Touchjet discount for #cue members and #cuerockstar teachers!
Touchjet offering a $399 special price on the @Touchjet Pond to the CUERockstar group and CUE teachers. Promo code is CUE. It is good until 01/31/16. Visit www.touchjet.com/pond for information.
Before using the Touchjet - update the firmware!
The orientation issue! OK, an annoyance sure, but an easy fix. Some of the Android apps orientate to the side as if on a phone. This is a downside when working with apps such as Quizlet or as you can see here, Google Classroom. Make sure you use the included micro USB OTG cable. If you don't have one, a simple look up at eBay or Monoprice will get you what you need nice and cheap.
Here's the update information I received from Touchjet:
Website: https://goo.gl/VlrPkw
How to update the Firmware on the Touchjet Pond Projector?
Items needed:
Website: https://goo.gl/VlrPkw
How to update the Firmware on the Touchjet Pond Projector?
Items needed:
- PC or Mac connected to the internet (not provided)
- A formatted USB Drive with at least 1GB capacity (not provided)
- USB Cable to connect projector to USB Drive (provided in box)
- Plug the Flash Drive into your PC or Mac and open a browser
- Click on the following link or type/paste it into your browser to download the firmware.
- Save the file (update.img) to your USB Drive (or save it to your Desktop, and then drag the file from your desktop to the USB Drive)
- Using the included USB cable, connect the USB drive to the Pond (micro end to Pond and full end to Drive)
- The below message will appear. Click Install.
Touchjet in action! Whiteboard with small groups:
First use of the Touchjet had students in small groups using the whiteboard software. As with any new piece of equipment, there is a learning curve. Make sure the stylus' have new batteries and you will be ready to go. The biggest learning curve for the students was learning how to write with the stylus. You cannot use the stylus and have something blocking the tip of the stylus and the light from the projector. Make sure you have the projector in a good position and teach students how to write with it. My students either used the tip of the stylus to write on the board or the button on the stylus to write from a distance. I left it up to them.
Using the Gorilla tripod to mount to the ceiling
As far as positioning is concerned, mounting to the ceiling seems to be the best situation. The Gorilla Tripods from Joby were used to test the Ponds. These tripods are magnetic so I took the liberty of testing them on the ceiling. My level of trust for the magnets compared with a $600 piece of equipment wasn't established yet, but it appears as if they hold firmly to the ceiling. I owe this to the degree of the magnets and to the low weight of the Pond.