Onellyjp

No, its an upgrade with your EES subscription.

I have the ASM 100% setup and configured properly with my SIS. That part is complete. I'm specifically tesing InTune as the MDM and configuring InTune to work with Apple Classroom. You are correct that Bluetooth is used to "connect the student iPads with the Teacher iPads, but what happens in the background is the exchange of a teacher and student certificate. In the prior version of InTune you would go in a create a student certificate and a teacher certificate. These were used by InTune when managing Apple Classroom and iOS devices. In the new version of InTune the old instructions do not apply... SO.. I have the ASM setup and linked to my SIS and I have the core ASM token tied into InTune, but now I need to leverage InTune to work with the admin controlled Apple Classroom. You are correct in other MDM's there are very specific "Apple Classroom" policies that can be configured, but my goal is to get it to work in InTune and not have to have an additional MDM. I hope this helps to clarify...

No, linking Apple School Manager and Intune was easy peasy. We're talking about getting Apple Classroom setup for iPads. As part of the setup process Apple School Manager receives data from your SIS that creates teachers, students, and classes. This process sets up the managed AppleID and creates the structure that the MDM can use to push out handshake certificates between student and staff iPads, and links the teacher iPad to the admin created classes for that teacher. I'm not sure if the certs are used for the handshake between teacher and student devices, or if theyare used for something else, but the unique thing about Apple Classroom is that students don't need an app, so it relies on the management profiles and certs to authenticate between all systems.

Microsoft used to rule the world in corporate AND education. They essentially put Novell out of business with their developments in Networking software and directory systems, but they were too bull-headed to adjust when consumers demanded a change. Enter Apple. They had the device that people wanted for education, but didn't know how to manage, or didn't care. The philosophy of a "personal device" was pushed hard into the veins of organizations as users started to demand Apple products. Expenses skyrocketed. Enter Google. The "search"Engine that could. They offer their Google Suite to schools for free in a time when schools are needing to cut costs. Dump Exchange???? YES PLEASE!!! People were dumping Microsoft now in not only the device department, but in the Networking department. Enter Chromebook. This little, inexpensive, device wins the hearts of consumers because its INEXPENSIVE. Bonus for management is that the software is free for education! Google is now the powerhouse. Quietly in the background is this company that was once the king, like a boxer dethroned from the championship and quietly working hard to attempt another bout for the title they have been redefining their hardware products, their movement to web-based solutions, and their overall company philosophy towards education... Microsoft I believe will make another run at both the classroom hardware and back-end software title with the things they have going on. Azure is amazing and truly allows you to eliminate a LOT of your on-site Domain presence. Office 365 had come a LONG way. They still have refining to do, but they have achieved a good contender for the "simple" solution that Google Apps has been providing but with all of the advanced features that you would expect from MS Office. And then there is Intune to tie all of your devices together and manage them. Still in a relative infant state, but with so much potential to be a monster in the education environment and beyond. The Surface Pro m class at $600 US is an amazing price for an outstanding product. This device in a classroom can eliminate the need for a document camera, a smartboard, projector cabling, and several other traditional IT expenses that justify the expense over a Chromebook. Add a Microsoft Wireless Adapter and you have an educational oasis like none other. I have been an Apple user for the past 10 years and am in the process of converting back to a Windows product because they have now produced a better device then what Apple has available. Period. Apple's reluctance to merge their mobile and desktop OS, along with their reluctance to have a MacBook with a detachable "iPad" screen has allowed Microsoft to capitalize on a market that is finally, after about 10 years of tablet technology, ripe for them to take. .....As long as they don't screw it up.

I'm wondering if you ever received an answer to this question? I am also looking at Intune for my MDM and am having difficulty understanding how Apple Classroom will be setup with this. There are virtually no setup guides out there and Intune support is "eh"...