Re: On the upside...
Clueless end user here.
At one of the places I teach in with around 8k teenagers and 5k other enrolments (apprentices, adults, employees on training &c) the workflow is as follows...
1) student fills in basic information on screen
2) after interview with teacher/initial skills check teacher sets up a 'pending enrolment' to course
3) student toddles off to physical desk to show ID and sign forms
4) enrolment becomes active and IT account works within minutes
5) single sign on to most basic systems plus teacher created accounts to a few commercially provided subscription services depending on course
6) Library offer IT induction courses including how to print, e-safety and what that acceptable use policy thingy you clicked on when you logged in actually means
Mostly seems to work.