Since 2013, when I first realized I could mirror my phone’s screen to a Chromecast dongle attached to my home television, I’ve been looking forward to the day when I could walk into a Carleton classroom and do the same thing: just flip on the overhead, connect my phone, and display stuff—without having to lug around a laptop, mess with connectors, or boot up a classroom machine.
That day has arrived. All classrooms in the new Anderson Hall support wireless projection.
Wireless screencasting is fast, easy, and, under the right conditions, it frees you to walk around and teach your class without worrying about cables and static stuff.
Obviously, phone and tablet-based wireless display won’t work in every situation. Sometimes you won’t use an overhead or flat panel at all. Other times you’ll want a keyboard, special software, or something that’s just beefier than a phone or tablet.
More specific directions on how to screencast are offered below. But in general, the idea is that you enter a URL specific for a given classroom into an app or browser (e.g., on a laptop). Even on a laptop screencasting is helpful because it will untether you from the classroom HDMI cables. Whatever you end up doing, though, the point is that you now at least have the option of using your phone, tablet, or any other wireless device–something you couldn’t do before.
If you haven’t tried wireless screencasting out yet, experiment ahead of time, or do it after hours when the room is empty, or just wing it (maybe bring along a laptop with an HDMI-out jack as backup). Please report back to ITS, too. We’d like to know who is doing this, and why, and whether there are any kinks or documentation issues we need to work out.
How to set up wireless projection in Evelyn Anderson Hall
You can access the projection device by lowering the screen, selecting wireless as your projection source, and unhiding the display. Once the projector warms up, you’ll see a URL and code in the lower left-hand corner of the screen. If you haven’t already, download the Crestron AirMedia app from the App Store or Play Store and run it. Then enter the URL (and the code, when prompted) into the app. Note that you can do this not only in rooms equipped with an overhead projector but also in seminar rooms and study spaces with just a flat-panel display. In those cases, you just have to turn the flat panel on (the switch is either by the screen or by the door), and the Crestron AirMedia URL will appear. The procedure is otherwise identical.
If you have an Android phone or tablet, you can cast directly from the AirMedia app. If you have an iPhone or iPad, you first set up the app then swipe down and screencast. Make sure you’re connected to the Eduroam WiFi network. Carleton Guest WiFi will not work as of this writing.