Presentation Tool (Download & Install)

Welcome to the support guide on using Top Hat’s Presentation Tool! This article is designed to help educators benefit from the full potential of Top Hat’s Presentation Tool for enhancing classroom engagement and interaction.

Table of Contents

  1. What is the Presentation Tool?
  2. System Requirements
  3. Downloading the Presentation Tool
  4. Using the Presentation Tool
  5. Device Permissions (Fixing Blank Screenshots)

What is the Presentation Tool?

The Top Hat Presentation Tool is a desktop application designed to integrate effortlessly with your preferred presentation software.

It enables educators to:

  • Seamlessly overlay interactive features on software like PowerPoint, Keynote, and others, eliminating the need to switch between windows.
  • Create and present questions on the fly to foster real-time engagement.

System Requirements

The Presentation Tool is compatible with the following platforms:

  • Windows: Version 10 or higher
  • MacOS: The three most recent major releases

Ensure your computer meets these requirements for optimal functionality.

Downloading the Presentation Tool

Steps to Download:

  1. Log in to your Top Hat Educator account on your computer.
  2. Select the Help ("?") icon in the top-right corner of your screen.
  3. Choose Presentation Tool from the dropdown menu.
  4. Click Download Presentation Tool. The correct version for your operating system will automatically download.
  5. Save and install the file as you would any other application.

Administrative Permissions: If you cannot install software on your school computer, you can download and transfer the tool via a USB drive.

Platform-Specific USB Instructions

For MacOS Users:

  • Drag the Presentation Tool icon to the USB drive.
  • Eject the drive and plug it into your school computer.
  • Test beforehand to ensure security settings allow USB-launched programs.

For Windows Users:

  • Use the provided link to download the .exe version of the tool directly to your USB.

The Top Hat help menu opened from the question mark icon, with the 'Presentation Tool' download option highlighted.Image: Presentation Tool Download Menu

Using the Presentation Tool

Logging In:

  • Open the Presentation Tool and log in using your Top Hat credentials.
  • Select the course you are currently teaching.

Key Features:

  • Quick Ask Questions: Present Multiple Choice, Word, or Numeric questions on the fly. Use the Present option to ask questions directly over your slides.
  • Take Attendance: Click the Hand icon in the upper-right corner. A code will display for students; select Close Attendance when finished.
  • Content Presentation: Navigate through slides or pre-created questions by selecting your desired content within the tool.
  • Minimize/Maximize: Use the Arrow icon to toggle the interface size.

The Presentation Tool floating window appearing alongside a web browser, demonstrating its overlay capability.Image: Presentation Tool alongside the browser

Window States and Views

The following images demonstrate the various window states, including Quick Ask, Attendance, and the collapsed view.

Three views of the tool: The Quick Ask interface, the small collapsed icon view, and the Attendance code display.Image: Quick Ask Question, Collapsed View, and Attendance windowsA full-screen view of the Presentation Tool overlaying a presentation slide with navigation controls visible.Image: Slide Presentation View

Device Permissions (Fixing Blank Screenshots)

If screenshots appear blank or only show your desktop background, you must adjust your MacOS Screen Recording permissions.

  1. Quit the Presentation Tool.
  2. Open System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Screen Recording.
  3. Remove Top Hat Presentation Tool from the list by selecting it and clicking the Minus ("−") button.
  4. Re-add it by clicking the Plus ("+") button and selecting the application.
  5. Close System Preferences and restart the Presentation Tool.

MacOS Security and Privacy window showing the Screen Recording tab with Top Hat Presentation Tool selected for removal.Image: MacOS Security & Privacy Settings - Removing the toolThe Screen Recording permission list with Top Hat removed, ready to be re-added.Image: Tool successfully removed from permissionsThe file selection dialog used to re-add the Presentation Tool to the Screen Recording permission list.Image: Re-adding the tool to MacOS permissions

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