Herold, B. (2014). Chromebooks Gaining Popularity in
Districts. Education Week, 34(12), 1-12.
I chose this article to review because I was interested in
how other districts are tackling the problem of providing for the technological
needs of students and using them for educational purposes. Our librarian has been a big fan of the
Chromebook ever since a few were purchased for her library a year or so
ago. I felt this piece connected to our
Clark/Kozma debate of last week in that each piece of technology has its
limitations and its best usages. The
schools who are using Chromebooks are choosing to do so because it fits their
instructional style. Yes, Clark fans, they
could instruct differently and achieve the same results, but they are making
technological purchases based on their instructional method and which type of
technology enhances that method best.
The article is titled “Chromebooks
Gaining Popularity in Districts” and is dated November, 2014. I thought it was also important to find an
article that was somewhat current as technology changes so fast. The article discusses the advantages and
disadvantages of Chromebooks, provides examples of districts who are
successfully using Chromebooks and examples of districts who have chosen to
take a different route to meet their technology needs.
The most compelling advantage of the Chromebook seems to be
the inexpensive cost and the Google Apps for Education that is provided free
from Google for all educational institutions.
The biggest disadvantages cited were its inability to install and run
familiar programs like Microsoft Office and its inability to do much of
anything without internet access. I have
summarized the advantages and disadvantages of Chromebooks in this table to
simplify the process:
Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
Low Cost (about $250 each)
|
Internet based, meaning no hard drive to save information.
|
Lack of hard drive means less susceptible to malware and virus as
well as computer hacking.
|
No hard drive means no Microsoft, or other educational software that
requires installation.
|
Chrome based apps, including Google’s Apps for Education to support
student and teacher collaboration.
|
New software to learn – does not use Windows or iOS.
|
Fast to turn on and get to work.
|
Not a tablet
|
Long battery life.
|
Requires wireless infrastructure to be useful
|
Cloud based storage, for less file-management for administrators.
|
Google privacy concerns
|
An example is cited in the article of a district who is
using Chromebooks to collaborate using Google Slides and Forms. The teacher assigns groups of students to
work on different slides of the same slide show. Once it is complete, the students view the
entire slide show and learn for each other’s contributions. Then they write a book review using a Google
Form created by the teacher. The teacher
says she has done similar projects before the Chromebooks using posters and
hand written book reports, but the process now is quicker and much more
engaging for students.
Other districts are choosing to stick with i-Pads and
conventional laptops. Most districts
cited said they wanted their new technology to blend with their existing
platforms and by necessity this eliminates Chromebooks. One school decided on the HP Revolve which
is a hybrid laptop-tablet because they did not require the internet to work and
would still run the Microsoft Office products students and teachers are
accustomed to using. The district chose
these devices even with the $1,100 price tag.
One thing the article seems certain of, Chromebooks are
selling like hotcakes! The second quarter
of 2014 saw Chromebooks with a 29.4% of the market share and growing. With free Apps for Education and low cost
Chromebooks, Google seems to clawing its way in to the educational market.
My personal reaction to this article is excitement. I am a big fan of Google Apps after using
them for only a year. I email my student’s
their assignments and grading rubrics and have them submit their assignments by
replying to my email. In my experience,
Google Slides, Docs and Sheets are very similar to Microsoft products in form
and function. My technology classes use
many of the online services like Animoto, Schoology, Kahoot!, and Prezi so the
lack of hard drive does not matter as much to me. I am
able to share Google Docs in Schoology and upload Google Slides to
NearPod. I would have to re-think our
digital imaging software for some type of online editor, but I am sure that is
possible.
The price tag is also a big selling point. Our district cannot
afford to spend $1,000 a piece on computers for students. As we move to digital textbooks (our Science
department has done this), Chromebooks become more cost effective because they
are no more expensive than issuing a student four or five hardbound textbooks
(about $70 each). Our library is also
offering digital books available anytime online.
Chromebooks appeal to me because students cannot download or
install anything to corrupt or damage the computer. All you have to make the computer ready for the
next user is log out. As testing
approaches, concerns for existing computers grow and we realize we need more
functioning computers if we want to complete all STAAR testing online. We have spent the last week preparing
computer labs by cleaning them up, updating software and checking for proper
settings. It was a big hassle followed
by several days now during testing when we are unable to use the computers for
fear of messing them up. At this time, I do not think Chromebooks are an option
for online STAAR testing because they require installation of the TestNav and
Java software. I have read on a Region
10 website that TestNav is supposed to become Chromebook compatible for the
2015-2016 school year. If this happens,
Chromebooks are going to become a lot more popular in the State of Texas for
online testing alone.
While I do not think I would buy a Chromebook for personal
use (too many video games I need to install), I can see how Chromebooks could
be a cost effective, easy-to-manage solution for schools. It would provide students with full computer
functionality while allowing them to access textbooks and Google accounts
without fear of downloading unwanted software.
Teachers and students would be free to collaborate and create with
relative ease using Google’s Apps for Education.
I found your article to be very interesting to read. Last year, my sister needed a new laptop for school because she was always ending up with viruses on her old one. We bought her a Chromebook for Christmas hoping to help her alleviate that issue. While she did enjoy using it, there were aspects that she did not like and she eventually switched to another laptop. I can see where districts would want to incorporate Chromebooks because they are so cost effective and do not require the updating that traditional computers do. However, learning to use Google programs instead of the more common Microsoft programs requires some adjustment. Like many other individuals, I am accustomed to using Microsoft programs, but during the last few years I have learned to use many of the programs offered by Google. I have to say that I found them to be quite similar in nature and fairly easy to use after a bit of practice. One big advantage that I can see in regards to schools incorporating the use of Chromebooks and Google Applications/Programs is that because the Google programs are internet based, the information is stored online and updated automatically. This eliminates the need for remembering to save work and allows users to easily access and edit documents from anywhere there is internet access. For this reason, I can see how students using Chromebooks would be helpful for both the teacher and the students. While I can see both sides to the issue, I do not doubt, as you stated, that in the near future it is a good possibility that "Chromebooks are going to become a lot more popular in the State of Texas for online testing alone". Thanks for sharing this article.
ReplyDeleteUntil I read your article, I did not anything about Chromebooks. I thought it was quite interesting. As I began to read, I, like many school districts, was thinking that I would rather have something that would accommodate the platforms that I am used to teaching and that are already being used, such as Microsoft Office. However, the more I read the more I like the idea of Chromebooks. In the past few years I have been trying to incorporate Google Drive into my classroom as much as time allows and I believe it is a fine replacement for Microsoft Office. I also like the idea of the students not being able to download or install anything on the Chromebooks. I can relate to having to clean up the computers, download software and check the settings during STAAR testing time! Therefore, the more I read the more I found myself wanting to check out these Chromebooks.The cost efficiency was certainly a plus as well. I will definitely be adding this to my to do list for technology. Thanks for sharing and bringing forth a new idea!
ReplyDeleteI failed to set this to show my name so I have posted twice.
ReplyDeleteUntil I read your article, I did not anything about Chromebooks. I thought it was quite interesting. As I began to read, I, like many school districts, was thinking that I would rather have something that would accommodate the platforms that I am used to teaching and that are already being used, such as Microsoft Office. However, the more I read the more I like the idea of Chromebooks. In the past few years I have been trying to incorporate Google Drive into my classroom as much as time allows and I believe it is a fine replacement for Microsoft Office. I also like the idea of the students not being able to download or install anything on the Chromebooks. I can relate to having to clean up the computers, download software and check the settings during STAAR testing time! Therefore, the more I read the more I found myself wanting to check out these Chromebooks.The cost efficiency was certainly a plus as well. I will definitely be adding this to my to do list for technology. Thanks for sharing and bringing forth a new idea!
The article about Chrome Books was very interesting because I use the Google Chrome website to look up images, to Blog, and the Google Apps are my favorite to work with doing activities, Presentations, and Prezi's for school projects. Chrome Books would be an asset to the classroom because it is primarily for online use and for every Chrome Book purchased Google gives more than a 100 GB of Google Drive storage for two years. This is a great type of technology for the students and the teachers. The price is affordable so it would be a great investment to the classroom. Instead of Windows, Chrome books run Google’s Chrome. It is designed to be used primarily while connected to the Internet, with most applications and documents living in the cloud. Sound like a great investment to the classroom, and the teachers.
ReplyDeleteHope, great article! The librarians in my school have just received a set of 40 Chromebooks and they have been a great hit! I am still a "newbie" to Google apps but I am slowly becoming an enthusiast. Google Chrome is my default browser and I love the user interphase and their seamlessness. Googledocs has made group projects (like ours) ever so accessible. I assigned my students projects using googledocs and I could annotate over their work in real time. I often sent my students to our library to use their Chromebooks, and my students would returned accomplished. Chromebooks have made saving documents a thing of the pass and lets not forget sharing their work to be edited by teachers. My district have assigned 30 iPads and laptops to teachers to use at their discretion, however, I find them limited. I would much rather trade them in for the Chromebooks with longer battery life and less maintenance.
ReplyDeleteI typed my response and then it deleted itself! UGH
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your article! I was not very familiar with Chromebooks and I feel like I learned some valuable information from your article. I like the fact that you can not download onto Chromebooks. I understand that we are all mostly familiar with Microsoft which means Microsoft is easier for us to use. However, we can all learn something new and show our students that learning is something we continue to do for the rest of our lives.
Hope,
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your post! I do not know a lot about the Chromebooks but I am familiar with Google Apps and I really enjoy using them. Earlier versions of Google Chrome had a tendency to freeze my computers so I did not use them for a while. It seems that they have fixed the particular bugs responsible and I have not had any major problems since. I really love how you have your student responding and submitting assignments by email or use Google Docs as some districts and schools are not as up-to-date in teaching their students and then requiring them to practice or comply. It seems that the laptops and desktop computers are becoming more important in the schools as opposed to the big bang that ipads made in beginning. It seems that the keyboard is more important to type long research papers or even in building projects. At sometime in the future, I would be interested in experimenting with a Chromebook. Thanks for the article and the information.
I thought your article review was very insightful! While searching Pinterest for different apps to apply in the classroom I became very curious about why Google apps continued to come up. I realized too that Chromebooks and Google apps are becoming more popular to use in the classroom. I have to agree that Chromebooks definitely appeals to me because it eliminates the possibility for students to download or install corrupt material potentially damaging the computer. I have experienced several schools shutting down computer labs completely, while some shut down for repair due to the corrupt material placed on the computers. Computers are essential to our lives today and it is important that they are accessible. Another interesting point made was that the idea of STAAR tests being administered through Chromebooks. I have to say that I think administering tests that are as serious as the STAAR through technology will be very risky. Technology tends to be unreliable at times and the denial of access to these timely tests during testing time will pose a huge problem. Since Google apps and Chromebooks is becoming more popular, especially in Texas schools, I feel I better get more familiar!
ReplyDeleteHi Hope,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your article. I remember a couple years ago when I first came in contact with a Chromebook. My poor husband had to listen to me for a good three months about how amazing I thought the Chromebooks were. I think my exact words were "genius". When I finally had the opportunity to purchases, I opted out. I choose not to purchase because of the limited capabilities at the time. I have not checked out the Chromebooks since then, bit I do use the Google Drive everyday and know that the product has come along way, with much improvement.
I enjoyed reading your review and feel that there are many good things in the future with Chromebooks for districts everywhere. There were a couple of things that caught my eye one was price tag. Many small districts have difficult staying up to date with technology because of funding and this would help eliminate that as a reason. I also like that student could not download or install anything to corrupt or damage the computer. I also think that teachers will use Chromebooks even though it is not Window’s or iOS compatible in the classroom. I think of how many programs I use that is and is not compatible with Window’s or iOS and the majority of the time I am not using programs that are run by either. This article has definitely been an eye opener and I am also excited to see what technology does and where it will take us in the future.
ReplyDeleteI would love to be in that number that has a chromebook at home or at work for that matter. Teacher budget at both places won't allow it even if it the growing wave.
ReplyDeleteHope,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed learning about Chromebooks. I haven't had any experience with them at all. I just discovered google drive when I started classes here, and love it. I think that because of the costs efficiency and need for students to move forward it is something I need to expand on. You have sparked an interest in new learning for me. Thanks for the review.