Device Lifecycle FAQ
In addition to damaged or malfunctioning equipment — Out-of-date hardware and software creates unnecessary limitations to teaching and learning. Teachers and students need up-to-date technology that just works. Reliability has proven to be key factors in technology adoption. To provide the best technology experience for everyone at your school, we recommended the following hardware lifecycle based on the deployment date (when the technology goes into use):
- Devices, such as Macs, iPads, and Chromebooks, should be replaced at the 4-year mark.
- Infrastructure, such as Projectors, Printers, and Wi-Fi equipment, should be replaced at the 5-year mark.
All devices will become unmanagable and unsupportable at the 5-year mark, from the date of deployment. As an example, a device purchased in June 2020 and deployed in August 2020 will be managed and supported until August 2025.
Why does Classmate not support and manage older technology?
For us, it's all about the experience.
- The experience students have learning with technology
- The experience educators have operating & teaching with technology
- The experience administration has when responsible for a school filled with technology
- The experience our team has managing and supporting everyone's technology
Our team's goal is to deliver amazing technology experiences and amazing experiences with technology. We do this for hundreds of educators and with thousands of devices. And, it's only possible if the technology is modern, up-to-date, and reliable. For this reason, we cannot guarantee the experience after 4 years and we choose not to let old technology burden or distract us from our goal.
Why should I replace technology that still works?
Our approach is to be proactive so teachers and students aren’t impacted mid-year. If enough devices become unreliable, the technology experience becomes frustrating and the impact on learning unavoidable. The fix (getting new devices) takes time with paperwork, shipping, and deployment — not to mention the budgetary discussions for a mid-year purchase before any of that begins. By being proactive, we prevent all of this from happening. If a school chooses to be reactive instead, this situation is not just possible but also plausible. We’ve had these experiences with schools and it’s always a moment of learning. An exception is if the devices are a bonus, meaning their ability to operate is non-consequential and has little impact on teaching and learning.
What does unmanaged mean?
Unmanaged devices are no longer managed — meaning they’re no longer monitored for security, configured for consistency, and maintained for reliability. That’s not to say unmanaged devices are suddenly unreliable, inconsistent, or insecure but, instead, means the user is now responsible for the device in its entirety. Unmanaged devices are also unable to benefit from management-only features, such as Self Service and school-purchased apps licenses, such as Notability.
What does unsupported mean?
Unsupported devices are no longer supported by Classmate. This is often because the device is unmanaged — so we’re no longer involved and aware of the device and its operations. We advocate for all technology to be managed and supported so, if you find yourself relying on unsupported technology, we can assist in getting it replaced.
What options exist if I still need help?
When a device is unmanaged and unsupported, the best approach is to replace the device with one that can be managed and supported. The old device can be recycled, resold, or donated so it doesn’t add to the immense amount of e-waste generated each year.
When is a device too old?
Classmate manages and supports devices up to 5-years from their date of deployment. As an example, a device purchased in June 2020 and deployed in August 2020 will be managed and supported until August 2025.
What happens to a managed device that becomes unmanaged?
When a managed device becomes unmanaged, it is typically erased — removing all data (school and personal) and applications (school and personal), and returning it to factory settings. This is intentional as it removes all sensitive data prior to recycling, reselling, or donating the device.
What will happen to our Shared iPads if we choose to keep using them?
Great question! At this time, Shared Mode iPads can only exist on managed devices (this is why you can't have multiple users on your personal iPad).
If your school plans to continue utilizing iPads that have been set up in Shared Mode once the devices are no longer supported by Classmate, we'll need to erase these devices first.
Once erased, your school can configure these devices as standard 1:1 iPads. Affected iPads will then act just as a personal device would — this means that Apps will need to be installed from the App Store using a personal Apple ID (school-purchased Apps can not be installed on these devices), and that Classmate won't be able to assist with these devices if problems or questions arise.
To get you started with downloading apps on an unmanaged device, Apple has easy to follow guides available here and here.
If your school plans to continue utilizing iPads that have been set up in Shared Mode once the devices are no longer supported by Classmate, we'll need to erase these devices first.
Once erased, your school can configure these devices as standard 1:1 iPads. Affected iPads will then act just as a personal device would — this means that Apps will need to be installed from the App Store using a personal Apple ID (school-purchased Apps can not be installed on these devices), and that Classmate won't be able to assist with these devices if problems or questions arise.
To get you started with downloading apps on an unmanaged device, Apple has easy to follow guides available here and here.