How to Deploy Apple Devices in Education

Apple School Manager is a simple, web-based portal that lets IT administrators deploy iPad and Mac in schools. You can easily provide students and staff with access to Apple services, set up devices, get apps and books, and enable teachers with tools to create engaging learning experiences – all from one place.

And now with Microsoft Azure Active Directory support, it’s easier than ever to integrate iPad and Mac into your existing environment and provide your students and staff with access to key Apple services for teaching and learning. With access to iCloud Drive, iCloud Photos, iCloud Backup, Schoolwork and Shared iPad, teachers and students can access learning materials and the work they’ve created on any device.

If your school doesn’t have an Apple School Manager account, you can sign up here for free.

Apple Volume Purchasing (formerly known as the Volume Purchasing Programme, or VPP) allows institutions to bulk-buy copies of apps and books through Apple School Manager.

These can then be distributed to student and teacher devices via the schools Mobile Device Management system.

Volume Purchasing does also allow developers to offer an education discount for 20+ licences, meaning that schools may be able to access huge savings when deploying apps en-masse.

Apple Device Enrolment (formerly known as the Device Enrolment programme, or DEP) is an powerful and incredible deployment tool.

Through the Device Enrolment process, a ‘trust’ is created, tying your device serial numbers to your institution. From this point on, you have a much greater control of how your Apple devices work.

Whenever one of your Apple devices is turned on, and connected to the internet, it will automatically check in with your school’s Apple School Manager account for instructions. For example, this could include instructions to auto-enrol itself in to your Mobile Device Management system for configuration (i.e. Zero Touch deployment).

Device Enrolment can help you both streamline your Apple deployment process, as well as adding an additional layer of security to it.

A Mobile Device Management (MDM) system is a tool that can be used to wirelessly manage your Apple devices like iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Using a MDM, you can do things like wirelessly push the iMovie app to all Year 6 students, stop students from downloading their own apps to a school iPad, and even push out Apple updates.

In short, it means you can manage all of your devices from one place… Any organisation deploying Apple devices should look to utilise a MDM system. Examples of MDM solutions include Jamf and Jamf School.

A ‘zero touch deployment’ is a way of deploying Apple devices without your technical team having to actually touch any of the technology.

It allows you to keep your iPad, iPhone, or Mac sealed in its box. When the end user opens their new device and connects it to a wireless network, the device will auto-configure itself, based on the pre-set config defined by your technical team.

Therefore, the technical team have deployed and configured technology to your staff and students without having ‘touched’ the device – hence the term ‘zero touch’ deployment.

Zero touch deployments are achieved using a combination of MDM and Apple Device Enrolment.

A ‘managed Apple ID’ is a special kind of Apple ID, which can be created in Apple School Manager. These can be created for teachers and students, and have a series of benefits.

Managed Apple IDs are institution-owned, and are restricted for some uses. For example, Managed Apple IDs cannot be used in the App Store to make purchases.

They also come with a series of benefits, including 200GB of free cloud storage for students and staff. They can also be used for specific deployment methods (like Shared iPad), and to access some of Apple’s services (like Schoolwork app).

Shared iPad enables multiple students to use the same iPad while ensuring a personal learning experience and keeping each student’s data separate and secure.

Classroom lets teachers manage classroom iPad devices. They can open apps and links to guide students through a lesson, send and receive documents with everyone in the class, and view iPad screens to keep an eye on student work.

Schoolwork enables teachers to share and receive instructional materials, review student progress, provide instant feedback and personalise instruction. Students have one place to see assignments, submit their work and see their progress. Learn more here.