Wiimotes = Walls to Whiteboards!

Walls-to-Whiteboards with Wiimotes!

The Project:

Equip 6 primary classrooms, a SPED/resource room and a Title room, with mounted LCD projectors, wiimotes and wiimote whiteboard software. Professional development opportunities, such as the NETA conference and inservice time, provided to Progress Elementary (Grades 1&2) staff.

The List (the basics you'll need):

an LCD projector
a wiimote
an IR pen
wiimote whiteboard software (from http://www.uweschmidt.org/wiimote-whiteboard
curious, helpful 14 year-old boy**

Aiden works the whiteboard.

**OK, maybe you won't need a "Joel," but without his help, it would have been impossible to complete this project.

The Lessons Learned:

DO link the wiimotes with laptops BEFORE mounting. (See link to the wiimotewiki page under IT resources). Laptops picking up more than one wiimote = major headaches for IT staff & frustrated teachers.
DO hook the wiimiote to AC/DC power & avoid batteries! Do it yourself or purchase (http://teachwithtech.com/AC-DC-Adapter-and-Wii-Remote-Insert-p15.html).
DO use a small piece of metal- a clip- to push down the 1 & 2 buttons on the wiimote so it will search for the whiteboard software.
DO encourage students to keep moving when they drag items and use a smooth motion.
DO give students time to "catch on"... it takes a couple times to get the feel for the pens.

DO NOT hold the IR pens in one place... you'll end up right-clicking!
DO NOT be afraid to restart Wiimote Whiteboard software and DO NOT be afraid to quit/restart the wiimote-whiteboard several times until it "finds" the wiimote.
DO NOT put if off, waiting for a school bond issue to pass.
DO NOT hesitate to contact us with any questions about set up: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (tech questions) or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (teaching questions).

The IT Websites:

Engaged learning in a 1st grade classroom.

Johnny Chung Lee's Project Page that started it all: http://johnnylee.net/projects/wii/

wiimote whiteboard software & resources: (http://www.uweschmidt.org/wiimote-whiteboard)
wiimote wiki (excellent technical details, preference tweaks): http://wiki.uweschmidt.org/WiimoteWhiteboard/WiimoteWhiteboard (look under Preferences to learn how to pair wiimote MAC addresses with laptops).
IR Pens: Make your own (instructions at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I568NyZLJkY&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1) or just purchase for $7.95 at http://penteractive.us/main/
http://smarttech.com/us/Support/Browse+Support/Download+Software

(disclaimer- Our district does own several SmartBoards & we do occasionally hook up Progress teacher laptops to them, so we do have a legitimate, legal need to have this free, versatile software, which gives us access to literally thousands of Notebook lessons covering every imaginable topic.)

The Teacher Websites

-SMART Resources & lessons-