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Jamf, Maryville University offer students a unique approach to learning with Apple tech

Jamf, which specializes in Apple ecosystem management, and Maryville University have announced that Maryville has proven success in delivering their students an elevated learning experience with Apple technology, managed by Jamf. The university gives an iPad Pro and Apple Pencil to every incoming, fulltime student at no charge. Maryville University President Mark Lombardi said it’s what’s necessary in today’s competitive, modern world. 

“We’re the leading disrupter in the space of higher education,” he noted in a press release. “We’re leading a revolution, changing the entire model of higher ed for students. We’re taking what’s an old and antiquated way of providing higher education and making it vibrant and alive in the 21st century.”

Maryville uses Jamf Pro to manage 3,600 iPad, 350 Mac and 110 iPhone devices. “The combination of Jamf and Apple has really made the process possible,” said Taylor Bell, instructional technologist, Maryville. “Our 1-to-1 iPad program would not be where it is without the ability to use Jamf to integrate information we get from our learning management system (LMS) into Apple School Manager and then populate classes so our instructors can really connect with our students in different ways. I actually can’t imagine doing this job without Jamf Pro.”

The school further elevates its iPad offering through the use of Apple Classroom and Apple School Manager. Not commonly used in higher education, the tools help the school succeed with its synchronized learning initiative by adding more than 3,000 classes to Apple School Manager each semester and pushing content to devices in class, for example. Since implementing Apple School Manager, and thanks to the Apple EDU discount, Maryville saves:

  • No less than $50,000 on apps alone, per semester;
  • Up to $590,000 annually on hardware compared to a desktop.

Maryville’s 1-to-1 iPad program allows students to access content, information and knowledge in the way that best suits their learning style. Lombardi said this allows more students the opportunity to learn in their own way and subsequently succeed in their given discipline. This, he said, is the greatest benefit of implementing a 1-to-1 program.    

Dennis Sellers
the authorDennis Sellers
Dennis Sellers is the editor/publisher of Apple World Today. He’s been an “Apple journalist” since 1995 (starting with the first big Apple news site, MacCentral). He loves to read, run, play sports, and watch movies.