How to Chromebook
How to Chromebook
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Welcome to your Chromebook. You’re on your way to doing your best work from wherever you are. This guide walks you through some key features so you can hit the ground running.
Welcome to your Chromebook. You’re on your way to doing your best work from wherever you are. This guide walks you through some key features so you can hit the ground running.
Chromebook Fundamentals
Chromebook Fundamentals
The Touchpad — The multi-touch touchpad allows users to perform a variety of tasks. The Chromebook touchpad functions like a PC laptop touchpad. It can also be customised in the Chromebook "Touchpad settings".
The Chromebook's keyboard has a slightly different layout as compared to traditional laptops and desktops.
Use this special characters tip sheet — to create special characters.
Keyboard Shortcuts are combinations of keys and clicks that can be used to perform specific actions, such as taking a screenshot.
Knowing shortcuts helps enhance your efficiency on a Chromebook.
What's on the Screen?
What's on the Screen?
The Chromebook Shelf is the launchpad for Chrome, apps, Google Drive, notifications, and the Chromebook settings menu.
The Chromebook Settings menu is the place to customise features and add accessibility options for the Chromebook.
Accessibility features on a Chromebook
Accessibility features on a Chromebook
Look here to see the full set of accessibility you can find on a Chromebook. A short summary of what you will find:
Text to Speak: You can hear full pages read aloud with Chromebook’s built-in screen reader. You can hear parts of a page, including specific words, read aloud with Select-to-speak.
Dictation or Voice typing: The speech-to-text aka dictation is an accessibility feature on Chromebook that lets you type text with your voice instead of using the keyboard.
Magnification: Full screen magnification on Chromebook makes on-screen content easier to see by making the screen up to 20 times the default size.
Change the size and colour of the cursor: Chromebooks enable people to enlarge just the mouse cursor so it’s easier to see.
Option for a high contrast screen: High contrast mode inverts colours to make on-screen content easier to read for people with low vision or for those working in bright environments
There are also various Chrome extensions for improved accessibility. The one we can recommend is Read&Write. Read&Write is a literacy support tool that offers help with everyday tasks. The free version is quite extensive. To the left is a short introduction video.
(You might have to ask your school's IT manager to install this Chrome Extension.)
How do I locate my apps and files?
How do I locate my apps and files?
On a Chromebook, you can access files and apps from the Launcher (the circular button on the bottom left of your screen). Simply tap or click on the button to bring up the Launcher.
To find a specific app, document or file, use the search bar at the top of the Launcher.
Still missing a few apps?
Take a look at the Google Play Store and the Chrome Web Store to see which apps could help you.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for contact your IT team.
NOTE: School-managed devices may restrict access to Android and Chrome apps to school-approved apps only.
Other cool Chromebook features:
Other cool Chromebook features:
Offline Access — Even if you are not connected to the Internet, you can still do lots of things with your Chromebook. Click here for information on how to make Drive files available offline.
Drag & Drop is so much easier: You can drag and drop images directly from your notification tray in your Chromebook! Simply open up your notification tray and find the image you want to move. Click and hold on the image, then drag it to the location or over to the document where you want it to go. Release the click, and voila! Your image has been moved or inserted.
Screenshot and Recording Tool: Chromebooks include a fantastic screenshot and screen recording tool. Simply press Crtl + Alt + Show windows:
Capture region / screen - Take a partial or full screenshot and have the image automatically save to Google Drive;
Create recording - Record your entire screen or part of your screen;
Add voiceover - Use your Chromebook microphone to add a voice over to your recording.
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