Hey everyone! I'm currently interning at an elementary school, and I've been given the task of managing 15 Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ tablets. The main challenge is preventing students from misusing them, and I'm completely new to this tech stuff. Here's what I need help with:
1. Disable changing wallpapers to stop inappropriate images from being set.
2. Restrict access to settings to avoid factory resets caused by tampering.
3. Block app stores to prevent game installations by students.
4. Implement a reset function similar to Windows' Deep Freeze, to restore each tablet to its original state upon restart.
I'm hoping for free or low-cost solutions since the budget is tight, and I only have three days left before my internship wraps up. Any guidance would be really appreciated!
4 Answers
You should look into a Mobile Device Management (MDM) system. It can help you control the tablets remotely. Depending on your school’s existing setup, there might already be tools available that you can leverage without needing to start from scratch.
Microsoft Intune is a solid choice for managing Android devices. If you can give it a shot, you might be able to set it up before your internship ends. It has features to lock down wallpapers and restrict app access, which sounds like exactly what you need!
I’ve heard of Intune! I’ll definitely check it out before my time's up.
If you already have access to Intune, consider using the Microsoft Launcher as the default. This way, you can limit what students see and do on the tablets, including wallpaper and app access. If you don't have any MDM setup yet, compare ManageEngine and Intune; ManageEngine could be easier for your situation. Just a heads-up though, managing these Android tablets can be a hassle compared to iOS devices. If your school is ever in the market for new tech, Chromebooks are way easier to manage with built-in cloud support!
Honestly, it might be challenging to keep those Android tablets under control. Kids are smart and will find ways to bypass restrictions. You may want to reconsider device choices in the future because managing Android is tougher than iOS in school settings, especially if they found old tutorials that could hack the tablet. Just saying, it might be worth the investment to go for something easier next time.
Thanks for the tip! Do you think any specific MDM solution is better for first-timers?