Software for remote control dedicated smartboard computer

[ntoupin]

Any suggestions on software that would allow a teacher from their teacher desk to control a separate dedicated computer that controls a smartboard?

 

We could use Windows remote desktop but that would require manually adding each teacher on each dedicated computer to remote users, add a RD shortcut on their desk computer for their profile, etc.

 

We could also use a VNC solution, I'm just not sure about permissions there and again each connection would most likely need to be manually set up and a shortcut created for each teacher's computer desk just like Window's RD.

 

Anyone use something that works well and isn't a lot of manually setup for each room?

[Fazza]

A wireless keyboard and mouse.

[ntoupin]

A wireless keyboard and mouse.

 

 

They would have a wireless keyboard and mouse but that doesn't solve the issue. It's more of for not needing to grab a secondary mouse/keyboard to alter what's on the smartboard if they are at their desk computer as well as be able to "send" items to the smartboard computer such as copying and pasting something directly into it that they were setting up on their desk computer.

[p858snake]

Why are they using a separate computer?

[Matt_NetSupport]

Hi ntoupin (I will say I work for NetSupport in advance) we have many schools using our classroom management solution in this way - take a look at http://www.netsupportschool.com and if you need more info PM me.

[ntoupin]

Why are they using a separate computer?

 

So while something is being done on their smartboard they still have access to their workstation. For example a movie playing, a quiz up on the display, a separate instructor coming into the classroom and using the smartboard to teach for a elective class (health, music, art, etc.). While all of these are going on if the smartboard is using their one computer instead of a separate dedicated one they cannot use it for anything else (emails, grading, etc.).

[Matt_NetSupport]

Hi ntoupin, you mentioned the teacher controlling a separate computer attached to the smartboard - we have large implementations of NetSupport School where the interactive board has a built in PC, the NetSupport School student is installed and the teacher connects and manages this PC like they would any other student in the classroom - the teacher could launch an app, website or video on this machine whilst still being able to use their notebook/Tablet/desktop PC to check their emails or do other stuff - it might be easier to speak to me on Monday so I can understand exactly you setup. Have a good weekend - Matt

[r0cketbev]

What about keyboard and mouse sharing software like Microsofts mouse without borders

[ntoupin]

Hi ntoupin, you mentioned the teacher controlling a separate computer attached to the smartboard - we have large implementations of NetSupport School where the interactive board has a built in PC, the NetSupport School student is installed and the teacher connects and manages this PC like they would any other student in the classroom - the teacher could launch an app, website or video on this machine whilst still being able to use their notebook/Tablet/desktop PC to check their emails or do other stuff - it might be easier to speak to me on Monday so I can understand exactly you setup. Have a good weekend - Matt

 

I'm not really looking to pay for a solution like this. We would need about 40 classrooms and almost all programs like netsupport license it 1 teacher/20-30 "student" machines per license which the cost reflects and would be a big waste for our use.

 

 

What about keyboard and mouse sharing software like Microsofts mouse without borders

 

I'll look into that, it may be exactly what I needed, thanks!

[Steve21]

I'm not really looking to pay for a solution like this. We would need about 40 classrooms and almost all programs like netsupport license it 1 teacher/20-30 "student" machines per license which the cost reflects and would be a big waste for our use.

 

 

While I agree it's overkill for network management software have you considered synergy? It's a $10 lifetime license and does a lot of cool stuff within it Synergy - Synergy

 

Makes it so one keyboard/mouse goes over multiple computers seamlessly, no manual connections etc required once it's setup.

 

Depends if you want free free, or just not "expensive" haha

 

Steve

[ntoupin]

While I agree it's overkill for network management software have you considered synergy? It's a $10 lifetime license and does a lot of cool stuff within it Synergy - Synergy

 

Makes it so one keyboard/mouse goes over multiple computers seamlessly, no manual connections etc required once it's setup.

 

Depends if you want free free, or just not "expensive" haha

 

Steve

 

Doesn't need to be "free free" just inexpensive, a one time fee like that isn't too bad so I'll check it out. Just really not interested in a software subscription system or something that's going to bring the charge up to a price point like $50/classroom.

[mikeprice]

dunno if this would help but

 

how about just having a single computer with an extra cheap graphics card - the smartboard stuff can be on the extended desktop and the teaher can have the main desktop on their monitor

 

I used to teach that way and it worked well (that was using Promethian rather than SMARTBoard but I am assuming it would work better)

[Guest obsidianpillar]

I second what Mike's said.

 

Even with the integrated graphics card, surely you'll just be able to set it to "Extended", then drag and maximise the window that's being displayed from the projector? Can't see why you'd want to increase the School's overheads by buying additional software, unless I'm missing something?

 

I understand that your saying that you want to maximise the use of the SMART Board, however if the board is being used, the computer becomes redundant and uncontrollable anyway because the tapping of the board acts as a mouse action and therefore becomes uncontrollable from the computer mouse whilst it's being used, unless you disconnect it and use it just as a projection surface.

 

Best,

Tom

[DrCheese]

Yeah I'm kinda confused why you're having a seperate computer just for the smartboard stuff - If staff want to use their computer's whist a video is playing etc then they just switch to extended desktop mode. That's a hella lot cheaper (& way less confusing!) than having two computers.

[ntoupin]

dunno if this would help but

 

how about just having a single computer with an extra cheap graphics card - the smartboard stuff can be on the extended desktop and the teaher can have the main desktop on their monitor

 

I used to teach that way and it worked well (that was using Promethian rather than SMARTBoard but I am assuming it would work better)

 

 

 

 

I second what Mike's said.

 

Even with the integrated graphics card, surely you'll just be able to set it to "Extended", then drag and maximise the window that's being displayed from the projector? Can't see why you'd want to increase the School's overheads by buying additional software, unless I'm missing something?

 

I understand that your saying that you want to maximise the use of the SMART Board, however if the board is being used, the computer becomes redundant and uncontrollable anyway because the tapping of the board acts as a mouse action and therefore becomes uncontrollable from the computer mouse whilst it's being used, unless you disconnect it and use it just as a projection surface.

 

Best,

Tom

 

See below for more of my response but the smartboard being used making the computer uncontrollable is one of the exact reasons to do this. If students are using the smartboard or another instructor is using the smartboard (our classrooms have rotating "special" instructors for music, art, health, etc. that come into the students' regular classroom and use that classroom's resources.) the regular instruction teacher cannot use the room's computer if it is not separate. Even with the screen extended any touch as you said on the smartboard takes control of the mouse.

 

 

Yeah I'm kinda confused why you're having a seperate computer just for the smartboard stuff - If staff want to use their computer's whist a video is playing etc then they just switch to extended desktop mode. That's a hella lot cheaper (& way less confusing!) than having two computers.

 

In addition to my response to Tom above...

 

A majority our classrooms are setup to have the teacher desk and computer on the opposite side of the classroom (~40-50ft away worth of wire) which poses many issues connecting a smartboard directly to that computer. We've done this with several however it isn't without issues - usb connection dropping, lagging, etc. The new smartboards we're using (4065's) do not work with cat5/cat6 usb extenders either. All of their "recommendations" are to keep the USB length under 16ft to prevent issues, which do occur very often when breaking that suggestion.

 

Not that it wouldn't be teachable in the long haul, but in a couple rooms due to distance we were able to keep the smartboard connected to the teacher desk and use dual video connections to extend the monitor. With our few guinea pigs the teachers got lost countless times on how to move between the monitors, losing the mouse, windows, etc. and it became more of a hindrance than a helpful addition. Have a separate computer entirely, also in our testing, was much easier for the teachers to recognize what was where and how to handle it. They could leave their email, grading software, etc. up on their teacher computer while having teaching content up on the smartboard without having to navigate between them.

 

 

I appreciate the concern, but please let's not get away from why I made this thread. I was looking for software suggestions to aid with this, not to get questioned on why we're doing it.

 

Thanks

[nicholab]

Why can't they just log in to that machine with their account when they need to used it?

[ntoupin]

Why can't they just log in to that machine with their account when they need to used it?

 

See the posts above including the first post of the thread.....

[Fazza]

Why can't they just log in to that machine with their account when they need to used it?

 

Because they're sitting on the opposite side of the room.