[ipad] Apple Schools Manager - Apple Classroom - SIMS - Meraki

[Brimstone]

Hi James,When I read your thread I thought that's what I need too. We have Meraki(free), SIMS, Apple Configurator (1.7x) and we opted for Apple School manager last year summer (2016 summer) but unfortunately Apple School Manager didn't work for us. Mainly because (that's what I think) we use free version of Meraki so no option for device enrolment apps push instead it's based on Apple IDs. The Apple IDs were created in Apple School Manager, the iPads were setup as DEP and they sync nicely on Meraki but I could not install/push any apps onto the device(s). This created a massive issue and due to inability to push any apps I scrapped the idea.Although I am still optimistic to make this work somehow as the "teacher controlling students iPads" idea is the main reason why I opted for Apple School Manager. We get so many cases where students are simply either messing around on website playing games or unnecessarily opening different apps, changing settings like wallpaper or adding a accessibility options like Assistive mode. I wish Apple would allow admins to simply hide the settings app along with other Find Friends/Message etc. out from the iPads.P.S. I know we can use AC 2.x which allows restricting wallpaper change and some other settings but it doesn't allow us to restrict Accessibility modes or other key options like history deletion on Safari/Chrome. It also messes up the iPad Name size when we set the wallpaper on the iPad - the iPad Name appears too small and perspective zoom makes the whole wallpaper really pixelated.Kindest regardsJehanzeb

Easy answer to this is....buy a proper MDM solution.

[Brimstone]

1) A managed Apple ID has no access to the App Store and can not buy anything at all. A managed Apple ID is used/required for the following;

 

Apple Schoolwork App

iTunes U Courses

 

2) A paid for MDM solution will give you the ability to assign apps and content to iPads without any Apple ID. Unless you are using Jamf you will eventually get the new features such as restrict Bluetooth and stop VPN Configurations from being added at some point.

3) The best MDM's (like Jamf) let you manually create classes for Apple Classroom without wasting time uploading CSV's to ASM.

 

https://www.jamf.com/blog/why-the-device-management-solution-you-choose-matters/

[misterharrison]

1) A managed Apple ID has no access to the App Store and can not buy anything at all. A managed Apple ID is used/required for the following;

 

Apple Schoolwork App

iTunes U Courses

 

2) A paid for MDM solution will give you the ability to assign apps and content to iPads without any Apple ID. Unless you are using Jamf you will eventually get the new features such as restrict Bluetooth and stop VPN Configurations from being added at some point.

3) The best MDM's (like Jamf) let you manually create classes for Apple Classroom without wasting time uploading CSV's to ASM.

 

https://www.jamf.com/blog/why-the-device-management-solution-you-choose-matters/

The paid version of Meraki does all that too now, I think.

[Brimstone]

Long and hard struggle behind. Now in use but we have still some serious problems.

 

We have 24 shared-mode ipads. Meraki as MDM with manually entered 7 classes and 150 students for Classroom configuration. ASM import did'nt work and as teachers use their own appleid:s manual configuration is the only way.

 

Owner of ipad have to be appleid witch belong to every configured class. This is only way to see classes in login. So owner of all 24 ipads is one of the teachers.

 

Problem: Every time a student log in it changes ipads owner to students appleid. Then next student can see only previous students class. We have to manually change ipad owners back every time they are used. Students can still log in with entering their appleid:s but it breaks the whole idea.

 

Apple ID's whether Personal or Managed have absolutely nothing to do with and make zero difference to using Apple Classroom successfully. In fact Apple Classroom can be used by a teacher with students and NO Apple ID signed into his/her iPad.

 

Key to using Shared iPad (which need a Managed Apple ID) classes with Apple Classroom is to ensure both students who share the iPad are in each teachers class. When a teacher uses Classroom they can see only 1 student at a time.

[RLR]

As for the Bluetooth queries, Bluetooth can now be controlled with a command to turn it off or on (as long as your MDM has implemented it). You can then set a restrictions profile to stop them altering the Bluetooth setting.

[Brimstone]

As for the Bluetooth queries, Bluetooth can now be controlled with a command to turn it off or on (as long as your MDM has implemented it). You can then set a restrictions profile to stop them altering the Bluetooth setting.

AFAIK no MDM can force the Bluetooth to be turned on/off yet, when you push the restrict BT command via Jamf if it is turned off it then can not be turned back on.

[RLR]

AFAIK no MDM can force the Bluetooth to be turned on/off yet, when you push the restrict BT command via Jamf if it is turned off it then can not be turned back on.

 

JAMF allows you to push a command to turn bluetooth on. I believe but not tested, this command also overrides the restrictions profile so if they have bluetooth restrictions on, and bluetooth turned off, this command will override it and turn it on.