App Allows Teachers to Control Classroom Presentations from Mobile Devices

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 06/17/15

Reflector DirectorAn updated version of an iOS app enables teachers to manage what device will be displayed in front of the classroom. Reflector Director from Squirrels is a companion app to Reflector 2, a wireless screen-mirroring and streaming receiver application that displays mobile device content through Google Cast, Apple AirPlay and Squirrel's own AirParrot 2.

Reflector 2, priced at $14.99, allows the user to wirelessly share data from a little screen to a big screen. It runs on Windows or Mac. Reflector Director, priced at $6.99, refines the display experience by allowing the teacher to step away from his or her computer and control what's shown from an Apple iPad or iPhone. The user can do the following:

  • Hide connected devices without disconnecting them to place emphasis on other screens, and then show the screen again later without needing to reconnect the device;
  • see a screen preview of any connected device before it's shared with the class;
  • emphasize one device to spotlight important content without having to resize windows; and
  • run full-screen mode to prevent showing other content from the computer.

Version 2.0.1, the current edition available in the iTunes Store, primarily addressed connection issues and added additional controls for running Reflector Director from a mobile device.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • AI-powered individual working calmly on one side and a burnt-out person slumped over a laptop on the other

    AI's Productivity Gains Come at a Cost

    A recent academic study found that as companies adopt AI tools, they're not just streamlining workflows — they're piling on new demands. Researchers determined that "AI technostress" is driving burnout and disrupting personal lives, even as organizations hail productivity gains.

  • robot waving

    Copilot Updates Aim to Personalize AI

    Microsoft has introduced a range of updates to its Copilot platform, marking a new phase in its effort to deliver what it calls a "true AI companion" that adapts to individual users' needs, preferences and routines.

  • teenager interacts with a chatbot on a computer screen

    Character.AI Rolls Out New Parental Insights Feature Amid Safety Concerns

    Chatbot platform Character.AI has introduced a new Parental Insights feature aimed at giving parents a window into their children's activity on the platform. The feature allows users under 18 to share a weekly report of their chatbot interactions directly with a parent's e-mail address.

  • Two hands shaking in the center with subtle technology icons, graphs, binary code, and a padlock in the dark blue background

    Two Areas for K-12 Schools to Assess for When to Work with a Managed Services Provider

    The complexity of today’s IT network infrastructure and increased cybersecurity risk are quickly moving beyond many school districts’ ability to manage on their own. But a new technology model, a partnership with a managed services provider, offers a way forward for schools to overcome these challenges.