How To Use Ditto Screen-Sharing Technology in 1:1 Surface Pro Classrooms

We recently asked our Reflector Twitter followers which mobile device is most often used in their classrooms. The choices included iPads, Chromebooks and Surface Pros.

Not surprisingly, iPads and Chromebooks outpaced Surface Pros. Here’s how the results broke down:

Microsoft Surface Pros might not dominate classrooms like iPads and Chromebooks, but they are an incredibly valuable tool for students and teachers who use them daily. That’s why we made sure our latest screen-sharing service, Ditto, is compatible with Surface Pros.

How can a student or teacher present what’s happening on their Surface Pro screen to the entire class? Traditionally, the class would have to huddle around a desk to get a glimpse of the screen. If you wanted to wirelessly share that Surface Pro screen to a TV or external display, you were out of luck.

Introducing the Ditto screen-sharing service for 1:1 Surface Pro classrooms
Ditto brings wireless screen-sharing capabilities to each and every Surface Pro in classrooms that contain one of the following three AirPlay or Cast receivers:

• Apple TV
• Chromecast
• Reflector 2

How does Ditto work?

It’s simple. In order to wirelessly share a Surface Pro screen to one of the three receivers listed above, a user must simply go to connect.goditto.com and enter the classroom’s unique Ditto code.

How does my classroom get a Ditto code?

To get a Ditto code for your classroom, you must first sign up for Ditto and register the Apple TV, Chromecast or Reflector-enabled device in your classroom! Registering a classroom is simple. You (or your school’s tech integrationist) can do that at www.goditto.com. 

After registering the AirPlay/Cast receiver (Apple TV, Chromecast or Reflector 2), your classroom will be assigned a unique code.

Once a room has a Ditto subscription, an unlimited number of teachers, students and faculty can use that subscription because Ditto is priced per room rather than per individual. So you don’t have to worry about managing, updating and, most importantly, paying for individual student licenses for every Surface Pro.

How does Ditto know which receiver to send to?

Does your school have multiple Apple TVs, Chromecasts or Reflector-enabled devices? We’re assuming it does, and that’s not a problem. Ditto knows which Apple TV or Chromecast to connect the Surface Pro to the moment a teacher or student enters the room’s Ditto code at connect.goditto.com. So you don’t have to scroll through an endless list of AirPlay/Cast receivers and determine which one to select. Ditto does it for you.

Do I have to share my entire Surface Pro screen?

Upon connection, Ditto asks whether you want to share your entire Surface Pro display or a single window/app. This helps remove distractions and ensures that others in the class don’t see anything they shouldn’t.

Go Ditto

Ditto is the newest, most practical way to bring collaboration and sharing to Surface Pro classrooms. Visit www.goditto.com to register today! As always, feel free to leave us a comment below.