IT teams that support schools and other educational institutions kind of sit in limbo. They’re not quite a business and don’t need all of the enterprise functionality. But they need to provide more support than to a personal computer. That middle ground is exactly why Apple School Manager exists. It’s a user-friendly platform designed to make life so much simpler for schools and everyone else involved.

In this article, I want to do a deep dive into Apple School Manager. You’ll read about the functionality of the platform as well as see some of the pros of using it. So, let’s get started!

What is Apple School Manager?

As the name implies, Apple School Manager is an all-in-one tool for managing devices, accounts, and content for schools and other educational institutions. It’s a web-based portal that’s designed to help educators and IT admins.

For many school staff, time and money are extremely limited commodities. That’s why Apple School Manager streamlines the management efforts of Macs and iPads to create a seamless experience for students.

I bet you’re probably thinking this all sounds too good to be true. There has to be a catch, right? How much does Apple School Manager cost? That’s the best part. It’s free.

Functionality of Apple School Manager

So, how does it work? What can you expect from Apple School Manager? Well, it offers a range of functionalities. All of them are designed to streamline various tasks that schools will need for their devices. Here are a couple of key features you can look forward to:

Device management

One of the nice things is when Apple says this is a device manager, they really mean it. It’s not just for Macs. In fact, you can also use it for iPads and Apple TV. It allows you to assign devices to specific users and create user groups and policies. You can even use it to remotely install apps and updates.

Managed Apple IDs

Apple IDs are always a weird situation for managed devices. But thankfully, Apple School Manager simplifies it a bit. It allows you to manage unique Apple IDs for students and staff. These accounts come with built-in safety features and can easily be reset or transferred.

Content management

Schools find themselves in a unique situation where they need to purchase and manage not only apps but also books and other educational content. With Apple School Manager, you can quickly and easily assign content to an individual user or an entire group.

Classroom management

This is one area where Apple School Manager is really flexing on the classroom environment. Teachers are able to use the portal during class to control students’ devices and monitor their progress. Overall, it provides a more one-on-one experience for students.

Data and privacy

Like all Apple products, Apple School Manager is designed with privacy in mind, first and foremost. All user data is encrypted and stored securely. This ensures that sensitive information remains protected.

Pros of using Apple School Manager

Now that you understand how Apple School Manager functions, it’s time to take a look at how it can benefit your school. There are actually quite a few advantages. Let’s take a look at some of the key benefits:

  • Unified ecosystem: Apple School Manager makes it easy to manage all of the various Apple products you have in your environment. It creates a cohesive and unified ecosystem all in one platform.
  • Customizable features: The platform allows you to have a high level of customization, tailoring each device to the unique needs of your institution.
  • Enhanced classroom experience: Using the Classroom app can give teachers access to robust tools. They’ll be able to manage their classes and monitor student progress.
  • Streamlined communication: By having a centralized platform for sharing information and resources, Apple School Manager not only improves communication between students and teachers but also makes it easier to keep parents in the loop.
  • Reporting and analytics: Apple School Manager gives you insight into data you might not have otherwise by reporting on things like device usage and content distribution.

How to get started with Apple School Manager

While Apple School Manager is an incredibly powerful tool, there’s no need to feel intimidated about implementing it. I know that it might feel overwhelming, but with a step-by-step guide, my hope is that it will help it feel more manageable.

Here are a few steps that can get you started with Apple School Manager:

1. Create a new account

This is an easy one. Go to the Apple School Manager website and sign up for an account. It’s important that you provide accurate information for your school.

2. Verify your institution

Now Apple will need to verify your school’s eligibility. This is why it’s critical that the information you provided in the first step is accurate — since they review each application. You may also be asked to provide additional documentation. Don’t worry, this is fairly common.

3. Set up device management

You’ll need to have a mobile device manager, or MDM tool, in place. This allows you to seamlessly integrate your infrastructure with Apple School Manager.

4. Import data

Then, you’ll want to connect your student information system to Apple School Manager. This will make it easy to import student and staff information for the managed Apple IDs.

5. Deploy content

After you have a handle on setting up the users, then you can purchase and distribute all of the necessary content to each device.

6. Train staff

The last step is to make sure your staff and IT admins are all familiar with the platform. Training them on the features of Apple School Manager will ensure they’re able to fully take advantage of it and help your school get the most from the platform’s capabilities.

There’s no denying that there was a gap in support for schools and educational instructions. But after seeing how powerful and easy-to-use Apple School Manager is, hopefully, you’ve found a solution that can work for you and your team. With a vast array of features and benefits that can enhance the classroom experience, Apple School Manager is a valuable tool you definitely don’t want to overlook.