Classroom requirements for classes created with an MDM solution
For classes created with a mobile device management (MDM) solution, all devices must be enrolled in your organisation’s MDM solution. In that MDM solution, each class consists of a name, one or more teachers, students and (optionally) groups of devices (when using Shared iPad). The MDM solution installs an education configuration profile on all devices assigned to a class. Classroom uses this profile to register which devices belong to which students in each class.
When you configure classes using your MDM solution, only MDM-created classes appear in Classroom. You as the teacher can’t remove classes or add your own classes. Speak to your MDM administrator or view the MDM vendor’s documentation to see if the MDM solution supports these features.
Before class, use Classroom to get each device ready for students. If the students are using iPad devices, Shared iPad and Managed Apple IDs are required for this action.
Classroom can assign a student to an iPad. This ability is useful if a student forgets their passcode or password.
Classroom can also assign a student group to an iPad group. When you select Assign, Classroom determines whether each iPad has been assigned to a student before, and if so, it may assign that iPad to that student again. This optimises the student’s experience by reducing the downloading of files.
For classes created with an MDM solution, student images are added to Classroom in the MDM solution.
Features
Classes created with an MDM solution offer the following features:
MDM administrators can create classes in MDM.
MDM administrators control the classes available.
An account in Apple School Manager with privileges can create classes and sync them to the MDM solution (requires that MDM solution be linked to Apple School Manager).
Available actions
While the class is active, you can perform the following actions:
Open, lock or share information in apps.
Navigate multiple students to Safari or the Books app.
View and lock students’ screens.
Reset a Managed Apple ID password with Classroom.
Mute student devices.
AirPlay a single student’s screen.
Infrastructure requirements
To use Classroom with classes created with an MDM solution, you must have the following infrastructure configurations listed below.
Infrastructure configurations | Requirement |
|---|---|
Wi-Fi with client-to-client communication enabled | Mandatory |
Open ports:
Note: Port 3283 can no longer be used for Classroom app communication. | Mandatory |
At least one class set up in your MDM solution with teacher and student accounts | Mandatory |
At least one class set up in your MDM solution with a device group | Optional |
Teacher device requirements
These are the device requirements for teachers using Classroom classes created with an MDM solution.
Configuration | Requirement |
|---|---|
iPad model | All iPad Pro models iPad 5th generation or later iPad Air 4th generation iPad Air 3rd generation iPad Air 2 iPad mini 5th generation iPad mini 4 |
Mac model | MacBook Pro (Late 2013 or later) MacBook Air (2013 or later) MacBook (2015 or later) Mac mini (2014 or later) iMac (2014 or later) iMac Pro (2017 or later) Mac Pro (Late 2013 or later) |
Minimum supported iPadOS version | iPadOS 14.5 |
Minimum supported macOS version | macOS 11.3 |
Bluetooth enabled | Mandatory |
Set up as Shared iPad | Not permitted |
Supervision | Optional |
Device enrolled in an MDM solution | Mandatory |
A configuration profile containing class information that is pushed to the device | Mandatory |
Managed Apple IDs | Optional (required for student password reset with Shared iPad) |
Student device requirements
These are the device requirements for students joining Classroom classes created with an MDM solution.
Configuration | Shared iPad requirements | One-to-one iPad requirements | Mac requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
Supported hardware | All iPad Pro models iPad 5th generation or later iPad Air 4th generation iPad Air 3rd generation iPad Air 2 iPad mini 5th generation iPad mini 4 | All iPad Pro models iPad 5th generation or later iPad Air 4th generation iPad Air 3rd generation iPad Air 2 iPad mini 5th generation iPad mini 4 | MacBook Pro (Late 2013 or later) MacBook Air (2013 or later) MacBook (2015 or later) Mac mini (2014 or later) iMac (2014 or later) iMac Pro (2017 or later) Mac Pro (Late 2013 or later) |
Minimum supported operating system | iPadOS 14.5 | iPadOS 14.5 | macOS 11.3 |
Bluetooth enabled | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory |
Supervision | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory |
Device enrolled in an MDM solution | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory |
A configuration profile containing class information that is pushed to the device | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory |
Managed Apple IDs | Mandatory | Optional | Optional |