HOW-TO: Setup Apple TV in the Classroom

The Apple TV comes with a remote,

 but you'll have to purchase the HDMI cable

to connect to your TV or projector.

This past Christmas we purchased ourselves an Apple TV 2 (Apple TV 3 now available) in an attempt to cut ourselves off from pricey cable television. It took a few months of figuring to eventually ditch cable. My quest to make the Apple TV our digital media hub and content provider got me thinking about how I could use this device in the classroom.

For those not in the know, the Apple TV is a small box that connects to your television set so that you can watch media from your computer or from the internet (think iTunes on your home television).

Quite possibly the best Apple TV feature is a technology called AirPlay. This allows users to stream media from their iOS devices (iPod, iPhone, iPad), Macs, and even PCs (more on this below!) wirelessly.

"But, how is this useful in the classroom?" you may say. The Apple TV can be used not only with a television, but a data projector to output the display and audio from any device. This means that you could walk around the classroom with an iPad with no cables while projecting a lesson or live demonstration using your projector. Students could also present their work from their own devices using AirPlay to the whole class using the Apple TV. What I am most excited about is that I can now wirelessly transmit audio and video and even extend my desktop or mirror my laptop's display on the projector. In the past, I had an audio cable and a display cable connecting my laptop to the projector. This severely limited where I could place my computer and keyboard. Now, I will be able to leave my laptop on my desk, not worry about anyone tripping on cables, and still be able to project engaging content for the whole class to see, hear, and interact with (see my interactive whiteboard tutorial).

Setup for Macs since mid-2011

In order to use AirPlay on a Mac you need the latest OS (10.8 - Mountain Lion), an Apple TV 2 or 3, and a Mac no older than early/mid-2011. (see a complete list of supported systems and detailed instructions from Apple)

Setup for Macs (before mid-2011) and PCs

I have a Macbook from 2010, so this is my particular arrangement. I use an app called AirParrot ($9.99/Free Trial) to connect to my Apple TV 2 (also works on Apple TV 3). You could use the setup for any PC running Windows XP or later.

AirParrot menu in the Mac's menu bar.

After you have installed AirParrot and registered it, you will have full access to all of the features. To connect to your Apple TV, make sure the Apple TV is on, then on your computer, load AirParrot. AirParrot will keep itself in your system tray (PC) or menu bar (Mac). Click on the AirParrot icon and select "Apple TV" as your device. By default, your computer's display will now mirror onto your television or through your projector depending on your setup. By another default, audio will continue to play through your computer's speak unless you enable audio through the AirParrot app. If you want AirParrot to AirPlay audio, you may be asked to install a driver and restart your computer for it to take effect.

Extending your desktop

If you wanted to show a movie to your class or leave a PowerPoint presentation up on your projected screen (or classroom television) but continue to use your computer at your desk, you could extend your desktop. Think of this as two monitors next to one another. The main monitor is on your left (laptop or desktop screen) where you could check your email, the secondary monitor in on your right (connected to your Apple TV) that your students are watching. To do this, in AirParrot click on "Extend Desktop" under "Displays". Now  you can drag an application from your main monitor off to the right of your screen and watch it appear on the display connected to your Apple TV.

For more information on AirParrot's features and technical support (quite stellar), check out their website.