Classroom – Shared iPad

Terms and Definitions

Classroom – this is this is Apple's application for teachers allowing them to manage a class of students using iPad devices. Main features:

• Lock student devices
• Start application or Safari on a given web page on student devices
• Observe (without interaction) student devices
• Pre-assign shared iPad to students
• Display student iPad screen on Apple TVs

Shared iPad - this is a special mode in which iPad devices can be put, which allows multi-users on a single iPad.

• Only one user is logged in at a time
• Personal data are downloaded from iCloud on first login on the device and cached on the device
• You can configure how many "user caches" can be stored on the device
• Managed Apple IDs are required

Apple School Manager - this is Apple "Super DEP" portal for education.

• Works as a normal DEP account (you can create multiple "virtual servers" and use them to deploy your devices)
• Integrates VPP
• Integrates Student Information System data
• Integrates Managed Apple IDs management

One-to-One (1:1) context - this is a deployment model where a person is getting a device that is not shared with another person.
Cart - this is a Group of devices that usually stay in one classroom, and that are shared by students. They do not have to actually be stored in a cart; this is just a logical grouping that we chose to call a Cart.

While Classroom and Shared iPad share the same underlying concepts, it is not mandatory to use both together:

• Classroom only can be used in 1:1 context without Shared iPad
• Shared iPad can be used without a teacher running Classroom

Hardware Requirements
Apple has the hardware requirements listed here: https://help.apple.com/classroom/ipad/1.1/#/cadc1b9b4f8a (I know that it's an ugly URL, but it takes you where you need to go). On this page, you will see that the following applies:

• All devices require Bluetooth LE (Low Energy) support
• Nothing additional for teacher devices
• 1:1 student devices must be supervised
• Shared iPad requires more storage space

How it works: Classroom

• Classroom is configured using a special "education" payload (profile), which has to be sent via MDM.
• The profile has to contain data based on SIS data, indicating who is using what.
• From a communication point of view, Apple uses Bluetooth LE (hence the hardware limitation) to initiate the connection between devices and then establish a TCP/IP connection, using SSL certificates for security.

How it works: Shared iPad

• Devices have to be in an ASM account.
• There is a special option you have to enable in DEP profile before activating the device.
• Once the device is activated, it will be prepared for Shared iPad (it will reboot just after enrollment).
• Users can log into the device using a Managed Apple ID from the same ASM account.
• Device space will be shared:
  • iOS
  • Common apps, media
  • For each user, local cache of personal data
• When user logs in / out, data are synchronized via iCloud.