One of my favorite tools for quickly enlarging content for online classes and virtual learning is the Google Chromecast and Google Cast protocol, which is used to mirror web browser tabs and mobile device screens on a supported TV or speakers. As long as both the TV/speakers and my other device are connected on the same Wi-Fi network, I can easily view content on a larger screen and make it easier to see with low vision. Here is how I use Google Chromecast for virtual learning as a student with low vision, which uses the Google Cast protocol for screen sharing.
Watching lecture videos and YouTube videos
Many of my professors post YouTube videos and video lectures as part of our online classes, which can be challenging to follow along with on a smaller screen if there are a lot of visuals. To streamline my notetaking experience, I use Google Cast/Chromecast to share the video to my TV, so that I can watch the video on a larger screen and take notes on my computer or tablet. I can still pause or rewind videos on the YouTube page if needed, as well as adjust things like playback speed.
To use Chromecast or Google Cast with YouTube:
- Make sure both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network
- Open the YouTube app or YouTube website
- Tap the Cast button, which looks like a rectangle with a signal symbol in the corner. On the YouTube app, the Cast button is at the top of the Home Screen, while on the YouTube website it is in the bottom right corner of the player
- Select the name of the Cast device and then select Play
- To disconnect the device, type the Cast icon again and then Disconnect
Related links
- How I Take Notes During Video Lectures With Low Vision
- Recording Video Lectures For Visually Impaired Students
- Tips For Screensharing With Low Vision
Enlarge websites on a TV screen
When I was taking an online math class, I would sometimes have trouble magnifying or zooming in on certain web applications on my computer screen. To help with this, I would share the website tab to Chromecast, which created a larger display that I could zoom in on, which made it easier for me to view content while working in a separate application. I also use this strategy in a few other contexts, including:
- Enlarging images like graphs, charts, and other illustrations on a larger screen
- Sharing web apps on a larger display— for one student I worked with, I enlarged a typing program using Google Cast and they typed using a wireless keyboard
- Enlarging sheet music on a TV
- Displaying a friendship bracelet tutorial for a student with low vision, who was working on the floor
- Watching videos from other websites
- Sharing my screen with multiple people so that we weren’t crowded around one display
To share a web tab with Google Cast/Chromecast:
- Open the Google Chrome web browser
- In the top-right corner, select the three-dot icon for the More menu
- Select Cast, save, and share > Cast
- Select a device to cast to
- To end the stream, select the Cast icon followed by Stop Streaming
Related links
- Classroom Technology That Benefits Low Vision Students
- ALEKS Accessibility For Visual Impairment
- How I’m Using MyMathLab With Low Vision
- Learning To Type With Low Vision
- Computer Lab Accommodations For Low Vision Students
- My Large Print Music Binder
- Making Friendship Bracelets With Low Vision
Displaying large text and digital whiteboards
One of my favorite ways to use Chromecast for virtual learning and collaboration is to create a digital whiteboard or display large print text for students that prefer a very large display. For the digital whiteboard, I would open an application like Microsoft Whiteboard in my web browser and then cast the tab to the TV, writing on the board using my computer. This worked really well for a group project in college so that everyone wasn’t hovering around one screen, and was also useful for a student following along with their teacher’s whiteboard in a virtual lesson at home.
When it comes to displaying large print text on a Chromecast, there are a few options to consider. Teleprompter applications are a helpful tool for displaying very large print, and can be cast to the larger screen. For another student I worked with who has cortical visual impairment (CVI), their teacher created high-contrast Google Slides that were mirrored on a TV, so that they were easier for the student to see. Another student preferred zooming in with the Ctrl++ keyboard shortcut on their computer, which would also magnify the display on the TV screen for Chromecast.
Related links
- Ways To Use Teleprompter Apps As Assistive Technology
- How I Use Microsoft Whiteboard With Low Vision
- How To Use Invert Colors With Low Vision
- How To Create Accessible PowerPoints
- Upcycling Music Stands into Assistive Technology
Mirroring Android phone displays with Google Cast
I have an Android phone, and one of the most useful features is the option to cast or mirror my phone screen to a TV that supports Google Cast or Chromecast. I find this more helpful than the screen magnification accessibility setting, and have the Cast setting pinned to Quick Settings so that I can access it by swiping down from the top of my screen.
Some examples of how I use the Cast setting on my phone with low vision include:
- Enlarging a calculator app
- Sharing a picture from my camera roll with multiple people
- Streaming a YouTube video
- Demonstrating an application for a presentation
- Streaming my phone camera feed to create a makeshift video magnifier
To add Cast to the Quick Settings menu:
- Swipe down twice from the top of the phone screen
- Select the Edit icon, which looks like a pencil
- Browse the list of settings and select Screen Cast, then drag it to the top of the screen
- Rearrange tiles by long-pressing and dragging across the screen to change the order of how they appear
To use screen casting on an Android phone:
- Swipe down from the top of the screen
- Select Screen Cast, which will prompt the user to select which device they want to connect to. Make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network
- Select a device from the list. This will show all information on the screen, including notifications
- To stop casting, swipe down from the top of the screen and select Screen Cast again
Related links
- Low Vision Accessibility Settings For Android Phones
- Five Accessible Calculator Apps For Low Vision
- iOS Magnifier and Low Vision Accessibility
Using Google Cast and Chromecast with other applications
There are several video streaming and other mobile applications that support the Google Cast protocol and sharing content to Chromecast, such as the Kanopy app, Netflix, Khan Academy, and several others. Supported applications will have a Cast icon that looks like a rectangle with a signal in the corner for enabling Chromecast.
Related links
- How I Use Kanopy With Low Vision
- Online College Library Resources For Digital Access
- Streaming Audio Description For Performing Arts Videos
- How To Make Classroom Videos Easier To See
Other ideas for using screen sharing and Google Chromecast for virtual learning
- Some smart TVs also support Apple AirPlay, which works similar to Google Cast and can be used for sharing photos and screen sharing from iPad, iPhone, and Mac.
- Need advice on choosing a television for someone with vision loss? Read Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Televisions
- Another way I have used Chromecast for virtual learning is to enlarge microscope slides that a teacher had shared for their student. Learn more about making microscopes accessible in Choosing Accessible Microscopes For Low Vision and How To Describe Science Experiments For Visually Impaired Students
Published May 18, 2020. Updated December 2024