As your kids transition from summer to studying, did you know that their iPhone can be used as a study tool? Just in time for a new school year, here’s a look at how your child can use built-in iPhone features for school success.
How to Use Built-In iPhone Features for School Success
From deep study sessions aided by Focus Modes to vibe-filled Apple Music playlists, built-in iPhone features and apps can help kids of all ages focus on studying and schoolwork. Many of the following tips have TikTok how-tos so go ahead and share these features before school starts. You’ll want your child to set up iPhone features for school success before their year starts. Parents: take note that some of these iPhone features can be just as helpful to us in our work and personal lives as they are to our kids!
Study Like a Pro with Focus Modes
When studying calls for concentration, try using Focus on iPhone and iPad. This feature helps reduce distractions by filtering notifications from people and apps based on what you want to focus on in that moment.
Students can choose to temporarily silence all notifications or allow only specific notifications like ones that apply to their task. A status automatically displays to let other people and supported apps know they’re busy. Personalize one of the provided options (Work, Personal, Sleep and more) or create a custom Focus to stay on task.
See how @nichellelaus uses custom Focus Modes to conquer the day and remain productive.
Get Organized with Apple Calendar
Apple Calendar, which works across devices and with Siri, can be a student’s best friend. From setting up recurring events to blocking study time before big exams, Calendar aims to keep schedules intact and stress at a minimum.
Widgets on iOS and iPadOS elevate the Calendar experience by bringing events front and center onto the Home Screen. You can see your schedule through the widget in the upper left hand corner of the example below.
Watch how @emmaa_studies merges creativity and productivity with Calendar’s customization tools, taking her Calendar aesthetics to the next level.
Wind Down with Downtime
Schedule time away from screens after long days of work and school with Screen Time and automated Downtime. Screen Time can be used to block most-used apps while you step away, or you can silence notifications to limit communication with certain contacts. These settings can be changed or toggled off at any time.
With Downtime, you’ll get a five-minute reminder before the feature is turned on in order to wrap up any last-minute scrolling. Once activated, you’ll only receive calls from contacts you’ve selected and you can use apps you’ve chosen to allow at all times. Downtime stays on until the end of the day or until the beginning of your scheduled downtime. Sync your Screen Time across all devices to maintain awareness of your combined time on-device.
Watch @briannafornes_ explain how Downtime has been a “game-changer” in her daily life.
Take Collaboration to the Next Level
Head (and Docs) in the Cloud
Documents and files are easily shared in iCloud and with Pages, Numbers, and Keynote. Whether on iPhone, iPad, or Mac, access to collaborative documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and folders is always available. Invite up to 100 people to collaborate on documents and watch progress in real time, or see the latest activity when you check back in. Backup and share class files in iCloud Drive for easy, secure storage and access.
Duly Noted… and Shared
Shared Notes allow on-the-go changes by you and invited collaborators. Since Notes is synced in iCloud, everyone will see the changes.
Lots to say? Share a folder within Notes to collaborate on multiple entries. Just want to share a one-off thought? Send a copy of the Note in Messages, Mail, or by AirDrop.
Watch @katherout’s Note sharing tips for keeping up with long distance friends which is great for students heading to college for the first time who are looking for an easy way to keep up with friends from home.
Sharing is Caring with SharePlay
Collaborating virtually is easy through FaceTIme’s SharePlay. Whether screen sharing lecture videos to collectively take notes or having a FaceTime study session with Apple Music ambiance, SharePlay provides easy and enjoyable syntonization with friends and colleagues.
Keeping Tabs on Group Mates
Working together on research is easier than ever with Shared Tab Groups in Safari. Just add group mates, friends, or colleagues to a Tab Group to see each other’s tabs and thought processes in real time.
Groups can access the Shared Tabs on iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Best of all, the group can easily start a conversation via Messages, FaceTime audio, or FaceTime video with everyone that shares the Tab Group, without ever leaving Safari.
Master In-Class Time with These 3 Tools
Work Smarter with Notes
Upgrade note-taking with the Notes app by importing a photo or scanning a document directly into Notes. If you want to go next-level, use the Live Text camera to upload text from a class presentation directly into the note. With Live Text, you can also use the camera to copy and paste, lookup, or translate information within the frame.
See how @the_tech_desk leverages these “life-changing” features for more efficient notes.
Exercise Boundless Creativity
Freeform, a powerful app that’s like a digital whiteboard, is an ideal place to exercise creativity. It provides the ultimate versatility for brainstorming, drawing, and collaborating. Groups can intuitively navigate Freeform to create and visualize diagrams, storyboards, and outlines for class projects and exercises and work seamlessly between different devices.
For example, if you’re unable to finish your idea on iPhone, you can resume on your Mac or iPad. The Freeform boards you store in iCloud, along with any changes you make to them, sync with all your Apple devices.
Put All Your Books in the Palm of Your Hand
Easily access textbooks and assigned reading with Apple Books. Books syncs content and information across iOS and iPadOS devices, so you can quickly pick up where you left off.
Personalize the reading experience with themes, bookmarks, page turn styles, vertical scrolling, and listen to audiobooks while on the go. Need to read a PDF? No problem! Import PDFs to the Books app for convenient reading and annotating.
Apple provided me with hardware to try these built-in features and apps but no compensation was received for this post and all opinions are my own.
