Chromebook Tips & Resources

This page will, hopefully, always be "under construction." Have a chromebook/classroom tip or resource to share? Send me a link!

“If we teach today’s students as we taught yesterday’s, we rob them of tomorrow.” --John Dewey

This page of information is focused on student (and our) learning. 

It starts at Day One: How your students accept and use the Chromebooks in your classroom will be determined within the first few days. 

Be extra vigilant, model procedures, and reinforce your policies. "We are the words and pictures from which we teach." (Mr. Cullinan, 11th grade Sociology)

A few suggestions in managing Chromebook use in the classroom:

• Establish an "acceptable use practice" in the classroom.  Spending some time, early, discussing and setting parameters for usage is key.

• Be consistent!

• Help students stay on-task through proximity, move around the classroom and use distance to influence behavior. This may require setting up the classroom in a different way than in the past.

• Know the basics so you can help students. Don’t assume that students know the basics. Learn something new each day. We all can learn from each other and share with others.

• Set up a portal of apps or websites that students can use if students complete work early. Share resources and class assignments through your Classrooms. Consider creating a Google Doc or Slide Deck, populate it with the instructions and links and then add it as a Material in your Classroom(s). Odds are, you can use that same Material resource in multiple classes.

• Allow creativity in student works, and expect professionalism by proper use of device; adhering to being a good digital citizen and using good grammar and writing skills in all work.

• Management Tips for the Technology Rich Classroom

Some Thoughts on Efficient Use  in the Classroom

• Identify student leaders with stronger tech skills. These students will be helpful to you.

• Establish classroom procedures to deal with Chromebook technical issues when they occur. Troubleshooting suggestions:  shut it down, reboot, ask a student leader before the teacher.

• Introduce the Chromebook basics, keyboard shortcuts, Google Classroom, and Google Drive in the first few weeks of school. Resources are provided to make easy learning and sharing with students.

• "Shark Fin!" -- Set guidelines on when the Chromebook is open when giving directions or lecturing. One suggestion is to have the screen tilted at a 45 degree angle when you are giving verbal instructions.

Useful Resources:

• 10 Chromebook Features You Probably Don't Know About -- (thanks to Matt Miller and Ditch That Textbook)

• Chromebook in the Classroom -- (Kathy Schrock's Guide to Everything)

• The Tech Toolkit for Families and Guardians -- (Great YouTube Playlist From Google For Education)