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.