We just completed the setup and testing to start rolling Apple's AirPlay mirroring into every classroom, using software called AirServer. Total purchase costs works out to $3 per classroom. That's not a typo. This will allow you to share your screen to the projector from iPad, iPhone, or recent Mac out of the box, and with extra software on PC (AirParrot, $10) or Android tablet (we haven't tested this case, but reportedly doubleTwist+AirTwist works) can use the system as well.
To trick to making this work was that we went to a zone wifi strategy this summer. All APs in a building -- or wing/floor when needed, or clusters of buildings when possible, based on the number of clients typical for a given area -- now use a common SSID for the zone that maps to a specific vlan for that zone. Each zone runs almost like a large home network... which is exactly what Apple protocols like AirPlay expect. So far this is working well for us. The downside is no more cross-campus roaming, but this has been a blessing some ways. For example, we extended this to include residence halls, and students seem to really like how it makes it easier to do things like sync their iPod from their main iTunes over wireless. Part of the testing and setup was to make sure faculty would have access to the appropriate network and application resources they need from that vlan, without unduly leaking things to students that would not be appropriate. In fact, that's a big part of the reason we're just starting to roll out now, instead of having it ready at the start of term; this is something you can't rush. There were a few things we found that were only be accessible from administrative vlans, which included classrooms, and we had to take the time to see either if it was really needed, if there was an easy work-around, or if we could allow the service on a vlan shared with students in a safe way. Now that testing and setup are done at the network level, we will place each Windows-based classroom PC on the vlan for the zone covering it's room, install the software, and that's it. The workflow for an instructor is to log in to the computer and start the AirServer software (necessary because a pure service can't take over the screen for sharing). The software is set to broadcast the classroom name as available for mirroring. An AirPlay-capable device (which again, includes most anything) can now mirror their display to the projector over the air. We make fairly it easy to get a guest account that will work in a classroom, so visitor/guest lecturer access should not be a problem, especially as it would have been even worse before these changes. What we really liked is that there's also nothing to change as far as projector or sound inputs. Everything runs through the classroom PC now (even our supported method of DVD playback, for example, is to use the PC), and that makes it very easy on the instructor. No buttons to push or check, no expensive/fancy control panel to learn... just turn on the projector and log in to the PC. I know this leaves PCs and android as 2nd class citizens to some extent, but we don't see this as a large problem because there's already a PC there in the room and, again, we make it pretty easy to get a guest account for the classroom machines. Also, it was mainly Mac and iPad users asking for this ability in the first place. Joel Coehoorn IT Director York College, Nebraska 402.363.5603 [email protected] On Fri, Sep 14, 2012 at 3:04 PM, John Duran <[email protected]> wrote: > ************ > > All, > > We are interested in determining what other institutions are doing in the > wireless projector space for classroom technologies. Some key items we are > looking for are: > > 1) What products/projectors are you using? > > 2) Are you using a dedicated wireless SSID for classroom technologies? > > 3) How has your overall experience been given some of the > constraints/challenges with RF management and was the service impacted in a > way where classroom instruction was disrupted? > > > > Thank you for any feedback you may provide. > > > > > > ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE > Constituent Group discussion list can be found at > http://www.educause.edu/groups/. > > ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
