Installing a data projector - Part 2

The actual installation is sometimes left to school caretakers or maintenance personal and we strongly recommend that they read the previous post before starting. To help with the practicalities of the job, the tips below may be useful.

• Shift the whiteboard to the right height for the users.
• Connect the projector to the computer that will use it.
• Position the projector as close as possible to the screen while ensuring the picture is within the screen and no wider than 1.5m.
• Use a string with a weight on the end to mark on the ceiling where the projector mount should be fitted.
• Ensure that the mount is securely attached to the ceiling (we have several easy solutions for this – email us if you need advice).
• The projector will need a power outlet to plug into. If there isn’t a ceiling outlet, you can run an extension lead to it using commonly available cable channelling (ask at an electrical store).This channelling will also be needed for the VGA cable that will connect the projector to the computer. Make sure you know where the computer will be positioned so the channelling ends at the right place!

How to set up a classroom data projector

This topic comes up time and again when talking to schools. It is also one of the most common problems with any interactive whiteboard setup. We have come up with a short guide that will make sure that you get the best out of you equipment.

Rule 1 Do not let the ceiling dictate where you place the projector! Even if there is a very handy looking mounting point, or a light fitting seems to be in the way, resist the urge to compromise. A small amount of extra effort will pay dividends over the life of the projector.

Rule 2 Position the projector as close as possible to the screen while still getting the picture size that you require. A very common fault of installers is to mount the projector too far back from the screen – this loses clarity and can make the image too big.

Rule 3 You seldom need an image bigger than 1.5 metre wide in a classroom.

Rule 4 Make sure that the whole image fits on your whiteboard! This may seem a basic requirement, but in our experience, many, many, installations leave the image bigger than the whiteboard. It is always better to make it fit clearly inside the whiteboard edges.

Rule 5 An interactive whiteboard is not interactive if the intended users can’t reach all parts of the image! Again, don’t compromise – move the whiteboard lower if necessary before fitting the projector. Many junior classes also use a simple step to let their shorter students reach the whole board. Once the board is in the right place you can position the projector – not the other way around.

Rule 6 The projector manufacturer’s mount is usually the most expensive. It is far more economical to purchase one of the many universal mounts available.

There you go! Follow these directions and you will be well on the way to a professional setup.

(This article was included in a recent newsletter published through our website. If you want to get help like this, and other useful tips and ideas, visit the site and subscribe - it's free and we guarantee you will find it useful. Newsletter subscription is halfway down the homepage on the right.

MINT Interactive whiteboard software

One of the many features of the MINT software that powers the uBoard system, is the built in media bank. It comes preloaded with nearly a thousand images all neatly categorised into folders such as 'Mathematics', 'Science', 'Music' , etc.


But the feature that we like the most is the ability to add our own collection of images, links, documents. This is possible because the software includes a folder called "My Room" which you can use to collect and organise your own content. It is particularly easy to add links to folders on your computer or server which allows a teacher to instantly access all school resources with a couple of clicks - very nice!

Great knowledge building software

It has been far too long since we posted! The whole team have been very busy with the launch of the uBoard interactive whiteboard system.

Todays post focuses on a website that we have mentioned before, but it's truly good enough to give another push. The site we are talking about is Purpose Games. The basic idea is that people create and play knowledge based games. What makes it so useful is that everytime you play a particular game you are competing with all the other people who have played that game as well - very motivating for students of all ages!

The games have been created by people who visit the site. The process is very simple and really all you need to know to create a game of your own is the specific knowledge that your game will require. The current most played games are both Geography focused - one challenges you to correctly mark the American States on a map and the other does the same with the countries in Europe - both games have been played over 1 million times!

The site is very helpfully organised into categories, or you can search for a topic that interests you or your class. A quick search for "New Zealand" found 53 games on this country alone.

The way we like to use it though is to get the students to write their own game using some knowledge that their teacher needs them to remember. They can, and will, become very motivated to set quick times and will imprint the facts without much effort.