Mimio Frame Walkthrough Guide
For East Bay K-8 Middle School Teachers

by Steve Darlow

Introduction
What is a Mimio Frame?
The Mimio Frame is a retrofit interactive touch board kit that transforms any compatible whiteboard and projector combination into a 10-touch interactive digital classroom in minutes. This powerful tool attaches to your existing whiteboard, making it an interactive surface that responds to touch and works seamlessly with your computer and projector.
TEACHER TIP: The Mimio Frame allows multiple users to interact simultaneously with the whiteboard surface, making it perfect for collaborative learning activities!
How This Guide Will Help You
This walkthrough guide is designed specifically for teachers at East Bay K-8 Middle School who have a mimio frame in their classroom but may not have received formal training on how to make the most of it. We'll cover everything from basic setup to advanced features, with a focus on practical applications that will enhance your teaching and engage your students.
About East Bay K-8 Middle School
East Bay K-8 Middle School, home of the Eagles, is committed to providing innovative educational experiences for our students. This guide is part of our ongoing effort to support teachers in utilizing the technology available in their classrooms.
Getting Started with Your
Mimio Frame
Understanding the Basic Setup
Your Mimio Frame is installed around the perimeter of your whiteboard. It consists of:
  • The frame itself (the thin black border around your whiteboard)
  • A USB connection cable (usually located near the marker tray)
  • Software installed on your classroom computer
How Mimio Frame Works with Your Computer
When connected to your computer via USB, the Mimio Frame functions as a giant touchpad that controls your computer's mouse cursor. When your projector displays your computer screen onto the whiteboard, touching the board surface allows you to interact directly with your computer.
The process works as follows:
  1. The frame detects your touch on the whiteboard surface
  1. This information is sent to your computer via the USB connection
  1. Your computer interprets the touch as a mouse movement or click
  1. The result is displayed on the projected screen
Important Safety Precautions
⚠️ IMPORTANT WARNING: The frame acts as a giant trackpad controlling your computer's mouse, even when the projector is off! Be careful to disconnect the USB cable when using the whiteboard conventionally with markers.
The "Always On" Trackpad Effect
When the mimio frame is connected to your computer, it's always active, whether or not your projector is turned on. This means that:
  • Accidentally bumping into the board can cause unintended clicks or movements on your computer
  • Writing on the board with regular markers when the frame is connected can result in accidental mouse actions
  • Students touching the board can inadvertently affect programs running on your computer
Preventing Accidental Inputs
To prevent accidental inputs:
  • Always disconnect the USB cable when using the whiteboard as a traditional whiteboard
  • Be mindful of the active frame when moving around the classroom
  • Teach students about the touch-sensitive nature of the board when the frame is connected
Proper Connection and Disconnection
The USB connection is typically located on the marker tray of your whiteboard. To properly use the Mimio Frame:
  1. Turn on your projector first
  1. Connect the USB cable to your computer
  1. Wait a few seconds for your computer to recognize the device
  1. Begin using the interactive features
  1. When finished, disconnect the USB cable before using regular markers
Microsoft Whiteboard: Your Digital Canvas
Accessing Microsoft Whiteboard
Microsoft Whiteboard is a versatile digital canvas application that works exceptionally well with your Mimio Frame. To access it:
  1. Open a web browser on your computer
  1. Sign in with your school Microsoft account
  1. Create a new whiteboard or open an existing one
TEACHER TIP: Add Microsoft Whiteboard to your taskbar for quick access (see the Adding Web Apps section for instructions).
Using the Timer for Student Activities
The timer feature is perfect for timed activities and keeping students on track:
  1. Click the "Insert" menu
  1. Select "Timer"
  1. Set the desired time
  1. Click "Start" to begin the countdown
Students can see the timer clearly on the whiteboard, helping them manage their time during activities.
Laser Pointer Mode for Highlighting
The laser pointer mode creates temporary marks that fade away after a few seconds, perfect for drawing attention to specific content without permanently marking up your whiteboard:
  1. Click the "Draw" menu
  1. Select "Laser pointer"
  1. Choose a color
  1. Draw or circle items on the whiteboard – your marks will automatically fade
Working with PDFs and PowerPoint Slides
You can import and annotate over existing documents:
  1. Click the "Insert" menu
  1. Select "Documents"
  1. Choose a PDF or PowerPoint file from your computer or OneDrive
  1. Use the drawing tools to annotate over the document
This is particularly useful for marking up worksheets, reviewing assignments, or annotating.
Microsoft Whiteboard Features and Sharing
Annotation Tools and Text Options
Microsoft Whiteboard offers a variety of pens, highlighters, and text options:
  • Pens with customizable colors and thickness
  • Highlighters with adjustable opacity
  • Text boxes for typing content
  • Shapes and lines for creating diagrams
  • Sticky notes for organizing ideas
Saving and Sharing Your Whiteboard Content
Your whiteboards are automatically saved to the cloud and can be accessed from any device:
  1. To share with students, click the "Share" button
  1. Choose whether viewers can edit or just view
  1. Copy the link and share it through your preferred method
Collaborative Learning
Students can work together on a shared whiteboard, each contributing ideas and content simultaneously.
Digital Portfolios
Save student work as digital artifacts that can be reviewed later or included in portfolios.
Remote Access
Students can access shared whiteboards from home for review or continued work on projects.
Educational Platforms for Younger Students
ABC Ya
ABCya provides educational games and activities that align with common core standards. These games work well with the Mimio Frame's touch interface.
Getting Started with ABC Ya
  1. Open a web browser on your computer
  1. Navigate to www.abcya.com
  1. Select the appropriate grade level for your students
  1. Browse available games by subject area
Recommended Activities for Middle School
While ABCya is often associated with elementary education, several activities work well for middle school skills practice:
  • Math games for reinforcing basic skills
  • Word games for vocabulary development
  • Logic puzzles for critical thinking
  • Interactive storytelling for language arts
PBS Kids
PBS Kids offers educational games based on popular PBS characters and shows.
Age-Appropriate Content
PBS Kids includes content that can be valuable for students who need additional support or engagement:
  • Science exploration games
  • Reading and vocabulary activities
  • Math challenges at various levels
  • Creative expression activities
Curriculum-Aligned Games
Many PBS Kids games align with curriculum standards and can be used to:
  • Reinforce concepts taught in class
  • Provide additional practice for struggling students
  • Offer enrichment activities
Google Earth: Interactive Geography
Google Earth is a powerful tool for exploring geography and works exceptionally well with the multitouch capabilities of your Mimio Frame.
  1. Open a web browser on your computer
  1. Navigate to earth.google.com
  1. Click "Launch Earth" to open the application
TEACHER TIP: For the best experience, use Google Chrome as your browser when accessing Google Earth.
Zooming and Rotating
  • Pinch with two fingers to zoom in and out
  • Place two fingers on the globe and rotate to change perspective
  • Drag with one finger to move around the map
Students can intuitively explore locations using these natural gestures, making geography more engaging and interactive.
Layer Controls
Google Earth offers various layers that can be enabled to show different information:
  1. Click the menu icon in the left sidebar
  1. Select "Voyager" for guided tours
  1. Choose "Layers" to add information like borders, roads, and 3D buildings
Lesson Ideas for Middle School Geography
Virtual field trips to historical sites
Comparing geographical features across continents
Exploring climate zones and ecosystems
Examining urban development and human geography
Measuring distances and areas for scale comparison
HoverCam and Flex 11 Software
Working with Document Cameras
The HoverCam document cameras in your classroom work with Flex 11 software to display physical materials on your whiteboard. This combination works seamlessly with your Mimio Frame.
The Orange Circle Interface
Flex 11 features a distinctive orange circle that provides access to a variety of writing and annotation tools:
Accessing Writing and Highlighting Tools
  1. When Flex 11 is running, look for the orange circle on your screen
  1. Touch the orange circle to expand the tool menu
  1. Select from options like pen, highlighter, eraser, and text tools
TEACHER TIP: The orange circle can be moved around the screen by dragging it to a convenient location.
Adjusting Transparency for Highlighting
One of the most useful features is the ability to adjust transparency for highlighters:
  1. Select the highlighter tool from the orange circle menu
  1. Hold down (right-click) on the highlighter
  1. Adjust the transparency slider that appears
  1. Lower transparency creates a subtle highlighting effect that doesn't obscure text
Capture
Position document under camera
Snapshot
Use snapshot button to capture image
Annotate
Use orange circle tools to mark up image
Save
Store for future reference or sharing
Essential Windows Tools
On-Screen Virtual Keyboard
The Windows on-screen keyboard is essential when using your Mimio Frame for interactive activities that require text input.
Adding to Your Taskbar
Method 1: Through Settings
  1. Press Win + I to open Settings
  1. Go to "Personalization" → "Taskbar"
  1. Click "Taskbar corner icons"
  1. Toggle on "Touch keyboard"
  1. The keyboard icon will now appear in your taskbar
Method 2: Search and Pin
  1. Click Start or press the Windows key
  1. Type "on-screen keyboard"
  1. Right-click on "On-Screen Keyboard" in the search results
  1. Select "Pin to taskbar"
Using with Students
The on-screen keyboard allows students to input text directly at the whiteboard:
  • Students can answer questions by typing at the board
  • Collaborative writing activities become more interactive
  • Spell-checking and word suggestions help with writing tasks
Snipping Tool
The Snipping Tool allows you to capture screenshots and annotate them, which is perfect for saving student work or highlighting important content.
Taking Screenshots
  1. Open Snipping Tool by pressing Win + Shift + S
  1. Select the type of snip you want:
  • Rectangular: Drag to select a rectangular area
  • Freeform: Draw around an area
  • Window: Select a specific window
  • Fullscreen: Capture the entire screen
  1. The screenshot is copied to your clipboard and a notification appears
Annotation Features
After taking a screenshot, click the notification to open the Snipping Tool editor where you can:
  • Add pen and highlighter marks
  • Erase parts of your annotations
  • Crop the image
  • Save, copy, or share the screenshot
TEACHER TIP: The small finger-shaped pointer icon in the bottom right of the Snipping Tool editor is crucial! Click this icon to enable writing mode. Without it, you'll drag the image around instead of annotating it.
Calculator
The Windows Calculator app is useful for quick calculations during math lessons.
Adding Web Apps and Projector Adjustment
Adding Web Apps to Your Taskbar
Using Chrome
Chrome allows you to install websites as apps and pin them to your taskbar for quick access.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
  1. Open Chrome browser
  1. Navigate to the desired website (e.g., whiteboard.microsoft.com)
  1. Click the three dots menu in the top-right corner
  1. Select "More tools" → "Create shortcut" (or "Install [website name]" if available)
  1. Check "Open as window" option
  1. Click "Create"
  1. Find the new shortcut on your desktop
  1. Right-click the shortcut and select "Pin to taskbar"
Using Edge
Microsoft Edge offers a similar feature for installing websites as apps.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
  1. Open Edge browser
  1. Navigate to the desired website
  1. Click the three dots menu in the top-right corner
  1. Select "Apps" → "Install this site as an app"
  1. Name the app and click "Install"
  1. The website will appear in your Start menu
  1. Right-click the app in the Start menu and select "Pin to taskbar"
Epson Projector Adjustment
Quick Corner Feature
If the cursor and your finger aren't matching up when using the Mimio Frame, you may need to adjust the projection using the Epson projector's Quick Corner feature. This ensures the projected image perfectly fills the frame.
TEACHER TIP: This is especially important if you're on the first floor with rowdy students above—projectors can shift slightly over time!
Aligning Projection with Mimio Frame
Follow these steps to adjust the projection:
  1. Locate your Epson projector remote control
  1. Press the "Menu" button
  1. Navigate to "Settings" and press "Enter"
  1. Select "Quick Corner" and press "Enter" again
  1. Choose the corner that needs adjustment (the one that doesn't align with the Mimio Frame)
  1. Use the arrow buttons (up/down/left/right) to move that corner until it aligns perfectly with the Mimio Frame
  1. Press "Esc" or "Back" to select another corner if needed
  1. Repeat for each corner until the projection perfectly fills the Mimio Frame
  1. Press "Menu" to exit when finished
Best Practices and Troubleshooting
Best Practices for Classroom Management
  • Establish clear expectations for how students should interact with the Mimio Frame
  • Create a rotation system for student participation
  • Consider using a "driver/navigator" approach where one student operates the board while another provides directions
  • Use proximity control by standing near the board during student use
Preventing Technical Issues
  • Always turn on the projector before connecting the Mimio Frame USB
  • Disconnect the USB when not using the interactive features
  • Keep the whiteboard surface clean for optimal touch sensitivity
  • Regularly check that all corners of the projection align with the frame
Engaging Students with Interactive Learning
  • Incorporate movement by having students come to the board
  • Use collaborative applications like Microsoft Whiteboard for group work
  • Create interactive sorting or matching activities
  • Use the document camera and annotation tools for student presentations
Common Issues and Solutions
Touch Not Working Properly
  • Ensure the USB cable is securely connected
  • Check that the projection is properly aligned with the frame
  • Clean the whiteboard surface
  • Restart the computer
Projection Alignment Issues
  • Use the Quick Corner feature as described earlier
  • Check that the projector hasn't physically moved
  • Ensure the frame is securely attached to the whiteboard
Software Problems
  • Update your browser for web applications
  • Clear browser cache if web apps are running slowly
  • Restart the application if it becomes unresponsive
When to Contact IT Support
Contact your school's IT support team if:
  • The Mimio Frame doesn't respond to touch at all
  • The projector has physical issues that can't be resolved with Quick Corner
  • Software won't install or run properly
  • You experience persistent issues despite trying the solutions above
Common Projection Issues
If you can't get the projection to fill the frame completely:
  • Check if the projector has physically moved and needs to be repositioned
  • Ensure the projector lens is clean
  • Check that the whiteboard and frame are securely mounted
  • Consider contacting IT support if the issue persists
Additional Resources
This guide was created specifically for the teachers of East Bay K-8 Middle School, home of the Eagles. We hope it helps you make the most of your Mimio Frame!
Made with