Apple's Classroom app goes live to bolster iPad in education
Following the release of iOS 9.3 on Monday, Apple pushed out its new Classroom app for teachers that promises to deliver a comprehensive toolset for deploying, managing and monitoring iPads in the classroom.
Announced in January as the next major step in Apple's education initiative, Classroom provides teachers with a powerful set of remote device management features that turns their iPad into a veritable teaching assistant.
Once configured, Classroom enables automatic connectivity with other iPads in a mass deployment ecosystem, or more specifically iPads assigned to the student body. In a scenario where iPads are shared, the app assigns students to the iPad they most recently used, while teachers can log individuals in to and out of borrowed hardware.
During class, educators are able to launch apps, websites or books remotely. There is also an option to lock all devices or device screens to refocus class attention. Teachers can even see what's on students' screens through a remote viewing feature called Screen View, either as a class or individually. Students are informed when their device is being monitored, Apple says.
Remote viewing works both ways, as teachers can use AirPlay to present a student's work on a television equipped with an Apple TV. Apple usually includes the set-top box as part of its educational package.
Finally, Classroom includes tools for resetting Managed Apple ID passwords and creating smart groups for projects.
Classroom is available as a free download from the iOS App Store.
Announced in January as the next major step in Apple's education initiative, Classroom provides teachers with a powerful set of remote device management features that turns their iPad into a veritable teaching assistant.
Once configured, Classroom enables automatic connectivity with other iPads in a mass deployment ecosystem, or more specifically iPads assigned to the student body. In a scenario where iPads are shared, the app assigns students to the iPad they most recently used, while teachers can log individuals in to and out of borrowed hardware.
During class, educators are able to launch apps, websites or books remotely. There is also an option to lock all devices or device screens to refocus class attention. Teachers can even see what's on students' screens through a remote viewing feature called Screen View, either as a class or individually. Students are informed when their device is being monitored, Apple says.
Remote viewing works both ways, as teachers can use AirPlay to present a student's work on a television equipped with an Apple TV. Apple usually includes the set-top box as part of its educational package.
Finally, Classroom includes tools for resetting Managed Apple ID passwords and creating smart groups for projects.
Classroom is available as a free download from the iOS App Store.
Comments
Please update ARD for connecting remotely outside WAN.
our school has a major investment in iPads
some schools in our district are switching to google classroom using chrome books great for assignments, agnostic can access from home browser so they don't have to take home (like that mess in LA) and move away from flash drives
HEY Apple GET WITH THE EDUCATION PROGRAM
each student should have unlimited storage pages, numbers, keynote etc etc free
i hope learn sprout with apple and apple classroom can make a big statement
but schools soon will be making the decision for next school year
HOPE APPLE ISN'T LEFT AT THE WAYSIDE
when i heard about this i thought it was more than a management solution (much better than the past) and apple had much more to say---but no other announcement.
i'm going to look for apple or other school video's on how to set up, use etc to share with my principal
any of you have more info or can direct me to an apple solution in the classroom to sell to our school rather than chrome books and google classroom? ( i know google classroom will work on the iPad but don't like the potential for data mining from our children)
thanks for any insights