coberlin

Apple themselves calls Profile Manager "An MDM on training wheels". It can only support so much, i wouldn't suggest going over 1,000 devices. If you are over 1k i would suggest a third party MDM such as AirWatch/JAMF Casper/Cisco Meraki..etc Apple Configurator (Legacy Model) is still used in a Multi-user environment Apples DEP Program is the new 1:1 User Envioroment I suggest signing up for the DEP Program, but play around with all the different MDM's they have a lot of similar features but some have some really unique and great stuff.

Everyone basically covered what you need. One thing i noticed that wasn't mentioned by many was the NEED to sign up for Apple's DEP Program. It is a lengthy process to sign up, but worth it in the end. It will allow you to create non-removable profiles on the iPads to retain full control of your devices at all time. This will also allow you to create VPP Accounts, as well as creating student accounts for students under the age of 13 (Apple requires you to be 13). Other then that, a very strong IT Team, a Great MDM Solution (AirWatch / JAMF Casper Suite) [those were my top 2 choices] as well as caching servers and strong WiFi. Also something to think about is if your ISP Provides enough bandwidth, we had a problem once we deployed our 12,000 iPads with maxing out bandwidth. This would cause our PoE Phones to stop functioning creating a safety issue that needed to be delt with ASAP. Also for 1:1 program, you would want to filter your students at home.. Our solution was to have the students forcefully proxy back to us so we can always restrict content as well as monitor and record sites. As for saving data, 1:1 the student has the same iPad daily (for us) and can save everything locally. Our Students not in the 1:1 program but in the cart based 1:3 deployment (cart rotates to different class rooms), students could use Google Drive with our personalized Google domain to upload any files they would like to save and continue working on.

If you are using Apple Configurator and have supervision turned on, then the device will NOT activation lock. The students can leave their iCloud signed in and you can wipe the iPad without the fear of getting activation locked. The way we configure our 12,000 iPads is as follows: Supervise Device and Name Apply Any configurations as well as Apps -We don't use Assign to user. Then when you need to refresh/wipe the iPads. Plug the iPad into the macbook, put the iPad in restore mode (Hold Home + Power, While plugged in until iTunes logo appears). This will put the iPad on the supervised tab, change Update iOS to "When device is in recovery". You then can click the refresh button and it will reinstall all your apps, and configs as well as naming the device the exact same. If you use folders for the apps at that point you would then do a Restore of your "Master" to bring back all the pretty folders.