Apple TV
Introduction/Overview
The most common use of the Apple TV in a classroom is iPad screen mirroring. Thanks to AirPlay, the iPad 2 and above and the iPhone 4S will let you wirelessly display your device’s screen on a HDTV/Projector that is connected to your Apple TV. This is great for the classroom as sharing Apps and tutorials via the iPad are becoming more popular.
Considering mirroring works iOS wide, you can share just about anything you do on your iPad with your class. Here are some ways you can use the Apple TV in the classroom:
- YouTube videos
- Seamless transition between video clips (comparison between renditions of a play, perhaps)
- Annotate documents live with your students
- Display pictures of student/teacher work
- Demonstrate apps
- Play review games (many free ones available on the app store)
- Use as an interactive whiteboard (whiteboard apps)
- Access to iTunes U videos
- Use of the Khan Academy app
- Creative project presentations (student ice-breaker collages)
- Walk about the room while still remaining connected
- In a 1:1 iPad deployment, students can share their screen on the Apple TV
- Use as a document camera
- And many more (as many of these can be easily expanded upon)
The setup:
- You will need:
- Apple TV with remote
- HDMI to VGA converter like one shown here
- Place for two electrical plugs (one for Apple TV and one for converter
Starting up iPad Mirroring
So, you have some good uses in the classroom. Here’s how you begin mirroring your iPad’s screen to the Apple TV.
1. Turn on the TV/Projector connected to the Apple TV.
2. Ensure each device is on the same network.
3. Double tap the home button on the iPad.
4. Swipe to the right until you see the options below:
5. Tap the button that is blue in the image above. This displays the available devices for use with AirPlay.
6. Tap on your Apple TV’s name and then slide Mirroring to ‘On’.
7. That’s it – your iPad should now be showing on the screen connected to your Apple TV!
Security