Technology @ High Point, vol. 21
Tech for teaching and learning in our new space
Fill Your Toolbox!
This Week's Tech Feature:
Portable Power Bank
Who is it for?
Setup Instructions
Power Button
To turn on the power bank, press and hold the power button on the front of the device. Another long press will turn the device off. Double click the power button to enter the menu on the LED screen. You can navigate the menu using the two buttons to the right of the LED screen with a quick press on the power button to select. This menu has settings for changing the input and output power on the power bank. You should not need to change these settings. The screen may also show icons, most of which confirm which ports are in use at the time. You can see a list of these icons on page 6 of the Omni 20+ Manual linked above.
AC Outlet
On the left side of the power bank is a single, 3 prong AC outlet. You can plug power cords into this outlet to get power to many devices including laptops, iPads, TVs, cameras, projectors and many more. Plug in your device and be sure the AC outlet button (the one with the power cord icon) on the front of the device is illuminated. If it isn't, just press the button to start the charging. You should see an icon on the screen that says, "AC."
DC Output
On the right side of the power bank, there are 2 plugs. Both of these plugs can be used to output power to another device or input power to charge the power bank. The first is a DC barrel plug. This plug can be used to power a laptop, but it must be set to the correct voltage and amperage through the menus on the front screen to avoid damage to the laptop. If you are not familiar with what power settings your laptop needs, it would be safer to just use the AC outlet on the left side of the power bank to charge your laptop. When the DC Output plug is in use, you will see an icon on the screen that says, "DC" or "HVDC."
USB-C
The second plug on the right side of the power bank is the USB-C plug. USB-C is a fast way to charge iPads or cell phones. Just plug them in and they will start to charge. You should see an icon on the screen that says, "C." You can also charge the power bank through the USB-C plug. It should be fully recharged in about 3 hours.
USB
On the right side of the front of the power bank, there are 2 USB plugs. The top USB plug is a standard USB-A plug that can power phones, iPads, etc. The bottom USB plug is a Quick Charge (QC 3.0) USB plug. When you plug devices into this plug, if they are Quick Charge compatible, they will charge much faster. You do not need to know which type of device you have. You can use either plug, but if the device is a Quick Charge device, it will charge faster, so you may want to use the bottom USB plug most of the time. After you plug in a device to charge, be sure the USB button on the front of the power bank is illuminated. If not, just press the button to turn on charging to the USB plugs. You should see an icon on the screen that says, "USB."
The power bank also has wireless charging capabilities, so you can charge cell phones. To use, be sure the USB button on the front of the power bank is illuminated. If not, just press the button to turn it on. Set the power bank on a flat surface and place the cell phone on top towards the back of the power bank as shown below. On the screen, you will see a wireless charging icon that looks like a dot with lines radiating out from the dot. On the bottom left of the screen there is a battery icon with an arrow leaving the battery. When that number is between 7 and 10 Watts, you have found the ideal position for wireless charging.
Maintenance
Do not put any objects other than power cords in the plugs on the power bank. There is always a risk of shock when putting foreign object in a power outlet. Keep away from students who may not understand this danger.
Recharge each night for the next school day.
If you take a power bank on a flight, it must go in your carry-on luggage as lithium ion batteries are not permitted in checked luggage.
The power bank has safety features that cause it to shut down if it is too hot or too cold. Be sure it is at room temperature before using.
Ideas for Using This Tech in the Classroom
Charge AAC
If a student's AAC device exhausts its battery during the school day, grab the power bank to plug in the device either to the AC outlet or the USB port. Students can charge AAC while still joining the group discussion so they don't miss out on important educational time and still have a portable device.
Power a Light Box
Community Trips
Jamie Mayo
Email: jmayo@washtenawisd.org
Website: www.washtenawisd.org
Location: 1819 South Wagner Road, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Phone: 734-994-8100
Twitter: @JamieLynnMayo