NEW YORK (AP) — The Google Chromebook, a type of stripped-down laptop, isn't a practical mobile device for many people — mostly because it basically turns into an expensive paperweight whenever it can't find a Wi-Fi connection.
Yet Chromebooks have defied expectations and made major inroads in an unexpected environment — U.S. schools.
In retrospect, that shouldn't be too surprising. Chromebooks are cheap and easy to manage, making them popular with budget-constrained schools with limited tech-support staff. And Wi-Fi is now common enough in U.S. schools and homes to make an internet-dependent device practical for students.
One of the main reasons why millions of students worldwide got a Chromebook instead of a Windows or Mac laptop is the price. Compared to these laptops, Chromebooks are a lot cheaper option. You can get a pretty good one without spending all the money you have. As an example, you can get a decent Chromebook for $200. Depending on the age of your children, a Chromebook might fit all their needs. For teenagers in the later years of high school, you should discuss what programs they need to use to decide if a Chromebook will work. If they are editing videos or using certain applications, you may need to spend more money to buy a Windows laptop or a Macbook. Chromebooks are cheap and easy to manage, making them popular with budget-constrained schools with limited tech-support staff. And Wi-Fi is now common enough in U.S. Schools and homes to make an internet-dependent device practical for students. Since the average school goes through 74 trees worth of paper per year, the wave of school districts investing in 1:1 Chromebook rollouts will have a considerable impact on the environment. In turn, this will lead to a reduction in the need for printer ink, hard-copy books, and teaching materials as well.
Google doesn't want to stop there. It's releasing new models in partnership with Samsung that are designed to appeal to a broader range of consumers. They have several tablet-like features, including a stylus, touch controls and a 360-degree hinge that allows you to turn the screen faceup. One starts selling Sunday for $449; a more powerful version comes out in April for $100 more.
Google and its manufacturing partners are trying to shed the Chromebook's perception as underperforming budget devices. But even with premium models, expanding beyond U.S. schools won't be easy.
CHROMEBOOKS GET SCHOOLED
For personal computers and tablets, Chromebook's share of the U.S. education market was 49 percent last year, up from 40 percent in 2015 and 9 percent in 2013, according to IDC figures released this week.
But education accounts for just 14 percent of the 110 million devices shipped in the U.S. last year — and Chromebooks make up just 9 percent of that broader total. Their numbers are also low abroad, even in schools.
The Chromebook's popularity in U.S. education is also largely limited to grades K-12, analysts say. Macs and Windows laptops are still dominant on college campuses.
ROUGH START
Chromebooks use a lightweight operating system designed to get people online faster, without having to wait around for the computer to start up. Much of the heavy lifting on Chromebooks gets done on Google's remote servers, so Chromebooks themselves don't need fast chips or lots of storage.
Early on, though, that made Chromebooks seem cheap and underpowered, which 'soured consumer expectations right off the bat,' IDC analyst Linn Huang said.
Online storage for photos and documents online was much less common in 2011 when Chromebooks launched , so their limited local storage was initially unappealing. And the few apps available for Chromebooks didn't work offline, at least at the time.
DIFFERING NEEDS
But what constrains consumers can actually be liberating in education. Most kids don't need laptops on the bus or other locations where they can't connect to Wi-Fi. And they don't miss business software like Microsoft Office; Google's online apps for documents and spreadsheets do just fine for homework.
Why Do Schools Use Chromebooks Instead
'What surprised us was how quickly it took off in education,' said Kan Liu, who oversees Chromebooks at Google.
Apple's iPad was hot at the time, but Google sold the Chromebook on convenience. They're easier for classrooms to share; just sign in with a Google account, and a student's apps and documents instantly appear. Teachers also have online tools to lock down what apps and sites students can use.
And with models available for less than $200, schools can get a few Chromebooks for the price of an iPad or a rival laptop.
'It allows us to put more devices in students' hands,' said Aaron Slutsky, chief technology officer for McDowell County Schools in North Carolina.
FAR FROM UNIVERSAL
But Chromebook's success story in schools is largely an American one, and it's likely to stay that way. Gartner analyst Mikako Kitagawa notes that Chromebooks are useless in China because the device depends on Google services that aren't available there. And in emerging countries, where a budget laptop would be ideal, she said internet access isn't reliable enough.
Even in the U.S., the iPad is better for many creative tasks such as recording and editing movies. Students studying engineering, robotics and graphics won't be able to use Chromebooks to run the kind of specialized software that's available for Macs and Windows laptops.
'But that's not needed for 98 percent of our students,' said Tracy Dabbs, coordinator of technology and innovation at the Burlington-Edison School District near Seattle.
Many school districts limit Apple and Windows computers for the students who specifically need them, then provide Chromebooks for the rest. McDowell County, for instance, has 5,500 Chromebooks, 1,200 iPads — and only 100 Macs and 200 Windows PCs.
RIVALS STAGE A COMEBACK
Last year, Apple gave iPads in schools some Chromebook-like features unavailable to the general public. That includes ways to let multiple people use a single tablet and management tools for tech-support staff. A new Classroom app lets teachers control what apps students run and track their progress.
Apple also provides classroom tools for teachers and students. Free e-books offer teachers step-by-step guides on using iPad apps and curriculum suggestions for everyday subjects. A separate app lets kids learn programming using the same language developers use to build iPad apps.
Meanwhile, Microsoft announced last month new online apps and management tools for schools, along with Windows PCs priced similarly to Chromebooks.
BEYOND SCHOOLS
Huang said some businesses are giving Chromebooks a second look, especially in retail, banking and other settings where people share computers.
But in many offices, the lack of business software such as Office is a major hurdle. Google's alternative lacks many advanced capabilities found in Office, and habits are hard to change.
Google is trying to make Chromebooks more palatable by letting them run Android apps designed for phones and tablets. It's testing this capability on a handful of Chromebook models, including the new ones from Samsung. That makes it possible to install Office, Adobe Photoshop and many apps on a Chromebook, though these tablet versions have limited features compared with versions for Macs or Windows laptops.
In this post, you'll find everything about the Chromebook classroom. What is a Chromebook? Why should you use a Chromebook? What are the benefits of a chromebook and how can you manage Chromebooks? What are the perfect Chromebook apps and what's the best chromebook for your students?
Let's dive right in!
First things first:
What is a Chromebook?
A Chromebook is something like a computer, but it's nothing like a computer at all. Say what?! 🤔
This is how a Chromebook works: a Chromebook is some kind of a laptop that runs on Google's web-based Chrome OS. You could say that it's Google's Chrome browser dressed up like an ordinary Windows desktop.This also means Chromebooks have to be used with an internet connection. Most of the Chromebook's documents and apps exist in 'the cloud' rather than on the device itself. Google automatically provides 100 GB Google Drive space for every Chromebook.
Most Chromebook apps launch as a new tab in Chrome and because Chromebooks use only web apps, it won't let you download applications like Skype, photoshop, iTunes, etc.
And what if the internet connection is really bad in your classroom? It's not the worst case scenario. It happens a lot. Despite the fact that Chromebooks are web-based, you don't always need internet access. You can also use Chromebooks offline.You can still create and edit Google Docs and watch movies on Google Play offline.
The 7 benefits of using Chromebooks in the classroom
So why should you use chromebooks in your classroom? Let's take a look at the advantages of a Chromebook.
1. Chromebooks are inexpensive
That's probably the number 1 reason that gets schools over the bridge and buy Chromebooks. They are so much cheaper than iPads and laptops. And of course you still can do quite a lot with them as well.
You can have a good basic and cheap Chromebook starting from $200. Finding the best Chromebook for your lessons is up to you. Here you'll find some of the finest Chromebooks for education.
2. Chromebooks are easy to use
Chromebooks for students are a perfect match. They are portable, don't weigh much, boot up fast and have a long lasting battery up to 8 hours. Any student, young or old, can handle a Chromebook. Thereby, the school controls the Chromebooks. A student can't really do anything wrong.
3. Chromebooks are easy to manage
With the Google Admin Console, selected apps can be pre-installed, accessed, or blocked. Teachers can view usage and configuration reports for individual students as well. On top that, schools have the option of filtering and monitoring mail, and internet content.
If a teacher has a problem using Chromebooks, support is available twenty-four hours a day/seven days a week, online, by email, by chat, or phone.
So, I think you could say that managing Chromebooks is child's play.
Why Do Schools Use Chromebooks Make
4. Chromebooks stimulate collaboration
Gmail, Calendars, Google Classroom, Google Docs, Google Slides, Google Sheets and video conferencing all allow students to connect with others and to collaborate on classroom projects. Students can collaborate anytime, anywhere.
5. There's a wide range of educational Chromebook apps
The 'Google Chromebook' is compatible with a wide range of apps. It has the support for Android apps and 'Google apps for education'. In the Google Play store, you can find other applications that are a real asset to your classroom.
Here are 3 of my favorite Chromebook apps.
For personal computers and tablets, Chromebook's share of the U.S. education market was 49 percent last year, up from 40 percent in 2015 and 9 percent in 2013, according to IDC figures released this week.
But education accounts for just 14 percent of the 110 million devices shipped in the U.S. last year — and Chromebooks make up just 9 percent of that broader total. Their numbers are also low abroad, even in schools.
The Chromebook's popularity in U.S. education is also largely limited to grades K-12, analysts say. Macs and Windows laptops are still dominant on college campuses.
ROUGH START
Chromebooks use a lightweight operating system designed to get people online faster, without having to wait around for the computer to start up. Much of the heavy lifting on Chromebooks gets done on Google's remote servers, so Chromebooks themselves don't need fast chips or lots of storage.
Early on, though, that made Chromebooks seem cheap and underpowered, which 'soured consumer expectations right off the bat,' IDC analyst Linn Huang said.
Online storage for photos and documents online was much less common in 2011 when Chromebooks launched , so their limited local storage was initially unappealing. And the few apps available for Chromebooks didn't work offline, at least at the time.
DIFFERING NEEDS
But what constrains consumers can actually be liberating in education. Most kids don't need laptops on the bus or other locations where they can't connect to Wi-Fi. And they don't miss business software like Microsoft Office; Google's online apps for documents and spreadsheets do just fine for homework.
Why Do Schools Use Chromebooks Instead
'What surprised us was how quickly it took off in education,' said Kan Liu, who oversees Chromebooks at Google.
Apple's iPad was hot at the time, but Google sold the Chromebook on convenience. They're easier for classrooms to share; just sign in with a Google account, and a student's apps and documents instantly appear. Teachers also have online tools to lock down what apps and sites students can use.
And with models available for less than $200, schools can get a few Chromebooks for the price of an iPad or a rival laptop.
'It allows us to put more devices in students' hands,' said Aaron Slutsky, chief technology officer for McDowell County Schools in North Carolina.
FAR FROM UNIVERSAL
But Chromebook's success story in schools is largely an American one, and it's likely to stay that way. Gartner analyst Mikako Kitagawa notes that Chromebooks are useless in China because the device depends on Google services that aren't available there. And in emerging countries, where a budget laptop would be ideal, she said internet access isn't reliable enough.
Even in the U.S., the iPad is better for many creative tasks such as recording and editing movies. Students studying engineering, robotics and graphics won't be able to use Chromebooks to run the kind of specialized software that's available for Macs and Windows laptops.
'But that's not needed for 98 percent of our students,' said Tracy Dabbs, coordinator of technology and innovation at the Burlington-Edison School District near Seattle.
Many school districts limit Apple and Windows computers for the students who specifically need them, then provide Chromebooks for the rest. McDowell County, for instance, has 5,500 Chromebooks, 1,200 iPads — and only 100 Macs and 200 Windows PCs.
RIVALS STAGE A COMEBACK
Last year, Apple gave iPads in schools some Chromebook-like features unavailable to the general public. That includes ways to let multiple people use a single tablet and management tools for tech-support staff. A new Classroom app lets teachers control what apps students run and track their progress.
Apple also provides classroom tools for teachers and students. Free e-books offer teachers step-by-step guides on using iPad apps and curriculum suggestions for everyday subjects. A separate app lets kids learn programming using the same language developers use to build iPad apps.
Meanwhile, Microsoft announced last month new online apps and management tools for schools, along with Windows PCs priced similarly to Chromebooks.
BEYOND SCHOOLS
Huang said some businesses are giving Chromebooks a second look, especially in retail, banking and other settings where people share computers.
But in many offices, the lack of business software such as Office is a major hurdle. Google's alternative lacks many advanced capabilities found in Office, and habits are hard to change.
Google is trying to make Chromebooks more palatable by letting them run Android apps designed for phones and tablets. It's testing this capability on a handful of Chromebook models, including the new ones from Samsung. That makes it possible to install Office, Adobe Photoshop and many apps on a Chromebook, though these tablet versions have limited features compared with versions for Macs or Windows laptops.
In this post, you'll find everything about the Chromebook classroom. What is a Chromebook? Why should you use a Chromebook? What are the benefits of a chromebook and how can you manage Chromebooks? What are the perfect Chromebook apps and what's the best chromebook for your students?
Let's dive right in!
First things first:
What is a Chromebook?
A Chromebook is something like a computer, but it's nothing like a computer at all. Say what?! 🤔
This is how a Chromebook works: a Chromebook is some kind of a laptop that runs on Google's web-based Chrome OS. You could say that it's Google's Chrome browser dressed up like an ordinary Windows desktop.This also means Chromebooks have to be used with an internet connection. Most of the Chromebook's documents and apps exist in 'the cloud' rather than on the device itself. Google automatically provides 100 GB Google Drive space for every Chromebook.
Most Chromebook apps launch as a new tab in Chrome and because Chromebooks use only web apps, it won't let you download applications like Skype, photoshop, iTunes, etc.
And what if the internet connection is really bad in your classroom? It's not the worst case scenario. It happens a lot. Despite the fact that Chromebooks are web-based, you don't always need internet access. You can also use Chromebooks offline.You can still create and edit Google Docs and watch movies on Google Play offline.
The 7 benefits of using Chromebooks in the classroom
So why should you use chromebooks in your classroom? Let's take a look at the advantages of a Chromebook.
1. Chromebooks are inexpensive
That's probably the number 1 reason that gets schools over the bridge and buy Chromebooks. They are so much cheaper than iPads and laptops. And of course you still can do quite a lot with them as well.
You can have a good basic and cheap Chromebook starting from $200. Finding the best Chromebook for your lessons is up to you. Here you'll find some of the finest Chromebooks for education.
2. Chromebooks are easy to use
Chromebooks for students are a perfect match. They are portable, don't weigh much, boot up fast and have a long lasting battery up to 8 hours. Any student, young or old, can handle a Chromebook. Thereby, the school controls the Chromebooks. A student can't really do anything wrong.
3. Chromebooks are easy to manage
With the Google Admin Console, selected apps can be pre-installed, accessed, or blocked. Teachers can view usage and configuration reports for individual students as well. On top that, schools have the option of filtering and monitoring mail, and internet content.
If a teacher has a problem using Chromebooks, support is available twenty-four hours a day/seven days a week, online, by email, by chat, or phone.
So, I think you could say that managing Chromebooks is child's play.
Why Do Schools Use Chromebooks Make
4. Chromebooks stimulate collaboration
Gmail, Calendars, Google Classroom, Google Docs, Google Slides, Google Sheets and video conferencing all allow students to connect with others and to collaborate on classroom projects. Students can collaborate anytime, anywhere.
5. There's a wide range of educational Chromebook apps
The 'Google Chromebook' is compatible with a wide range of apps. It has the support for Android apps and 'Google apps for education'. In the Google Play store, you can find other applications that are a real asset to your classroom.
Here are 3 of my favorite Chromebook apps.
- Google Classroom: You should definitely use Google Classroom to manage your digital classroom. Here's a simple guide to set it up.
- BookWidgets: create your own interactive exercises and automatically graded tests with BookWidgets. Choose from more than 40 digital exercise templates and adapt them with your own content. Use Google Classroom to create and assign interactive BookWidgets exercises to your students. Here's everything you need to know about this kick-ass integration.
- Google Docs: It sounds so normal, but it's really handy. Like I've said before, students can collaborate with each other in the same document. You, as a teacher, can give real time feedback. Certainly worth a try.
Curious for more apps that will amaze you? I have some more Chromebook tips for you right here. Take a look at this post about these 10 apps that will rock you Chromebook.
6. Unlimited Chromebook users
There is no limit on the number of students that can be included on 'G suite for education' (the app platform especially for schools). Since the apps are attached to user profiles, Chromebooks can be used by different students as well.
Every student has their own personalized profile and learning experience when they log in to their apps, settings, classwork, books, and videos. On top of that, Chromebooks can be easily shared with other students.
Why Do Schools Use Chromebooks Instead Of Laptops
Guests can use Chromebooks as well, but they won't be able to access any information on the Chromebook, nor save their work when finished.
7. Chromebooks are secure
Best Chromebook For School
Since they have built-in security, there is no risk of unwanted software installations, adjusted settings, or malware. That's also because you just can't download things anymore.
Chromebooks get their updates via the Google cloud server, which means that waiting for updates to happen are basically past tense.
Conclusion
That's it for this post about Chromebooks for schools. I hope I convinced you to digitalise your classroom with Chromebooks. If you need more tips on that last topic, read about how you can create a paperless classroom with just 3 apps.
Why Do Schools Use Chromebooks Work
Are you more of an iPad teacher? Find out the differences between a iPads and Chromebooks right here.
