Texas Instruments TINAVWNA Users Manual

Setting up the TI-Nspire™ Navigator™
Teacher Software

This TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software Getting Started Guide is
designed to help you get started with your TI-Nspire™ Navigator™
classroom learning system. This guide gives you information on setting
up the TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software for the first time,
setting up the hardware, creating and managing classrooms, managing
student accounts; and guides you through an introduction of using some
of the features included in the software.

For more detailed information on using these features and to see all of
the features of the TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software, refer to
the TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software Guidebook available at
education.ti.com/guides.

The TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ classroom learning system provides the
hardware and software tools you need to set up a wireless classroom
network.

The system is composed of two parts, hardware and software. The
hardware creates a wireless communications network so that your
computer can communicate with your students’ handhelds. The
hardware includes TI-Nspire™ CX Wireless Network Adapters, TI-Nspire™
Navigator™ Cradles, and the TI-Navigator™ access point.

The wireless adapters are used with the TI-Nspire™ CX handhelds. The
cradles are used with the TI-Nspire™ CX, TI-Nspire™ CX CAS, TI-Nspire™,
or TI-Nspire™ CAS handhelds. The access point is the communication link
used in all wireless classroom setups.

The software contains a number of tools to enhance your classroom,
including:

• Quick Poll. Lets you send polls to your students, receive the students’
responses to the polls, and review the poll results with your students.

• Screen Capture. Lets you capture your students’ handheld screens
automatically or at specific time intervals.

• Live Presenter. Lets you display work as it is being performed on
your handheld screen or your students’ handheld screens.

• Review and Analysis. Lets you collect and review student
assignments, and analyze data for the entire class or for individual
students.

You can obtain educational content on the Web at TI’s Activities
Exchange (education.ti.com/activities).

Setting up the TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software 1

There are a few ways to learn to set up and use the TI-Nspire™
Navigator™ Teacher Software:

•The Start Here Guide—a short version of the setup process with fewer
details.

•This TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software Getting Started Guide,
provided in both printed and PDF formats. The Getting Started Guide
introduces you to the software and walks you through setting up
classrooms.

•The TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software Guidebook, provided
in PDF format and available at education.ti.com/guides. The
TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software Guidebook gives you
complete information on all functions of the software.

After you install the TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software on your
computer, you can use the Getting Started Guide or the Software
Guidebook as a reference for the software tools.

The process of unpacking the equipment, setting up the hardware, and
installing the software will probably require about two hours of your
time.

Unpacking the boxes

The TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ system product consists of TI-Nspire™
Navigator™ Teacher Software, an access point, and either 15 or 30
cradles or wireless adapters, depending on your specific order. If
necessary, you can purchase additional kits to accommodate as many as
40 students.

Identify each item, and check the items against the following lists to
make sure your order is complete.

2 Setting up the TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software

Each TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ system comes with the following items.

• 1 TI-Navigator™ access point

• 1 AC9930 power adapter (includes power supply and power cord)

• 1 USB computer cable

• 1 containing system software

•The TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software Getting Started Guide

One

Access point

AC9930 power adapter for the access point

Getting Started guide

USB cable

Setting up the TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software 3

If you purchased the TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ System for use with the
TI-Nspire™ CX, TI-Nspire™ CX CAS, TI-Nspire™, or TI-Nspire™ CAS
handhelds, your contents include the following items:

• TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Cradles

• AC9940 power adapter (includes power supply and power cord)

• TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Cradle Charging Bay

Cradles

AC9940 power adapter
(for the charging bay)

Cradle charging bay

If you purchased the TI-Nspire™ CX Navigator™ System for use with the
TI-Nspire™ CX or TI-Nspire™ CX CAS handhelds exclusively, your contents
include the following items. Quantities will vary, depending on the
system you purchased.

• TI-Nspire™ CX Wireless Network Adapaters

• TI-Nspire™ CX Wireless Network Adapter storage cases

Wireless network
adapter

Storage case for
the TI-Nspire™ CX Wireless Network
Adapters

4 Setting up the TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software

Charging the cradles

The TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Cradles contain rechargable batteries. You
must charge the batteries overnight before using them in your class.
When the cradles are fully charged, they will function all day under
continuous use. You should recharge them each night.

The TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Cradle Charging Bay can hold from one to
five cradles. After you place the cradles in the charging bay, they are
charged simultaneously until all are fully charged. If the batteries are
fully discharged, it may take up to 12 hours to fully charge the batteries.

Note: You cannot damage the batteries by leaving them in the charging
bay beyond the time needed to fully charge them. Also, it is not
necessary to fully discharge the batteries before recharging them.

Make sure you have enough (3–4) power outlets for the equipment you
received. If necessary, obtain a plug strip so that you have plenty of
grounded outlets.

1. Insert the small end of the AC9940 power adapter cord into the
charging bay’s power jack.

2. Plug the other end of the adapter into a power outlet.

3. Insert each TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ wireless cradle into the
TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Cradle Charging Bay. Make sure the LED is
amber.

Note: You can charge a single wireless cradle using an AC9926 adapter
(sold separately).

Checking the LEDs

Two LEDs (small lights) at the top of each TI-Nspire™ Navigator™
wireless cradle blink or change colors to indicate various operations or
status.

Setting up the TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software 5

LEDs

The LED indicates network activity. The LED indicates battery­charging status.

When the cradles are still in the TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Cradle Charging
Bay:

• A solid amber LED means the wireless cradle is currently
recharging.

• A solid red LED means the wireless cradle does not have good
contact with the charging bay. Reposition the cradle so it has good
contact and the LED turns amber.

• A solid green LED means the wireless cradle is fully charged.

Installing the handheld software

Before you use the TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software with your
handhelds, make sure you have the latest operating system installed on
all of the handhelds in order for the software to work properly.

You can use the TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software to update the
handheld operating system.

Note: After you install the latest OS on one handheld, you can use that
handheld to install the OS on other handhelds.

1. Make sure you have connected a TI-Nspire™ handheld to your
computer.

2. Open the TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software.

3. Make sure you are in the Content workspace.

The software displays a list of connected handhelds in the Resources
pane and lets you select one.

Note: You can communicate with only one handheld at a time.

6 Setting up the TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software

4. If multiple handhelds are connected, click the handheld to which you
want to connect.

5. Click Help >Check for Handheld OS Update.

TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software displays a dialog box asking
if you want to install the OS on the handheld, save it to your
computer, or both.

6. Click

Browse if you want to change the location to save the handheld

operating system.

7. Click Continue.

8. Accept the license agreement and click Continue.

TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software displays a message box
warning you that any unsaved data will be lost. Click Yes to continue.

Setting up the TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software 7

A progress screen is displayed.

9. When the operating system software has transferred to your
TI-Nspire™ handheld, click OK. You may now disconnect the
handheld from your computer, and the operating system software
will install itself onto your handheld.

Note: Consider keeping one or two spare handhelds with the latest
operating system and ample memory. It is also a good idea to have spare
cradles on hand. If a problem occurs, you can substitute a spare part.

Setting up your TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ network
the first time

A Network Setup wizard helps you activate the access point and wireless
adapters and cradles for wireless communication.

If you have not used the TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software
before, a prompt opens asking if you want to set up your classroom. You
can choose to set up your classroom or continue on to the TI-Nspire™
Navigator™ computer home screen.

Before you begin

1. Make sure you have installed and activated the TI-Nspire™
Navigator™ Teacher Software on your computer.

2. If you are using TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Cradles, make sure each

cradle is charged ( LED is solid amber or solid green).

Note: If you are using TI-Nspire™ Wireless Network Adapters, you do not
need to charge them. The wireless network adapters are powered by the
TI-Nspire™ CX or TI-Nspire™ CX CAS handheld.

8 Setting up the TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software

Connecting the cables to the access point

1. Identify the cables.

USB cable

AC9930 Power adapter

2. Connect the AC9930 power adapter to the power jack on the access
point.

3. Connect the USB cable to the access point.

USB connection

Power adapter
jack

Access point, side view

4. Make sure the access point power light is on.

Setting up the TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software 9

Checking the access point LEDS

Status

Signal

Power

Tes t

POWER – Indicates that the access point is receiving power from the
power adapter.

TEST – The access point is in self-test mode. This LED should blink for a
minute and then stop.

STATUS: 100 LINK/ACT – Indicates data transfer.

SIGNAL: 802.11 b/g – Indicates wireless link activity.

Starting the wizard

When you complete the installation of the TI-Nspire™ Navigator™
Teacher Software, open TI-Nspire™ Network Manager to set up your
system.

To open Network Manager, click

A setup wizard helps you through the next steps.

Note: You can run the setup wizard later by opening TI-Nspire™
Network Manager and clicking

1. Confirm that the AC9930 power adapter is connected to the access
point.

2. Plug the AC adapter into a power outlet.

3. Plug the USB cable into the computer.

4. Click

Next to proceed with the wizard.

TI-Nspire™ Network Manager displays a dialog box to select a country
and channel.

Tools > Network Manager.

Actions > Network Setup Wizard.

10 Setting up the TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software

5. Select your country. The operating channel is automatically set to a
default setting.

6. Click OK.

TI-Nspire™ Network Manager sends signals to the access point to add
it to the network.

After the access point is found, the wizard displays a message.

7. Click OK.

Setting up the TI-Nspire™ Navigator™ Teacher Software 11