While it is possible to do PowerPoint-style presentations from an Android tablet, the flexibility of the interface opens other possibilities. With the right accessories and apps, your tablet can become a great tool for teaching and presenting.

Hardware

Any Android tablet with a mini-HDMI, micro-HDMI, or USB port should be able to project.

Depending on your tablet and the display or projector, you will need to have the correct adapter. The most likely combinations are:

• mini- or micro-HDMI to full-size HDMI or VGA
• USB to full-size HDMI or VGA

For those wishing to project from an Android device wirelessly, the recommended solution is to install VMLite VNC Server (currently $7.99). With this installed, the tablet may be wireless connected to any classroom computer or laptop, which can, in turn, project the android screen. (There are other, free VNC servers for Android, but these require rooting the device, a practice that can open up security holes and may or may not be legal for tablets tablets purchased after 2012.)

Some Android 4.2.2 devices now have native wireless projection capabilities based on the Miracast standard. Miracast is a sufficiently new technology that few computers, projectors, or displays have this. It is likely to become more common in the near future, but it is not supported in any Mizzou classrooms as of February 2013.

Optional Accessories

• Stylus - very useful if drawing or annotating on screen in class. These are very much a personal preference.
• Case/Stand - again this is personal, but if using your tablet from a desk or podium, having an adjustable stand makes things easier. If you will be moving around the classroom with your tablet, finding a stand that makes holding it easier is a must.

Recommended Apps

• There are several free PowerPoint viewers available, including products from OliveOffice, ThinkFree, and OfficeSuite.
• Kingsoft Office (free) and Polaris Office (which comes with some tablets) both offer solid, though limited, presentation and editing tools.
• OfficeSuite Pro (paid, but with a free, trial version) has better editing and display capabilities, including annotating the presentation.
• Supernote provides good basic drawing and notebook tools for those wishing to write or draw during a presentation. There are also a variety of whiteboard apps of varying quality available, but we are not presently able to recommend any particular one.
• For viewing or annotating PDFs in class, Adobe Acrobat or iAnnotate (currently free) are both excellent choices.

Tips

• Never enter passwords while presenting unless you have the “Make passwords visible” setting disabled under your security settings.
• Load presentations ahead of time.
• When transferring from a computer, preview your presentation as you may have lost features or formatting.
• Adapters work loose easily from tablets. Try not to move your tablet a great deal when presenting.
• There is no reason to limit yourself to PowerPoint-style presentations on a tablet. You can be much more free form than on a computer.
• Make sure your “Automatically Lock” security setting is not for too short a period, as you may have to type in your password in the middle of a presentation.
• Projecting uses more power, so it is advisable to have a good charge on your device before class, particularly if you are planning to do more than one presentation in a day.
• Finally, be prepared for a little roughness the first few times you do a presentation from an Android tablet. It is a different experience from using a laptop or classroom computer, but it can be a better one.