The Challenge
IT administrators managing thousands of Apple devices need deep technical skills—scripting, API integration, advanced security configurations. And yet, they're busy, they learn differently, and many come from Windows backgrounds where Mac administration works completely differently.
Previous training was lecture-heavy and abstract. Completion was low. Feedback showed learners needed more hands-on practice and real-world scenarios.
My Approach
I started by interviewing support engineers and customer success managers: "What do customers struggle with most after basic training?" The answer: automation and APIs. That is, they understood concepts but couldn't apply them.
I redesigned the course around real scenarios:
- "Your school needs to deploy 500 iPads with custom profiles"
- "Automate app deployment for remote workers"
- "Integrate Jamf with your identity provider"
Each scenario included context—why this matters—guided practice with step-by-step checkpoints, independent challenges to apply it to different scenarios, and troubleshooting practice for when things break.
Scripting lessons focus on using ZSH scripting to automate Jamf Pro, interact with endpoints, and improve end-user experiences. The curriculum builds from reading and modifying scripts to writing automation from scratch.
The Solution
A 4-day instructor-led course covering:
- Advanced scripting (zsh) with real deployment scenarios
- REST API integration with hands-on labs
- Enterprise security configurations
- Automated workflows using Jamf Pro
Impact
500+ IT professionals certified annually through this advanced certification program.
Community Feedback
The course has developed a reputation for technical depth and practical application:
"The 300 course has a lot more meat to it than the 200. The API content is great and will definitely help you if you're planning on doing any API related work." — Jamf Community Forum
"Be prepared for the 300 course. It really does get into the nitty-gritty of scripting and APIs... You should have at least a basic understanding of variables and if-statements." — Jamf Community Discussion
"The Jamf 300 course caught many participants off guard due to its emphasis on scripting and APIs, which require a solid foundation in these areas to succeed." — Community Feedback
The scripting and automation content has become a differentiator, preparing admins for real-world enterprise deployment challenges rather than just platform feature overviews.
What I Learned
The progression matters more than the content. Starting learners with reading and modifying code before writing it from scratch dramatically reduced cognitive overload. I've applied this "graduated independence" model to other technical training since.
Next time, I'd build in more peer learning—learners solving problems together, not just instructor-led demos.