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Chromebooks in the Classroom
Chromebooks in the Classroom
At First Glance
1. 8 Second Start-up. We've all had issues with laptops that take forever to turn on, restart, or update. I am sure we have all had the same experience, and our primary teachers are well aware of the age:login coefficient. The Chromebook went from open, to on, to login in 8 seconds, though it would take a bit longer if I couldn’t spell my name and password. This may seem like a small thing, but to a teacher with a class of 25+ students, an easy login is a huge time and stress saver.
2. Pushing out Extensions and Apps. One of the coolest aspects of Chrome OS is that if there are any updates, apps, or extensions that apply to every student in the district, they can be added to everyone’s profile all at once from our IT department. No more waiting two weeks for the tech to come out and install new software on everyone’s computer.
3. Profiles that follow the student. When I set my preferences in Chrome, they are stored online so that it doesn’t matter which computer I use, my preferences will follow me. I don’t have to always have the same computer. If the computer breaks, I don’t have to reset everything. If a student needs to use a larger font, that font size will follow him, even if he changes schools within the district. This has some excellent implications for UDL (Universal Design for Learning).
4. Easy Individualization with Shared Devices. This is an extension of the previous point. One of the problems currently facing iPads and laptops is that they are highly individual devices, and public schools are used to sharing resources. iTunes had made it difficult to legally operate a class set of iPads, and some of the information collected on the apps that get passed from student to student may have FOIP issues. However, a Chrome profile avoids those issues. You get to individualize a profile and have the ability to share a computer between classes.
There are, however, a few things we need to keep in mind about Chromebooks. A Chromebook needs a Gmail account to work, and many of the Google Apps for Education involve elements of social media. For students to be doing all their work online, our teachers need to be up to speed on their digital citizenship and fluency.
I am very excited about the prospect of Chromebooks in the classroom and I am looking forward to the exciting ways we can integrate it into our teaching.
1- What’s the difference between Chromebooks and other computers, like Windows or Mac OS?
Chromebooks use a specific operating system called Chrome OS that is lightweight and is supposed to help you perform tasks much quicker.
2- Do Chromebooks work offline?
Yes. There are a wide variety of apps that you can use offline on your Chromebook. Some examples include: Offline Gmail, Google Keep, Google Calendar, Google Drive apps (Docs, Sheets, and Slides) and many more.
3- Does Microsoft Office work on a Chromebook?
Yes it does. You can use Chromebook to access, edit, view and work on your Microsoft Office files through office.com.
4- Does iTunes work on a Chromebook?
No, it doesn’t, but you can use iTunes to add music to your Google Play Music library.
5- How do I store and organize photos?
The best option for you is Google Photos, where you can safely save and organize your photos for free.
6- Do I need to store files online or on Chromebook?
It depends on which option you want to choose: You can store photos on your Chromebook, but your storage is very limited without an SD-card, or you can store them in a cloud-based file storage platform such as Google Drive. The latter option allows you to access your stored files across different devices.
7- Do Chromebooks have CD or DVD drives?
‘Chromebooks don’t have a CD or DVD drive, but you can play saved music and movie files in any of the compatible file types with the media player. You can also play files from a USB drive or SD card.’
8- Can I print with a Chromebook?
‘Yes, you can. To print with a Chromebook, set up your printer or set up Google Cloud Print.’
9- What kinds of accessories can I use with a Chromebook?
‘Mac or Windows USB drives, computer mice, keyboards, and external storage devices work well with Chromebooks.’
10- Where can I find apps to install on my Chromebook?
You can use Google Play Store or the Chrome Web Store to search for and find apps to install on your Chromebook.
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