Intro to Classroom
Classroom is an app for teachers available for supported iPad devices and Mac computers. As a teacher, you can guide learning, share work, and manage supported student iPad devices and Mac computers. You can launch a specific app, website, or textbook page in your class. You can also send and receive documents with your class and share student work on a TV, monitor, or projector using Apple TV. And you can see which apps students are working in, mute student devices, and reset a student’s password.
When Classroom is used with Shared iPad and Managed Apple IDs, you can assign students to a group of iPad devices. Students tap their name in a list on each iPad and enter their passcode or password at the beginning of class. When class is over, you can use Classroom to sign students out of their Shared iPad so that it’s ready for the next student. Data is cached locally on iPad and is pushed to the cloud even after students sign out. If necessary, data from the previous user continues to be pushed to the cloud after the next user signs in to the iPad.
For optimal performance with Classroom, class sizes of 60 students or fewer are recommended.
If your school is using Managed Apple IDs and configuring class rosters in Apple School Manager, you can use Schoolwork with Classroom. Using Schoolwork work teachers can easily distribute and collect assignments from student’s iPad devices with the Schoolwork app, keep an eye on student progress in educational iPad apps, collaborate one-on-one with students, and set up and manage collaboration between students.
Note: For MDM-synced classes, student images are added to Classroom in the mobile device management solution. For classes teachers create using their Managed Apple ID, the student is responsible for adding their image on their device.
Using Classroom in various class environments
You can use Classroom for classes that you create—either in Apple School Manager or with an MDM solution—or for classes that teachers create (with or without an MDM solution). Classroom can’t be used to manage Shared iPad temporary sessions.
Important: Only one class type is supported on a device at a time and students must be in physical proximity with teacher when joining a class.
Classes synced with Apple School Manager
If teachers are using iPadOS 14 or macOS 11, they can sign in to Classroom with their Managed Apple ID, create a class, and then add other teachers and students to the class. They must select an Apple School Manager location where they want that class created. They can also see any existing classes created in Apple School Manager. No MDM solution is required, although integrating with one can change how the student devices function in the classes.
All students must be running iPadOS 13.5 or later or macOS 10.15.5 or later.
Using classes synced with Apple School Manager allows the following features:
Teachers can create classes in the latest versions of Classroom or Schoolwork 2.0 if they have the appropriate privileges in Apple School Manager.
Classes appear automatically and can be used on the same device, regardless of how they were created.
Classes sync to all devices with a Managed Apple ID.
To see the full list of requirements for classes synced with Apple School Manager, see Classroom requirements.
For setup information, see Set up your new classes created with a Managed Apple ID or Set up your classes created in Apple School Manager.
Classes synced from MDM
For classes created with mobile device management (MDM), all devices must be enrolled in your MDM solution and the MDM administrator must create sets of classes so Classroom has roster information. Classes can be synced from Apple School Manager to MDM. In your MDM solution, each class consists of a name, one or more teachers, students, and (optionally) groups of devices (when using Shared iPad). Your MDM solution installs an education configuration profile on all devices assigned to a class. Classroom uses this profile to register which devices belong to students in each class. Teachers can create temporary groups within these classes. For example, if three students are working on a project together, the teacher can create a group just for them and then guide them to look at specific websites or books that pertain to their project. Teachers can create temporary groups without needing to contact the MDM administrator.
In a one-to-one environment, Classroom can still be used to keep students on task, letting you guide their experience. For more information about using Classroom with Shared iPad and in a one-to-one environment, see Shared iPad overview in Mobile Device Management Settings for IT Administrators.
When teachers configure classes using your MDM solution, only MDM-created classes appear in Classroom (if the MDM administrator has configured a valid and supported Classroom configuration). Teachers can’t remove classes or add their own classes. You can also sync your classes from Apple School Manager to your MDM solution or create them directly within the MDM solution. See your MDM vendor’s documentation to see if they support these features.
Using classes synced from MDM allows the following features:
An account in Apple School Manager with privileges can create classes in Apple School Manager and sync them to MDM (requires an MDM solution linked to Apple School Manager).
MDM administrators can create classes in MDM.
MDM controls the classes synced to devices.
To see the full list of requirements for classes synced from MDM, see Classroom requirements.
For more information on Schoolwork, see Schoolwork requirements, Getting set up for Schoolwork, and Getting started with Schoolwork.
Unmanaged classes
For classes created by the teacher, neither Apple School Manager nor an MDM solution is required, although integrating with an MDM solution can change how the student devices function in the classes. Managed Apple IDs can’t be used with unmanaged classes.
When teachers create an unmanaged class, they make the class available for students to join. Teachers create classes by entering their name and then creating the class. Provided that all network infrastructure requirements are met, the teacher can advertise a class for enrollment and a student can browse for that class by choosing one of the following:
For iPad: Student Classroom settings for iPad
For Mac: Student Classroom settings for Mac
Students add the class by entering a four-digit PIN (personal identification number) provided by you. A student can add more than one class—by the same or different teachers. In this way, students can easily move from room to room with their iPad or Mac.
Important: Unmanaged classes are incompatible with Shared iPad and with the education configuration profile from your MDM solution that creates MDM-synced classes. If the education configuration profile is present on the teacher’s or student’s device, unmanaged classes can’t be created or joined.
To see the full list of requirements for unmanaged classes, see Classroom requirements.