you to open a Table of Contents. 
9. Click once to choose the selection you want to be read to you...a black box will surround the text and the iPad should start reading it.

How Google Chromebooks conquered schools, originally published on Fox Business from the Associated Press.

Good read on how the Ipad v. Chromebook battle is faring in k-12 education.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2017/02/10/how-google-chromebooks-conquered-schools.html

How to download Rediker's ParentPlus App to use on your iPad.

I know what you are saying...how tough can it be to download an App from the App Store? Well let me tell you...it depends what device (iPhone or iPad) you are on while attempting to download.  If you are on a iPhone in the App Store, it will find it to download.  If you are on an iPad, it will not appear.  Below are the instructions on how to download it to your iPad.

How to use the Voice Dream app on the iPad to access materials from Bookshare.org

Disclaimer...Voice Dream is not a free app.

BEFORE you can download the materials to the iPad you must have your Bookshare.org administrator download any materials to that student's Bookshare account either individualy or to a reading list.

Click here for the directions.

How to mirror your iPad on your Macbook using the lightning cable.

With some of our staff still physically tethered to projectors and televisions/monitors we had to find a way to mirror our iPads, without the help of AirPlay...so we used good ole Quick Time Player.


Hook up your iPad to the Macbook with the Lightning (charging) cable.  Make sure the Macbook is off or at least re-start it.

Open up Quick Time Player on the Macbook

Go to File/New Movie recording

When you choose your input device is (see attached pic), choose your iPad NOT the Default Macbook Face time Camera do the same for the Microphone is you want the sound from the iPad as well.

What to do when the Google Doc you created, that has a table in it, does not appear and can not be edited on an iPAD.