Apple will be making significant changes to iPad deployment for education during the upcoming school year that should eliminate some of the hurdles that school districts face when adopting iPads for use in the classroom. In an email obtained by MacRumors, the company outlines plans to make app distribution easier by eliminating the need for an Apple ID to load apps, tweaking the Apple ID for Students program and unifying several deployment programs into one.
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Apple plans to simplify app distribution by allowing schools to assign and distribute apps to a device without an Apple ID this fall, reducing the number of steps needed to set up an iPad. Schools will no longer be required to create generic Apple IDs solely to load content on the tablet, and teachers and administrators will have the option to block students from making personal purchases without approval.
"To simplify large deployments, including one-to-one and shared use, we want to make app distribution even easier. Today, Apple IDs are required in order to deliver apps and books to students. We are working to change this in the fall by allowing schools to assign and distribute apps to a device without an Apple ID. As currently planned, this will greatly reduce the number of steps needed to setup a device. This change should eliminate the need to create generic Apple IDs solely for the purposes of getting content onto iPad. Schools will also have the option to prevent students from making personal purchases without approval."
The email also outlines changes to the Apple ID for Students program to roll out during 2016, including schools gaining the ability to create and manage Apple IDs for students under 13 that can be used to access iCloud. System administrators will also be able to reset student passwords. The new approach will continue to meet COPPA requirements for children's online privacy in the United States.
Apple will also be improving its Apple Deployment Programs by unifying several programs into one for a simplified administrative experience, making it easier for school districts to enroll, manage, and support large iPad deployments. Apple hopes the changes will continue to result in increased student engagement, better attendance and higher test results at all grades and levels of education.
Top Rated Comments
David I must agree with you. using Google's various education services is a far easier way for my students in my division. My school does not have 1 to 1. We have a class set that is dispersed throughout the school. The VPP is terrible. The hoops that have to be jumped through to get an app on the iPad is ridiculous. We do not use the iPads to their full potential. When this new system of doing things makes it way into Canada, I will be the first one in my neck of the woods to jump on it and make it work for my students. In the meantime google ed. is the way to go.
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One possible reason is Google is investing rather heavily into the education market with chromebooks and more importantly, cloud computing. It is far easier for student collaboration with Google than it is with Apple. Apple does have a very large presence in the the education sector, but is losing ground to Google. This would be a good reason for the evolution of their policy in my opinion.
Google is killing it with Google Apps. The kids love collaborating using their software. It's easy to use, connects easy and is efficient. After a few years using it, my kids prefer it over MS products. My 7th grader uses his chromebook more than the school issued iPad.
Let's be honest, Apple and Google are both looking to win the hearts and minds of consumers while they are young. Apple has to make their stuff easier for educators and students to use to stop losing ground. Google wasn't even on the radar 10 years ago, now kids see them as a mainstream option...and on even ground (and in some ways superior) to Apple.