Apple TVs in the Elementary Classroom

When it comes to LCD projectors, one thing that I've never been a fan of is how undemocratically they are often used.  And not without good reason, either.  Projectors are for sharing, but the LCD projector is usually at the front of the room, near the projection screen, and the cord is never long enough to reach a student's laptop.  That means that students have to get up with their laptops to plug them in, which creates classroom management issues and could cause danger to the laptop given the trip hazards on every classroom floor.  After speaking to a number of teachers, I found a lot of interest in using the LCD projectors with students, and so I set out planning a project that would use Apple TVs to make that happen.

Connecting to an Apple TV from an iPad is easy!  Swipe up from the bottom of the screen, select AirPlay, then the Apple TV you want to connect to!

There is already precedent for using Apple TVs ($99) for wireless projecting.  As part of the latest Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) deployment of devices at grades 7 and 8, schools opting to go with the iPad solution as well as the MacBook solution were outfitted with Apple TVs as a wireless solution for connecting to LCD projectors.  I opted to go with the same solution.  With the help of the parent groups at Searsport Elementary School and Ames/Weymouth, we purchased Apple TVs for every LCD projector on rolling carts in those buildings.  Moreover, for Searsport Elementary School, which has Chromebooks in addition to MacBooks, Google has it's own wireless "TV" alternative, Chromecast ($35), which we were able to purchase one of as well.  The RSU 20 IT department also invested in licenses for AirParrot software, needed on the MacBooks to connect to the Apple TV because they are a little older.

Weymouth's Apple TV and LCD projector on a rolling cart.  No "dongles" needed here!

Being able to connect wirelessly ensures that students have more opportunities to use the projectors and share what they are finding on the laptops.  As part of a pilot last year, for example, students in Mrs. Manning's second grade class loved sharing interesting facts, pictures and videos with their classmates as part of their animal research projects.

The Apple TV and the iPad, put together, also eliminate the need for other software or hardware.  For instance, by using the camera app while connected to the Apple TV, we have effectively created a document camera without having to purchase additional equipment.  If we use an app like Skitch instead, we are able to take pictures with our new-found document camera, and then annotate them with text and drawings, so students know what they are looking for.

Annotating a photo using the Skitch app (free).

We are only beginning to scratch the surface of things that are possible with an Apple TV and an iPad or laptop (and still kind of working the bugs out, too), but with some effort and professional development, we will be able to use the LCD projectors in new ways, and to make it easier for more students to use the projectors to share their work with their classmates.