Apple's latest overhaul will impact one-to-one and shared device rollouts

In March, Apple upgraded the iPad and iPhone operating system to iOS 9.3 (quickly followed by iOS 9.3.1, which tweaked a few bugs). The lead up to the release caught the eye of the K-12 community, which had been waiting for a few tweaks of their own that would help it better manage both shared and one-to-one iPad implementations. It's only been a couple of weeks since the new operating system hit prime time, but the feedback is already coming in—and it's largely positive.

New features in iOS 9.3, for example, make it easier for IT to set up and manage devices via a new managed home screen layout. This feature allows administrators to deploy iPads configured for students, and to select which applications will appear on their device home screens. It might be most useful in shared environments, where more than one student is using a device—but where not all of the apps are relevant for all of those users. Schools can also locate and recover stolen or lost devices via ongoing location tracking that doesn't compromise student privacy.

Expanded capabilities

Carl Hooker, director of innovation and digital learning at Eanes Independent School District in Austin, Texas, says his 8,000-student district kicked off its one-to-one mobile device implementation in 2012. Devices at Eanes have been upgraded to iOS 9.3, he's already seeing positive impacts. The new Classroom app (the "teacher's assistant"), for example, lets instructors quickly see what students are working on at any given moment. "We were able to do this before with our mobile device management platform," said Hooker, "but it was never built into the iOS."

With the new operating system, teachers can also use AirPlay to share a specific student's work on a big screen using a projector and Apple TV. "We used to have to ask students to bring their iPads up to the front of the class to plug them in to be able to do this," says Hooker. On the backend, he says administrators like how the device enrollment profile (DEP) allows districts to purchase devices and then "sync" the device serial numbers with Apple. "This capability has been around for about a year and a half," says Hooker, "and it's great because if someone steals the device, it will ask for school credentials when the [thief] tries to wipe the device clean and reboot it."

What's different now is that the DEP function is folded into the operating system's volume purchase pricing (VPT) program on iOS 9.3. Through the program, schools save about 50 percent off mobile apps by purchasing them in bulk. "Apple turned it into a one-stop-shop that makes deployment faster," said Hooker, "and also helps us save money." The feature is particularly useful for schools whose one-to-one programs include students who are under 13 years of age. "It can take months to track down all of the parent approvals and get every single student's ID set up," says Hooker. "During that time—which could extend into October during the typical school year—pupils weren't getting apps. I feel like that's really going to be streamlined now."

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