Projector Struggles:
Like many of you, I have an iPad through my school and the school has been encouraging us to integrate technology into our lessons through professional development and training. Unfortunately it was pretty tough for me because all I had was a projector that is on a cart and I’ve always found that it’s a pretty big hassle to roll it out and then roll it back into my closet during a lesson so that it doesn’t get hit by a ball, jumprope or run into by a student – not to mention having kids trip over the cord when we start moving around.
I’ve considered mounting it on the wall, but even then I would have to have it hooked up to a computer and use an app like Airserver to mirror my iPad or have a wired connector on the wall for my iPad. Plus, the projector takes a while to warm up before turn on and connecting to the computer.
Deciding on a Flatscreen:
I decided that the ideal situation for me would be having the ability to wirelessly stream content to be viewable for my students with minimal setup and breakdown – this way I could stop in the middle of the lesson and we could look at a quick student example, watch a demo video or go through a quick slide presentation without wasting any time with setup.
The solution that I thought would work best is by mounting a flatscreen TV on our gym wall. Another benefit is a TV is easier to see with the lights on than most projectors.
So I put together a proposal and luckily my administration was very supportive of my idea and helped me out by funding the project after I did some research and gave them a detailed pricing proposal. They did shoot down my first proposal which included an expensive TV Shield, so I priced out the cost of building one myself and they approved the project.
I created a plan to build a wood and plexiglass frame around the TV that would protect it from getting hit by a stray ball and it’s been working pretty well. (I share the gym with an after school program, so I wanted some good protection since I can’t be in there supervising kids after school). So far I am really enjoying the setup and it has definitely enhanced my lessons and saved me time with setup and take down.
See a run through of my first TV setup below:
New TV Setup Update
Recently our old TV got fried by a power surge or generator issue and we also had a change in administration and my new admin (who is really amazing btw) didn’t like the liability of having a structure that I had built hanging on the wall, so they approved the purchase of a TV Protection box from TV Shield and had it installed it on the wall.
- I would recommend if you are purchasing a box to make sure you get one that opens up on a hinge, otherwise it will be very difficult to troubleshoot if you have any issues or problems with the TV bc you will need to take the entire box off the wall instead of simply opening up the door (this is the only thing I don’t like about mine).
- My computer cart has been discontinued but here’s a pretty similar one from the same brand
- Here’s a similar one from a different brand with the open shelves like mine has
Closed Cabinet vs. Plexiglass
Before looking into TV protectors you will probably want to decide if you want a closed cabinet or a plexiglass cabinet. The downside of plexiglass is you might have a glare (sometimes I turn off half the gym lights to help with this). The downside of a closed wooden or metal cabinet is you will have to open and close it each time you want to use it. Also, make sure you know the dimensions of your TV so you can be sure to get a box that fits around it.
My DIY TV Box Below
2020 Update (Store bought TV Shield Box Below)
*Below you will find affiliate links to all the products mentioned in the video and any other tech tools that I use in my program. You can support this website by using any of the affiliate links below – same price for you, but Amazon gives me a small referral fee.
Options for the Box that Protects the TV:
- Build your own
- Get someone to build it for you
- Another school in my district had the High School Shop class build her a TV Cabinet for her gym as a class project – Great idea
- Order a screen protector (for example: 60″, 70″, 75″)
- Order a custom TV Enclosure (for example: 60″ TV Shield)
I ended up building my own protection box since the TV Enclosure cost more than the actual TV and I wanted to protect the TV from any impact. A screen protector will protect your screen, but the TV itself will still receive an impact from a stray ball.
If you are interested in building your own, you can check out my notes on how I did it in the very unofficial guide below:
DVD Player, iPad Holder Box
Next, you will probably want a Wall Mounted Cabinet or Shelf that will be close to the TV, but under it so it is accessible without using a ladder. This is where you can put your laptop or iPad when they are plugged into the TV. I also use it as a charging station for my iPod and iPad and have my DVD player in it.
- Make your own – I just used some old wooden shelves in my closet, made a box big enough for my laptop to fit in and then put it on the wall with some L brackets. I also put a PVC pipe across it to protect my laptop and iPad from any Basketballs or soccerballs.
- Order one (for example: This would probably work, or this one if you want to get fancy – it’s what I use for my stereo and I’ve been pretty happy with it, just make sure it’s the size you want)
Inside the TV Box:
- Flat screen TV (I got the Vizio 60″, but I’d recommending getting as big of a screen as possible )
- Wall Mount (Cheetah Full Motion Mount )
- I highly recommend getting a full motion swivel mount, it makes setting the TV up, mounting and making any changes later way easier than a standard wall mount because it allows you to leave the TV attached to the mount, but pull it away from the wall or tilt it any direction. That gives you room to plug in cables, HDMI cords ect. very easily.
- Surge protector
- Apple TV
- There are lots of cheaper ways to stream your iPad to the TV wirelessly through apps, if you have a laptop, 2 that I know of are Reflector or Air Server
- 2 HDMI cords (or more if your TV has more inputs)
Inside the wall cabinet:
- DVD Player – (Sony Blu Ray Player )
- I got this and am very happy with it, it also has a USB for a flash drive so you can easily play digital video files or photos on your TV with a flash drive
- USB Flash Drive – 32 GB flash drive
- Multi USB charging station (Power Add Charger )
- Cords for charging your devices (iPhone 5 and up, or iPhone 4 and under)
- iPad to HDMI converter – (newer iPads, older iPads)
- There are other converters, but these are great because they give you the ability to charge your iPad while it is plugged in to the HDMI
- If your computer doesn’t have an HDMI out, you will need a way to convert to HDMI, mine already has the HDMI out, so I didn’t need anything else.
- Another surge protector (see link above)
- Bluetooth Keyboard I have a “Logitech” that is no longer in production, but it’s similar to the one linked here (built in mousepad)
- Not necessary, but nice if you are using your laptop for a video or presentation and want to be able to move around the gym while controlling the computer.
- Presenter – For clicking through slides wirelessly while walking around your gym
- HDMI Switch (5 ports)
- This allows you to have multiple HDMI inputs going into one HDMI plug in your TV. This switch is cool bc it senses when an input turns on and automatically allows that input to go to your TV – you can manually switch it as well if needed.
Other Tech Tools:
- iPad Mini 3 128 GB
- My school issued iPad is only 16 GB, so I was super pumped to get 2 of these through a grant on Donors Choose – check it out if you haven’t – it’s a great fundraising resource for teachers. The larger disc space allows me to do a lot more with video assessments and video highlights for parents and classroom teachers.
- Pepko iPad Case
- This is the case I have, it’s not top of the line, BUT it is a great price and will protect your iPad really well.
- Tripod
- The tripod I use for my GoPro when filming myself teach and when I need the iPad setup for games or when using an App like BAM Video Delay.
- iPad / iPhone Tripod Mount
- Great little mount I got after my previous one broke. This one is mostly metal and it works great and it customizable to fit most phones/tablets.
- Wireless Microphone
- This is the wireless mic that I recently got, it’s amazing for saving your voice – especially with large class sizes
It’s great to be able to wirelessly stream to your TV content from your iPhone, iPad or iPod by using a device like Apple TV, or an application like Reflector, Air Server or Airparrot. But you also want to have an HDMI to be able to plug straight into the TV as a backup plan in case your have wireless issues (which you will).
Sound Bar
After 3 years with the screen I finally got a soundbar to go under the TV. The sound wasn’t horrible, but it did get a little muffled since the TV was inside of the box. The soundbar is great and it can bluetooth to my iPhone or iPod as well in case I need a backup music player.
Here are some ways I use my TV in the gym:
- Watching Youtube Videos and Following Along (see some examples here)
- Fitness Blender Workouts
- Just Dance Videos
- Follow The Leader Videos (available through in the PE Specialist Membership)
- Watching professional sports highlights or other examples that introduce students to different units of instruction and get them excited about learning (see how I do this in my Basketball Unit or my Gymnastics Unit)
- The most valuable use I get is from creating Follow the Leader Videos and Animated GIFS to have students learn skills and get visuals up on the screen to help them
- Prezis, Google Slides or Powerpoint Presentations we often use a quick presentation to go over rules, cues or skill basics before starting a unit (You can find my “first day of school” slides here)
- iPad Apps Mirrored to TV
- BAM Video Delay – great to give kids visual feedback on a skill they are practicing – the app allows you to put your iPad on a time delay so students can perform the skill and then go look at it on the TV afterwards
- SworkIt – My favorite workout app for school – create custom workouts or choose from tons of premade workouts for warmups, cool downs or workouts.
- Scoreboard – kids love it when we’re playing games, makes it feel “official”
- Team Shake – automatically sorts your class into groups
- Interval Timer – awesome app for doing interval stations, create custom times for rotating and play music from your playlists within the app while in activity.
- Ubersense – Slo Motion Video – slow down a video of your kids performing a skill and show them the fundamentals
- Stopwatch – simple timer app to time games or challenges (like the Endurance Club Challenge)
- Coach Note – Good app for drawing game diagrams and giving a visual to kids for strategies or different plays.
- Noteability – Turns your TV into a whiteboard that students can draw on via your iPad
I hope that’s helpful if you are considering trying to get a TV in your gym. If you have any questions let me know and I will be glad to answer them. I think that Physical Education classes can be enhanced through adding a TV and in the future I think we will see a lot more of them, especially as prices TV’s continue to go down. PE is a visual subject, so it makes sense that we should have a way to provide visual feedback and examples to this digital generation of kids.
If you’re thinking about using a Projector or you just want to see other possible setups, check out the posts from some A+ teachers below for some more info:
- Jarrod Robinson (ThePEgeek) – BigScreenPE.com
- Kevin Tiller (PhysEdReview) – Projector Review
- Kyle Liebler – Smartboard Setup in PE
- Joey Feith (PhysicalEducator) – TV Setup for PE
- Mike Graham – Rear Projector Screen Setup in PE
Good luck in your teaching adventures!
If you already use a TV or projector in your PE class, share some of your ideas in the comments!
Check out the related posts below for more Technology ideas:
- Using Animated GIFs and Follow the Leader Videos in PE (Jump Rope GIFS and Videos)
- My Complete Technology Tools Overview (and gym TV Setup)
- Using iMovie Trailers to Advocate for P.E.
- Google Forms + iPads to give End of Year Surveys
- How to use Plickers to Assess Students
- Using the Clips App to Create Awesome Videos for Sharing on Social Media
- An Awesome Wireless Mic for Teaching PE
- My Favorite Teacher Technology Tools and Tips
James Winkler says
Hey Ben, hope this finds you well.
I am 4 years into my PE teaching career (12 years total teaching). I subscribed with you my first year and still use many of the tools you provided. I really appreciate your work.
In Oregon we are full on-line. I teach 4-5 45min classes/day via Google Meet. I´ve been creating interactive slideshows that integrate movement/activities/etc. which kids seem to enjoy. Additionally, I provide students with a weekly P.E. Menu of options to choose from each week ( they have to complete 2 of 6 per week, but some do all of them)
Anyways, as I do this online stuff I want to get more into creating my own instructional videos for the weekly lessons students do on their own. The district does not provide much tech tools for this, so my PTA will buy equipment for me. Do you have recommendations for a good tech set up?
Should I get MacBook? Are iPads alone, enough for filming/editing?
Should I buy a separate web cam with lighting? Green screen? Any editing apps or tools you recommend? I like how you integrate Timers into your vids, what editing tool do you use to do things like that?
No rush, just curious what your thoughts/ experiences are with this.
Marcus Nellems says
Hey James!
Thanks for reaching out!
You can find all my recommended equipment and technology tools at the link below:
http://thepespecialist.com/amazon
For the majority of my videos I use my cell phone (like the ones where I’m teaching – I normally just put my cell phone up on a tripod)
You can see a breakdown of all my tech gear (cell phone mount) and other stuff I carry daily here:
https://www.thepespecialist.com/backpack/
For the Follow the Leader Series (like the Jump Rope Videos) I used a nicer camera and made it more professional using a program called Final Cut Pro X.
You can see a detailed breakdown of the entire process of making the videos and the animated GIFS at the post below:
https://www.thepespecialist.com/pevideo/
Hope that’s helpful!
Rosemary Smith says
Hi I’m looking for a tv for our health club room to show step dvds. The room is 14 x 26 so we could fit 8 or 10 steppers in there. Just not sure what size tv to get you mentioned 60 inch but how big a room is that in.
Ben Landers says
it’s a gym that’s 20 meters from endline to endline, but you can’t see the TV very well from the far corner, if you have a projector at school to borrow you could shoot it on the wall and back it up to where you like it and then measure to see how wide the projection is from corner to corner
Chuck Larimer says
Hello,
How big is your TV? That’s a great size.
Ben Landers says
We have a 60″ – of course bigger is better, but it works – our gym isn’t super big so visibility is pretty good from most places in the gym
Jose R. Barreto says
Great Resource. Thank You.
Fred says
Hi Coach Ben!
Please tell me what software did you use to display that scoreboard on your TV in your gym? I could definitely use that in my class and save money.
Thanks in advance!
Fred
Ben Landers says
Just mirrored my iPad to the TV using Apple TV – it’s an app called “Scoreboard” there are tons of similar variations as well
Laura Dolan says
Hi Ben,
Your information is very helpful to us as we are working on getting a TV mounted in our gym. Have you had any problem viewing the tv due to glare from lighting? I was using my old projector last week and we couldn’t even see what was on the screen because it was a sunny day and the glare/light from the skylights was too much.
Thanks again for all of your wonderfully helpful posts!
Ben Landers says
It hasn’t been a big issue, sometimes we turn the lights off if it’s a longer video. Our lights also have a “dim” function so we can do that as well.
If I was going to do a full lesson with the TV (like follow the leader workout video or something like that) I might get some of those construction lights and turn the gym lights off totally, but normally we just either dim the lights or don’t worry about it, the kids can move around so the glare isn’t affecting their view
Wilfred says
Great stuffs! Its so good when people share ideas. I will definitely borrow your brain. Am currently using a Laptop with Bluetooth enabled speakers (Fenda W130BT) a,d a projector. Works well but a wall-mounted TV is much better. Looking forward for more great ideas.
Ben Landers says
Nice – thanks for sharing your setup!
Jason says
Hey Great Stuff here. I’m a new teacher to my district this is my second year and I’m currently trying to make this work for the 2 schools I work at. My one question right now is does your gym get used after hours, and have you had any trouble with people during those times messing with the tech you have in the box.
Thanks again!
Ben Landers says
Yep, everyday the afterschool program uses the gym.
I have talked to the director and the after school staff and they know that nobody can touch the stuff in the box (it’s too high for kids to mess with it)
I do let them use the stereo though, just because I know it’s more fun to be in there with music.
Teri says
Wow. I am blown away by that. I am an older teacher, so technology is especially daunting. You make everything look so easy! How do you find the time to do all your teaching, and your awesome website!!!
Ben Landers says
I spend a lot of my free time afterschool on a computer… a lot 🙂
LBell says
Wow!
A great blog! So much great advice and information! Thanks!
Ryan smith says
I love this idea. I was thinking of starting with a scaled down version. Just using the school lap top and I pad I already have and buying the tv, mount, and Apple tv. I think this would be adequate to get started? Also after looking at prices of tv I was think of going with a 50 or 55 inch, based on your experience would this still be big enough for the gym set up? Thanks
Ben Landers says
I think it would be fine – it just depends on how big your gym is and how close your kids will be to the TV when you are using it. The bigger it is, the farther away they can be, which gives you more flexibility with activities and the way you use it.
Matt Tyrrell says
I have received grant money to upgrade our PE program and one of the things I am doing for this school year is adding a large TV on the wall (65-70″). I like your set-up with the self-made box, but my question is, do you have any problem with the TV getting too hot having it enclosed (or do you have some fans or something to cool it down)? I was looking into ordering a custom protective box, but as you mentioned, it cost more than the TV. Thanks for your help!
Ben Landers says
Hey Matt – I haven’t had any issues so far. There are open spaces in the sides so it’s not totally enclosed, which probably helps.
Lindsey says
Do you have problems with the plexiglass becoming scratched at all when it gets hit?
Ben Landers says
Haven’t had much of an issue – there’s a few little spots, but when the TV is on you don’t notice them.
It’s been 4 years – I’m sure after a while it will need replacing… but a new sheet of plexi from Lowes or Home Depot isn’t super expensive, so that’s a positive.
Mary antioco says
Hey,
I’m in the process of getting the setup done in my gym but I need some help….would it be possible to email you to pick your brain a little?
Thanks
Mary
Laura Z. says
GREAT article! I’m in the process (albeit very slowly) of trying to get more technology into my gym. Very frustrating. But, I did just obtain an iPad from my PE Director so that’s the first baby step! Now we have to work on consistent wireless service. I’ve experimented with lots of other techy bits (a mobile Smartboard tablet, cumbersome projector screens, laptops, wires, etc.) but the hassle makes it all so non-user friendly. Your set up is terrific and worth trying to replicate. (I got this link from the SHAPE forum by the way).
Thanks for sharing!
Laura
P.S. Love your signs around the gym too (skip, gallop, etc)! I’m going to replicate that in mine!
The PE Specialist says
Thanks for the feedback! The TV has been a pretty incredible tool for our Phys Ed lessons this year. We call our signs the Locomotor Train, we use them all the time for our K-1 kids.
Martha says
Hey!
Great info on installing the TV! I currently work in the projector mode and have those very thoughts about it taking tooooo much time, but you have really worked through my present dilemma. Thank your for sharing. Oh, and my current “cart” has the following: old school VHS player, a separate, again, old school DVD player, a projector, and a $35 stereo system from Walmart. Also, connection for laptop. Although it’s a dinosaur, it has revolutionized my classes! I spent 10 years sharIng a gym…with a curtain down the middle, so sound was a HUGE issue and technology non-existent. It’s definitely a process…and slow. I look forward to hearing more from your way. Oh! Can you tell me about the clock / timer you have?
Thanks, again!
Martha says
The District built a new gym at my school 5 years ago. It’s been a whole new world for me. I’ve had to completely learn “how” to incorporate the tech and music, etc.
Ben Landers says
Hey Martha, Yes – change definitely takes time, but keep chipping away and get better every day. The clock timer I use is an app called “Stopwatch” although you can just use the build in clock/stopwatch app on your ipad and mirror it to your screen if you want.