MDM for Education: 3 Features Every Educational Organization Needs

Last Updated on January 13, 2023

With announcements from officials declaring that many educational institutions across the country will require students to study from home, many are turning to mobile devices as a tool to efficiently deliver education remotely. The growing trend of online learning and virtual classrooms may present a number of challenges around device management and upkeep. Considering the need for social distancing, this is especially cogent as IT personnel can’t travel to deliver IT support in person. 

Luckily, a range of technologies and tools exist that can help IT personnel and administrators to conduct routine maintenance, troubleshoot device issues and deliver resolutions remotely. One such tool is mobile device management, or MDM, and in a nutshell, the technology enables IT Managers to remotely control, access and maintain mobile devices from a central location. 

There are a plethora of MDM providers in the market, all promising a range of problem-solving remote management device solutions and features. Unfortunately however, not all providers are equipped with the tools that educational institutions need. So what exactly are these features?

Remote Access

Widely considered the base level of an MDM solution, remote access enables IT Managers to access a remote device to check its status, troubleshoot and diagnose issues, and provide resolution. This feature is especially valuable, because it’s inevitable that at some point, a deployed device will encounter an issue, or a student won’t know how to properly use the device, an app, or certain software. 

MDM software providers like AirDroid Business helps to navigate these kinds of issues through its remote access capabilities. This means that when a student encounters an issue, they – or a parent – can contact the IT Manager who will remotely diagnose the issue and walk them through the resolution, all without having to send the device back to the IT Manager.   

Device Lock-Down with Kiosk Mode

Everyone knows that children and teenagers tend to be easily distracted, and while helpful for education in theory, devices like tablets or smartphones can be more of a distraction than a learning aid. Luckily, some MDM solutions have features that can work to minimize distraction, like AirDroid Business and their Kiosk Mode function. 

Kiosk Mode helps students stay on task by effectively ‘locking down’ the device into only essential functions and apps when it is in use. This means that students can only access the websites, apps, or software that are relevant to their education, so when the class is in session, they can’t distract themselves with the devices because they can only access apps and software that will enrich their learning experience. 

Application and Software Management

Many schools have created custom applications designed to help students with each of their subjects, but as most people have experienced from time-to-time, apps can have glitches – also known as bugs – that means they don’t work quite as well as they should. 

MDM providers like AirDroid Business help educational institutions stay ahead of these bugs through their Application Management Services suite, which enables IT Managers to customize apps, install new apps, and update existing apps remotely. Therefore, when an issue is detected, IT Managers can deploy updates or new apps to each device at the click of a button, rather than having the students return their devices, or relying on the students to trigger the updates themselves. 

To find out more about MDM for education and remote learning, please visit: https://www.airdroid.com/business or sign up for a 14-day free trial.