Back to school: Is your tech really ready for the classroom?
You spent the summer getting devices enrolled, updated and compliant. That's the baseline, not the finish line. Learn what it takes to make sure devices are optimized for learning.
Hopefully you had some fun in the sun this summer, at least in between the times where you were at your school, getting devices ready for next year’s students.
It’s crucial work: enrolling devices into your MDM, sending updates, implementing security policies, renewing certificates, making sure everything is compliant. All this is foundational to safe and secure devices in the classroom.
But IT has the opportunity to go beyond this baseline, customizing devices so they meet teachers’ lesson requirements and students’ learning needs. At Jamf we refer to these as purposeful deployments; these deployments go beyond simple management and align to a clear strategic use.
How IT turns screen time into screen value
IT teams, teachers and administrators all work hard to ensure that device use is optimal for learning. Devices have access to countless tools that help improve and personalize the learning experience for students — but they have access to distractions too.
Understandably, teachers and parents are concerned about their students’ screen time, so much so that schools have banned devices before a certain age. Even so, it’s not all black and white; devices enhance and personalize learning too.
This conflict is why screen time and screen value are hot topics right now.
Students who use digital tools in core subjects such as mathematics, science and languages exhibit superior problem-solving skills when using digital technology.
Many schools find success with digital devices. These are the schools that restrict device use to quality instruction time. There’s a sweet spot: for example OECD found that students scored better on math performance when they use devices, as long as it’s specifically for learning and limited in time.
So how can schools ensure that the time spent on a device is valuable and not distracting? IT plays a big part in this. Because IT can configure devices and set restrictions, they can help make sure devices are used in ways that enhance learning. With the right tools, IT can give teachers control over their students’ devices by capturing student focus, deploying apps specific to their lessons and restricting distracting content. This way, devices are best used for intentional, purpose-built instruction.
Let’s talk about what this looks like.
5 classroom management areas to configure before day one
Enrollment, policies and app deployment are all required for successful classroom devices. This isn’t unique to schools, but schools need additional configurations made for the classroom.
IT’s role goes beyond configuration into classroom enablement. The infrastructure IT builds makes excellent, device-based learning experiences possible.
Distraction management
Teachers can lock screens, redirect attention to a shared resource and run a focused test-taking session (all without filing a ticket with IT).
Device personalization
Devices offer customization students simply can’t get with traditional tools. When they’re personalized to a student’s grade level, curriculum and preferences, they work better on a device that works for them.
Screen time as a classroom management tool
Parents often set screen time restrictions for their students at home to make sure they’re focusing on their homework and other activities. These restrictions are important in the classroom too. Teachers can decide what apps and websites are accessible during a specific time, turn on focus modes or even lock a device into a single app. This harmonizes their curriculum with device use, so screen time turns into screen value.
Interface between IT and teachers
IT builds a school’s device environment, building on device management, security and identity. Teachers decide how they’re best used in the classroom with classroom management tools. The two groups need to interface — tools like Jamf Teacher, Jamf Student and Apple Classroom work together to provide confidence and resources for teachers, from IT. As a result, students get teachers who are empowered and well-equipped for their lessons.
Identity and seamless access
Classroom momentum comes to a halt if students forget their password and can’t log in to resources. This means learning time is instead spent troubleshooting, filing a ticket with IT or adjusting the lesson. No one wins — IT’s work increases, frustrated teachers have to pivot and students can’t access their learning tools. Single sign-on (SSO), Managed Apple Accounts and federated authentication remove the friction.
Learn more about seamless identity workflows for K-12 >>
Key takeaways
- Audit classroom tool readiness: Before school starts, you likely already audit your devices, checking for the right policies, configurations and software versions. Go beyond this, making sure classroom management tools are deployed and configured too.
- Configure screen time as a classroom tool: Generic screen time limits restrict device use, sometimes to the point of uselessness. But with custom focus modes, assessment workflows and managed restrictions set by a teacher, devices are used efficiently, productively and effectively.
- Give teachers a reason to trust the technology: Make sure your classroom management tools like Jamf Teacher or Apple Classroom are ready for teachers on the first day of school. Teachers need to be familiar and confident with tools to implement them successfully.
- Evaluate identity and access as a classroom continuity issue: Login problems cost precious learning time. Consider implementing SSO and Managed Apple Accounts so students can securely access resources without having to remember countless passwords.
See how Jamf helps K-12 schools build classroom-ready devices.
