Goal: enable students and teacher to use their iPads to
(a) collaborate "live", with everyone's writing appearing on one "whiteboard" or "canvas", and
(b) display it instantly on the projector.
In other words, every person in class can write/draw on his/her iPad and everyone's contribution appears instantly on a single "canvas" that everyone can see on his/her iPad, and which the projector displays.
Such a setup would eliminate the need for Smartboard and enable better collaboration in classroom.
Solutions: Unfortunately, there are no perfect solutions. Option 1 does not use the classroom PC, but instead requires the purchase and installation of 2 extra pieces of equipment in the classroom. The other options compromise on one of the requirements (a) or (b).
Option 1: install an Apple TV and HDMI-to-VGA converter in each classroom.
The only general method for mirroring iPad display onto an outside display is to use iOS5's AirPlay Mirroring app, which wirelessly mirrors iPad display to Apple TV, which can then be output by Apple TV onto whatever device is connected to it, e.g. an HDTV or a projector. Since the projector accepts only VGA, and Apple TV outputs only HDMI, we need the converter. There are at least a dozen "Interactive White Board" (IWB) apps that allow multiple iPads to work in real-time on the same shared "canvas" or whiteboard. An IWB app that works with this setup must be AirPlay-compatible. One such app is 2Screens ($5).
The only general method for mirroring iPad display onto an outside display is to use iOS5's AirPlay Mirroring app, which wirelessly mirrors iPad display to Apple TV, which can then be output by Apple TV onto whatever device is connected to it, e.g. an HDTV or a projector. Since the projector accepts only VGA, and Apple TV outputs only HDMI, we need the converter. There are at least a dozen "Interactive White Board" (IWB) apps that allow multiple iPads to work in real-time on the same shared "canvas" or whiteboard. An IWB app that works with this setup must be AirPlay-compatible. One such app is 2Screens ($5).
Option 2: compromise on requirement (a): "collaborate live".
This is a "single-writer" solution and it uses the classroom PC hooked up to the projector. One app is installed on an iPad and another app on the classroom PC. The iPad app has two modes. In the remote-desktop mode, the iPad controls the classroom PC, i.e. the iPad acts as a mouse and keyboard to the classroom PC. So, any applications you have on the classroom PC appear on the iPad screen and can be controlled from the iPad. In the notepad mode, any writing/drawing made on the iPad instantly appears on the classroom PC (and via that, on the projector). The "collaborate live" is absent since the app on the classroom PC can be paired up with only one iPad.
Apps in this category include Doceri, Splashtop, AirDisplay, and AirSketch.
Option 3: compromise on requirement (b): "display instantly on the projector".
There are a number of applications which provide a single "canvas" on which multiple iPads can write/draw in real-time, i.e. IWB from Option 1. These apps can periodically export the results as images or PDFs, and these exports can then be displayed on the projector (for example, using an app mentioned in the previous option). At any time, the projector in this solution displays a recent snapshot of the collaboration effort, rather than the collaboration "live".
IWB apps include ZigZag, SyncSpace, SyncPad.
I have been crazily testing the various apps and setups mentioned in this post and will soon write up my conclusions on the best ones. This is a "single-writer" solution and it uses the classroom PC hooked up to the projector. One app is installed on an iPad and another app on the classroom PC. The iPad app has two modes. In the remote-desktop mode, the iPad controls the classroom PC, i.e. the iPad acts as a mouse and keyboard to the classroom PC. So, any applications you have on the classroom PC appear on the iPad screen and can be controlled from the iPad. In the notepad mode, any writing/drawing made on the iPad instantly appears on the classroom PC (and via that, on the projector). The "collaborate live" is absent since the app on the classroom PC can be paired up with only one iPad.
Apps in this category include Doceri, Splashtop, AirDisplay, and AirSketch.
Option 3: compromise on requirement (b): "display instantly on the projector".
There are a number of applications which provide a single "canvas" on which multiple iPads can write/draw in real-time, i.e. IWB from Option 1. These apps can periodically export the results as images or PDFs, and these exports can then be displayed on the projector (for example, using an app mentioned in the previous option). At any time, the projector in this solution displays a recent snapshot of the collaboration effort, rather than the collaboration "live".
IWB apps include ZigZag, SyncSpace, SyncPad.
