About your Interactive Flat Panel (IFP) display
This article presents some key resources to help you understand how to get the most out of your Interactive Flat Panel (IFP) display. It's always kind of under construction, so don't be afraid to check back for updates!
Overview
The District is in the middle of a five-year effort to standardize its classroom IFP displays, replacing old projector-based SMART boards (and existing SMART IFPs) with a fleet of device-managed Promethean boards. During this period we are trying to shuffle our fleet around as efficiently as possible; as new Promethean boards go into a school, its existing SMART IFPs are redistributed to other schools scheduled for later in the effort, in order to try and replace the oldest projector-based SMART boards as soon as possible across the District.
Managed devices
The new IFPs are managed devices, running an Android OS. They are connected to the network just like an iPad or Chromebook, and can respond to remote management for things like updates, policies, and distribution of features and settings. You should be able to get started with the following tidbits and links, but if you want to discuss further specific instructional ideas and best practices, by all means contact the Ed Tech group.
Making connections
These IFPs can be used with or without a connected computer, depending on your need; it has an onboard Chromium browser and a number of onboard Android apps for use in the classroom. Alternatively, you can connect a controlling computer directly to the board using the ports on the front or the side of the panel.
Two connections. Most people will connect a Windows desktop or laptop this way. Connect an HDMI cable from your computer (or dock) to one of the display's HDMI ports (HDMI on the front; or HDMI 2 or HDMI 3 on the side). This cable will carry video and audio output from the computer to the display. To connect touch response (so that you can use the display as a touchscreen for your connected computer), you also need to connect a standard USB cable from one of your computer's (or dock's) USB "type A" ports (the flat rectangle) to the display's corresponding TOUCH port (your USB cable's "type B" square connector) for the HDMI port you are using.
Once connected, you use the display's "switch inputs" button on the front panel (on the far right) to select HDMI 1, HDMI 2, or HDMI 3 as the current "live" connection to the display.
One connection. You may (if your device supports it) also be able to make one connection to carry all functions (video, audio, and touch) by using a single USB-C cable, with the same "type C" connector on both ends.
Guest mode or user login
When using the board standalone (without a connected computer), they can operate in an unauthenticated "guest" mode, or you can actually log in to the board with an NFC access card. In the logged-in mode, you can make the board aware of your cloud-account share drives such as Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive, and use files from those locations.
Getting yourself started with an un-assigned NFC card is pretty straightforward; hold the card on the card tray at the lower left corner of the board, and walk through the prompts/steps to sign in to Microsoft and connect the card to your account.
If you were handed a card from a previous user, and need to clear the card for use with your account instead, see this companion article on how to do that.
Getting Started resources from Promethean
Promethean has a YouTube channel, and Ed Tech has put together a curated playlist of video clips to help you get started with your IFP.
Questions?
If you have further questions or need help with your IFP, please feel free to contact the Helpdesk.