Chromebooks & Google

Chromebooks

A Chromebook is a laptop that runs the Chrome (Google) OS, or operating system, as opposed to Windows, iOS (Apple), or other commonly used systems. It is primarily designed to work online, with information stored online in the Google cloud.


Users must have a Google account in order to log into Chromebooks. Each student and staff member has been issued their own individual, school-monitored account. Once signed in, users have access to Google Apps for Education.


Students and their guardians must sign a Chromebook Agreement each year before students receive their Chromebooks.


Student login layout

Username: First name, Middle initial, Last name (ie: sarahboconnell)

Password: First 4 letters of first name (first letter capitalized), Last initial capitalized, last 4 numbers of PowerSchool number (ie: SaraO1234)

Common Chromebook Problems

Google Resources

Chrome

Google Chrome is a web browser developed by Google, much like Safari, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer.

Classroom

Google Classroom is a way for teachers and students to interact with one another in a safe and secure online environment. Teachers can create, distribute and grade assignments electronically. Students complete and turn in assignments and receive feedback electronically.

Docs

Google Docs is a free online document creator that works much like Microsoft Word. Documents created in Docs are stored online and may be accessed from any computer with an Internet connection. Docs may also be accessed from mobile devices that have the app (tablets, smartphones, etc). Users are also able to edit some Microsoft Office files in Docs (see Work with Office files). Docs may also be downloaded as a Word document or PDF (see How to convert Google Docs files to Word or PDFs).

Drive

Google Drive is a FREE cloud storage system, much like Dropbox, One Drive or iCloud. Users can store documents, photos/videos, and much more. Drive also provides free access to Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and several other services that can be used to create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, surveys and more.

Forms

Google Forms is a free form/survey creator. Users can create surveys, quizzes, event responses and more. All form responses are saved to an automatically generated Google Sheet for easy viewing by the creator.

Gmail

Gmail is a free email service by Google.

Sheets

Google Sheets is a spreadsheet creator that works much like Microsoft Excel. Like other Google Drive services, all spreadsheets are stored in the cloud.

Slides

Google Slides is a presentation creator much like Microsoft PowerPoint. Like other Drive services, all slides are stored online.

Sites

Google Sites is a free website and wiki creation tool offered by Google as part of Google Apps for Education, Business or Work. It is designed for multiple people to be able to easily collaborate together in order to create a site or wiki.

Google Add-ons, Apps & Extensions

Google Add-ons are extra, optional features within Drive that can be added to Docs, Drawing, Forms, Sheets & Slides. Google Apps are programs that can be used via Chrome. Google Extensions are optional features that can be added to Chrome as a button to the right of your address bar. See the difference between all three here.


Apps & Extensions can be added from the Google Chrome Web Store. Add-ons must be added from the Drive program (Docs, Drawing, Forms, Sheets, Slides). The following lists are not all inclusive. There are tons of great add-ons, apps & extensions available!


Apps & Extensions

  • AdBlock Plus - blocks most ads on websites (including video sites such as Hulu)

  • Announcify - reads websites to you & blurs out paragraphs not currently being read aloud

  • ATbar - change the look & feel of websites as needed (font, colors, color overlays, etc.)

  • Extensity - organize your apps in one easy place & turn them on/off as needed

  • Goo.gl - shorten URLs

  • GoodWordGuide or Google Dictionary - instantly define highlighted words

  • High Contrast - change the look of websites as needed (greyscale, increased contrast, etc.)

  • Hover Zoom+ - enlarge images just by hovering over them

  • Office Editing for Docs, Sheets & Slides - edit Word documents, Excel sheets or PowerPoints within Drive (basic editing functions only)

  • PDF Viewer - open & view PDFs without needing Adobe

  • Save to Pocket - save webpages, articles, videos, etc. to view later

  • ScanQR - use webcam to scan QR codes

  • Screencastify - record your screen as you talk, save to email or share later

  • Select & Speak or SpeakIt! - highlight text & have it read aloud (customize settings for voice, speed, etc.)

  • Training for Google Apps - short tutorials for all Google Apps (ie: Gmail, Drive, Docs, etc.)

  • Zoom Text Only - make text larger or smaller on page without changing everything else (keyboard command: Alt+ or Alt-)

Apps & Extension by Subject (from The Lifelong Learner Blog)