Problems with classroom

[sebstruck]

Hi there,

we are new to JAMF and are currently experiencing an issue with the Classroom app not displaying any classes on our devices. Unfortunately, I have not been able to resolve this on my own, so I am hoping of receiving your support.

Initially, the Classroom app on my own testing device successfully showed the groups configured in JAMF. However, when two of my colleagues offered their devices for testing (we are currently in the process of migrating from another MDM solution to JAMF), the app did not work as expected. After installing the app, it prompted for a teacher name and no classes were displayed. I attempted to reproduce the issue by resetting my device, and since then, it also no longer shows the classes—even though it previously did.

The devices of the students shows the correct classes in the general preferences of the devices, so I think their devices are working correctly in Apple Classroom.

We would greatly appreciate any assistance in resolving this matter so that we can continue with the migration of the remaining devices.

Thank you in advance for your support.

[ribblec]

Hello, this is with Apple Classroom, correct? I know with our setup up we have to have the teachers and students signed in with their managed Apple IDs to see and use Classroom. But I also have the Apple Classroom settings turned on in Jamf, except for allowing screen observation, so that the classes and users sync from the Staff/Students Apple IDs.

[sebstruck]

Sorry, yes I mean Apple Classroom. We don't have managed Apple IDs. What really seems strange to me is, that it worked in the beginning but now it isn't working anymore.

Thank you in advance for your support.

[GregBobbett]

If I can ask a couple of questions to see if i can help.

Are your teachers all Managed Apple Accounts in your ASM?

How are you syncing your classes and teachers to Apple School Manager? Is it through your SIS or are you syncing with SFTP? And if with SFTP are you using Jamf School as the SFTP or doing it manually?

In Jamf School > Organization > Settings > Apple Classroom, what settings are checked?
Are you working with iPads and Macs? One box helps Macs work better with Classroom.

In ASM > Access Management > Apple Services > Privacy & Security, is the setting for 'Unmanaged Nearby Classes in Classroom' off or on?

Depending on these, I might be able to help you figure something out.

[sebstruck]

Hello Greg,

our teachers are not synched to ASM, so they don't have managed Apple Accounts.

"Automatically configure Apple Classroom based on Classes and Users in Jamf School" is checked; "Configure Classroom on macOS for all local users automatically" ist unchecked; "Allow Screen Observation Permission Modification" is checked.

I am talking just about iPads.

"Unmanaged Nearby Classes in Classroom" in ASM is unchecked.

Thank you in advance for your support.

[GregBobbett]

Ah. I think I MAY have something for you to try then. Our setup seems close to what you're doing. Our student devices (iPads only) are Managed Apple Accounts, but our staff are not. Our regional Apple Engineer told us that we would have to turn on the setting in ASM to "Unmanaged Nearby Classes in Classroom" to allow the teachers to create classes that the students could join.

The teachers will need to create their own classes and then have the students join those classes. Create unmanaged nearby classes in Classroom - Apple Support

I'm assuming that your teachers/staff are in Jamf School as Users, so the classes they create should auto-populate in Jamf School's Classes section. I do not know off the top of my head if making changes to Classes in Jamf School does anything, but you can play around with editing them to see if it allows you to add/remove members that way.

I really hope this helps! But let me know either way.

[sebstruck]

Ok, but I don't want the teachers to make their own classes. I want them to see the configured classes from JAMF in Apple Classroom (in the JAMF teachers App everything is populated correctly). It was possible for me without having an managed Apple Account but suddenly it is not.

Correct, our staff are Users in Jamf School and settled in a group called "Lehrer" (as we are settled in Germany).

What I want is the other way, that the classes made in JAMF are automatically deployed to the Apple Classroom App so the teachers don't have to make their own classes. As I said, it worked at the beginning. 

Thank you really much for your patience and your help so far

[Lasse]

It seems to be working as advertised as per https://support.apple.com/guide/deployment-education/edud491bf924/web , this article hasn't been updated since 17th May 2022. Managed Apple account(still getting used to not calling it Apple IDs) are required to make use of and being able to modify existing classes in ASM.

Sometimes in projects like this, I stumble into other changes being made in parallel to the MDM move, ie some Azure/Entra ID setting has changed, authentication flows have been modified to accommodate the new MDM and such. Consider making changes to the teacher users so they get synced to ASM as well with a managed Apple account. Sometimes this might require a change along the way in either username or password in one or more apps, like Jamf Teacher and Classroom, but the teachers are the best to have deviating from standard workflows, not the students.