Presentation Management
February 20, 2024
Presentation Management- #131
The technology department has been working to enhance and/or replace existing classroom presentation technologies (IFPs, NTs, TVs, and/or projectors) across the district. One elementary campus had newer projectors so we added Airtame devices to give them wireless screencasting ability. Two campuses have received new interactive flat panel (IFP) technology in the majority of their classrooms to replace aging, oftentimes malfunctioning, interactive technology; remaining rooms at those campuses will soon receive non-touch (NT) panels to complete the upgrades. Next up is our secondary campuses.
These upgrades provide new options, so let’s discuss how to manage and maximize your experience with your classroom presentation technology. The one-page flier included here briefly encapsulates this discussion.
Good
The best feature that these three upgrades provide is wireless screencasting - Screen Share on the Promethean IFP, DisplayNote on the Newline NT, and the Airtame device attached to some TVs and projectors. The option to not be tethered to your presentation technology 100% of the time offers flexibility. Additionally, with teacher permission, students may be able to wirelessly screencast their device for presentation purposes.
Better
At times, it may be better to connect your device to the presentation technology with the provided HDMI or USB-C cable. Streaming videos is when this may make the most sense as streaming a video in and then directly back out to your presentation technology could be a bit taxing on your computer resources; plugging in could help alleviate that stress and lead to a better streaming experience. Additionally, some video streaming services have digital rights management (DRM) enabled which makes it impossible to stream wirelessly to your presentation technology. (Quick reminder that DRM comes with other potential limitations that may require a license purchase by your campus: Click here to read more about that). You can also connect a document camera directly to an IFP or NT panel for those non-digital documents that you want to present.
Best
The best option may be to work directly from the IFP or NT panel; the direct option is not available on a TV or projector whether it has an Airtame or not. The IFP and NT panels come with a Chromium browser which allows you to directly access Internet resources, e.g. streaming videos, from the panel. The NT panel comes with a remote that functions similar to a mouse with point-and-click capability along with a full keyboard on the reverse side. Navigating the NT panel could be easier if you elect to purchase and attach a wireless mouse and keyboard combo to the panel. The IFP includes a virtual whiteboard, document annotation capability, and native (no calibration needed!) multi-touch functionality for an engaging multi-user experience directly on the panel.
* Note- HDMI cables do not support touch; therefore, to enable touchback to your laptop from an IFP, the HDMI cable option also needs the USB-A/B cable connected for touch functionality. USB-C is all-inclusive of video, audio, and touch functionality and will also charge your laptop battery while connected.
What's Been Happening in the Classroom
Mrs. Moerman's class is learning to use Canva. Students were assigned a blank template and given a vocabulary word to complete a Frayer Model. They had so much fun learning how to insert images and use different fonts while learning more academic skills such as searching for a word meaning in the dictionary, finding synonyms and antonyms, and writing the word in a sentence. Now that they are more familiar with Canva, Mrs. Moerman plans to implement it more often into her lessons. Although setting up the classes and learning how to use it as a teacher was not easy, it has been worth the effort to make learning more fun!
MWISD Instructional Technology Specialist Mission:
As the Instructional Technology Specialist, I will strive to serve the academic and digital needs of our students and provide equitable opportunities to prepare students for our ever-changing global community.
I will strive to assist teachers in appropriately incorporating and implementing technology in their classroom by being available for one-on-one meetings, PLCs, staff meetings, and providing professional development that meets our teacher's technology needs.