New Education Features in iOS 9.3 Include Shared iPads, New Classroom App and Improved Apple ID Management

[MacRumors]

With iOS 9.3, Apple is introducing a number of new features that are specifically geared towards the education market. Outlined on a new Education Preview site, education-oriented features in the iOS 9 beta include shared iPads for students, a new classroom app, an Apple School Manager feature, and an improved Managed Apple IDs function.

Apple's new Shared iPad feature is designed for educational systems where a 1:1 student-to-iPad ratio isn't possible. It gives each student an Apple ID that can be used to log into any iPad in the classroom, with all of the student's content readily available on any device. That means students can switch from classroom to classroom, logging into an iPad in each class while the iPad remains in the classroom for all students to use during class time.

Students have access to all of their apps, books, and documents when logging on, and for a student that uses the same assigned iPad in a class each day, an intelligent caching system keeps all of their content at the ready. Shared iPad uses a photo login system to make it easy for kids to find their assigned iPad, and a PIN system for logging in makes the system easy for younger children.

Along with Shared iPads, there's a new Classroom app. With Classroom, teachers can launch the same app on all student iPads at the same time and guide students through the app. A Screen View feature lets teachers see what's on any student's iPad at any given time, and it allows teachers to lock apps to keep students on task. There's also a feature for helping reset student passwords directly within the classroom app.

Apple School Manager, a web-based feature, is designed to give admins a central location for creating Apple IDs, building courses, and managing accounts for students, teachers, and admins. It allows administrators to make volume purchases of books and apps and distribute the content quickly.

Within the Apple School Manager, there are new tools for Managed Apple IDs, which are Apple IDs created specifically for schools. Managed Apple IDs have all of the functionality of a standard Apple ID, but they allow administrators to reset passwords, audit accounts, and assign customized roles to each ID.

Apple has been working on overhauling its iPad in Education program since early 2015, when a leaked email suggested the company was planning on unifying deployment programs, simplifying app distribution, and updating the way student Apple IDs work.

Apple's new educational features will be available to schools with the launch of iOS 9.3. iOS 9.3 was provided to developers this morning.

Article Link: New Education Features in iOS 9.3 Include Shared iPads, New Classroom App and Improved Apple ID Management

 

[jmh600cbr]

sounds great but is very late to the game

 

[TheRealTVGuy]

How many of the comments will be in regards to "Shared iPad" and comparing it to the oft-requested feature of having user profiles on the iOS devices so families can share a device and still have each user's experience customized?

I'd also like to Lock certain apps on my employees iPads, lol.

 

[Agent OrangeZ]

Steve Jobs would have had features like this implemented YEARS ago.

 

[Siris4]

With iOS 9.3, Apple is introducing a number of new features that are specifically geared towards the education market. Outlined on a new Education Preview site, education-oriented features in the iOS 9 beta include shared iPads for students, a new classroom app, an Apple School Manager feature, and an improved Managed Apple IDs function.

Apple's new Shared iPad feature is designed for educational systems where a 1:1 student-to-iPad ratio isn't possible. It gives each student an Apple ID that can be used to log into any iPad in the classroom, with all of the student's content readily available on any device. That means students can switch from classroom to classroom, logging into an iPad in each class while the iPad remains in the classroom for all students to use during class time.

Students have access to all of their apps, books, and documents when logging on, and for a student that uses the same assigned iPad in a class each day, an intelligent caching system keeps all of their content at the ready. Shared iPad uses a photo login system to make it easy for kids to find their assigned iPad, and a PIN system for logging in makes the system easy for younger children.

Along with Shared iPads, there's a new Classroom app. With Classroom, teachers can launch the same app on all student iPads at the same time and guide students through the app. A Screen View feature lets teachers see what's on any student's iPad at any given time, and it allows teachers to lock apps to keep students on task. There's also a feature for helping reset student passwords directly within the classroom app.

Apple School Manager, a web-based feature, is designed to give admins a central location for creating Apple IDs, building courses, and managing accounts for students, teachers, and admins. It allows administrators to make volume purchases of books and apps and distribute the content quickly.

Within the Apple School Manager, there are new tools for Managed Apple IDs, which are Apple IDs created specifically for schools. Managed Apple IDs have all of the functionality of a standard Apple ID, but they allow administrators to reset passwords, audit accounts, and assign customized roles to each ID.

Apple has been working on overhauling its iPad in Education program since early 2015, when a leaked email suggested the company was planning on unifying deployment programs, simplifying app distribution, and updating the way student Apple IDs work.

Apple's new educational features will be available to schools with the launch of iOS 9.3. iOS 9.3 was provided to developers this morning.

Article Link: New Education Features in iOS 9.3 Include Shared iPads, New Classroom App and Improved Apple ID Management

That is badass

 

[nepalisherpa]

Better late than never. Now bring this to everyone and not just for educational purpose.

 

[Agent OrangeZ]

How many of the comments will be in regards to "Shared iPad" and comparing it to the oft-requested feature of having user profiles on the iOS devices so families can share a device and still have each users experience customized?

Apple wants you to buy an iPad for each member of the family!

 

[ckelley]

I'm not the target, but I know many people who wish they'd bring this iPad user switching feature to all and not just for education markets. This shows that it's obvious that it can be done.

 

[odedia]

"Shared iPad"? that sounds like the killer feature I've been waiting for - multiple users on a single iPad!

How many of the comments will be in regards to "Shared iPad" and comparing it to the oft-requested feature of having user profiles on the iOS devices so families can share a device and still have each user's experience customized?

Many, and rightfully so.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

So iPads from now on will have this Classrooms app as an app that can't be removed and has to go into a hidden folder?

It seems like there's no way the Classrooms app would work as an app store download... it sounds pretty heavily integrated into the OS to me.

 

[Hastings101]

G-g-good j-j-j-job A-apple!

 

[KPOM]

Steve Jobs would have had features like this implemented YEARS ago.

Sure. The guy who kept saying there was no market for the iPad mini, and who insisted 3.5" screens were the ideal would have implemented this years ago.

 

[Agent OrangeZ]

Sure. The guy who kept saying there was no market for the iPad mini, and who insisted 3.5" screens were the ideal would have implemented this years ago.

Yes... the guy who made sure that every school got Apple IIe machines for their computer labs in the 80's would have made a major push for education features on their newest computing devices.... yes... uh huh.. yep.

 

[iGeek2014]

So iPads from now on will have this Classrooms app as an app that can't be removed and has to go into a hidden folder?

It seems like there's no way the Classrooms app would work as an app store download... it sounds pretty heavily integrated into the OS to me.

I'd imagine the Classroom app would only appear on Educational iPads rather than one from your local computer store etc.

 

[Zirel]

sounds great but is very late to the game

Yes, because Windows or Android come with all those features bundled in!

And with free management software, like Apple is offering!

 

[sza]

I'm not the target, but I know many people who wish they'd bring this iPad user switching feature to all and not just for education markets. This shows that it's obvious that it can be done.

User switch could lead to lack of storage issue. The ipad has to store all the apps / music / videos / books and other contents locally for all members who use it. Obviously, 16 GB is just too small and Apple will not get rid of it.

 

[macduke]

Some great improvements. It's almost as if Apple actually talked to the teachers and administrators running these programs. Imagine that? Sign of good things to come.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

I'd imagine the Classroom app would only appear on Educational iPads rather than one from your local computer store etc.

Hm. You might be right. Apple does go through the effort of making versions of OS X which are exclusive to schools (weird that MacRumors never mentions those. I remember that I checked the build that was on my school laptop one time in About this Mac and it said something about it being an education exclusive version that was not to be updated to the standard version.)

I can imagine them making a special education only version of iOS, as well.

Only problem with that theory is that Apple is sending out betas of iOS including that app to all beta participants, not education only beta participants.

 

[KPOM]

Yes... the guy who made sure that every school got Apple IIe machines for their computer labs in the 80's would have made a major push for education features on their newest computing devices.... yes... uh huh.. yep.

He made only a half-hearted attempt when he came back with the eMac. Also, his idea of a MacBook for schools was to keep the old white version around for a year or two after he killed it for the mass consume market. Apple began coasting in the educational market as iOS took off.

That said, I'd like to see Apple open up these features outside the education market. This could help their enterprise push, as well. For instance, a sales force could purchase a "pooled" group of iPads (maybe a sales force of 10 could share 2-3 iPads for travel).

 

[0815]

So is this now some special thing that only schools can use (or families through pretending to be schools) - or do we finally get 'logins' / 'data separation by appleID' for our iPads?

It sounds like only schools ... but there is hope that it will be extended once successful used for schools.

 

[FSMBP]

Finally...People are saying if Apple enables multi-user support for iPads, they will sell less. However, I was hesitant to upgrade our family's two iPad 2 because new software features weren't enough; now, if in iOS 10, Apple enables multi-user support (for everyone), I would upgrade in a heartbeat.

The majority of iPad users I know have iPad 2 and share their iPads with their spouse/kids/family; this would greatly benefit them & be a great incentive to upgrade.

 

[Harmonious Zen]

"Shared iPad"? that sounds like the killer feature I've been waiting for - multiple users on a single iPad!



Many, and rightfully so.

But is this shared user feature going to be available for non-school uses?

 

[dumastudetto]

I'm not the target, but I know many people who wish they'd bring this iPad user switching feature to all and not just for education markets. This shows that it's obvious that it can be done.

I don't. It would definitely hurt sales of the devices. I think it should remain one iPad for each family member.

 

[GLS]

Steve Jobs would have had features like this implemented YEARS ago.

He could have when the iPad was introduced, right? He was around then.....

 

[BruiserB]

User switch could lead to lack of storage issue. The ipad has to store all the apps / music / videos / books and other contents locally for all members who use it. Obviously, 16 GB is just too small and Apple will not get rid of it.

I'd imagine the apps installed on each ipad would be relatively universal, it would just be student specific data that would need to be synced. I'm thinking this is like an individual iCloud account for each student where their documents would be stored.