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This site has links to Chromebook tutorials, basic Chromebook information, successful classroom practices involving Chromebooks, and many others.

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Copyright: Kathy Schrock. All rights reserved.
Republishing of these lists of links without express and written permission from this site's author is not allowed.
Links to this page  may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kathy Schrock and Kathy Schrock's Guide to Everything with appropriate and specific direction (via the URL) to the original compilation of information on this page.

Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available by emailing the creator.

Page created: 11/23/2012
Last updated: 01/13/2022
Kathy Schrock (kathy@kathyschrock.net)
URL of this page:
https://schrockguide.net/chromebooks.html

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This page will provide links to online information about the use of Google Chromebooks in the PreK-12 classroom. There have been many successful pilots of these devices and 1:1 adoptions, and this...

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This is a good resource for the basics of using a Chromebook in the classroom, including a list of shortcuts.

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Cards on the table, we love Chromebooks. They're a fast, relatively low-cost portal to powerful learning opportunities. And that's what we want out of classroom technology: something to push learning beyond current limitations.

We collected some next-level tips every Chromebook-using instructor should know:

Shortcuts! Use Them!

There are tons of em. Here are some major ones you should be using:

Ctrl+N: New window

Ctrl+T: New tab

Ctrl+Shift+W: Close current window

Ctrl+Tab: Next tab

Ctrl+Shift+Right/Left Arrow: Select text one word at a time

Ctrl+Shift+Up/Down Arrow: Select text one line at a time

Alt + F or Alt + E: Opens Chrome settings menu

Alt+1, Alt+2: Navigate between different windows

Ctrl+Shift+a: Select all

Alt+Tab: Go to next window

Ctrl+F: Find

Shift+Search: Caps lock/disable caps lock

You Can Still Have a Home Icon

You can get a "home" icon on your omnibar by navigating to "settings" and then "appearance." You'll then select "show home."

Screencast Like A Pro

There are a few different ways you can screencast on your Chromebook. YouTube is a quick and easy one.

Opt to "upload" from YouTube and then select "Google Hangout on Air." Invite your class and then "start broadcast." Congratulations - you're a screencasting fool!

After you end the broadcast, we suggest posting the video on a class discussion thread so your content can keep the conversation going.

Are You Pinning Tabs? You Should Be.

Right click a tab and then select "pin tab." Next time you open Chrome, your pinned tabs will automatically open. It's beautiful.

Your Chromebook is a Big Ol' Calculator

Using a Chromebook now? Just type a math command into the omnibar (ex: 10*10). We'll wait.

Google Drive = <3

In the interest of full disclosure, we're also really big Google Drive fans here. And Chromebooks come with free Google Drive storage. It's glorious, especially because teachers and students can access their Google Drive from anywhere. If you haven't accessed your free storage yet - or you haven't taken advantage of it - get started . We recommend saving to Drive instead of your files.

Pro-tip: you can also enable Google Drive offline by syncing them to your Chromebook while you're online.

Oh - and there's also a template gallery .

You Can Add Languages to Your Keyboard

Teaching a foreign language? You'll appreciate this. Mosey on over to your advanced settings. Select "languages and input settings." Check off a new language or select "add" to include a language that is not listed.

The language your keyboard is programmed to will appear in the bottom right of your screen. You can click it to switch between languages, or just press "Alt+Shift."

Screenshots

Screenshots are a fast, fun way to share information from your Chromebook. It's ideal for showing students how to do something on their Chromebooks through pictures, or just pass along an image from part of your screen.

To do so, click Ctrl+ for a shot of your whole screen. Do Ctrl+Shift+ for a partial screenshot.

Create Shortcuts

Really simple. Head to your apps, right click the one you want a shortcut for, and click "create."

You can do the same thing for websites. Instead, you'll navigate to the site you want to mark, click "tools," and select "create application shortcut." You'll select where the shortcut will live on your Chromebook and then hit "create."

Know Where Accessibility Features Live

Chromebooks have a menu of accessibility features suited for students with visual disabilities or those who have trouble typing.

You can find these features under "settings" and then "show advanced setting." There is an "accessibility" section in which you can select "enable spoken feedback."

Get a Digital System to Connect Your Class

If your class is using Chromebooks, you have an unprecedented opportunity for class collaboration and connectivity. We encourage folks to find and implement a program that facilitates this.

That means more than electronic assignments. That means discussion opportunities, resource-sharing, and benefits for students, like time management tools. And, hey. If you can get something with advanced grading tools for teachers , all the better.
PS. Chalkup is a platform that was built to helping teachers use GAFE and Chromebooks with their students, and it's completely free to use. We'd love for you to check it out.

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Chromebook Tips Every Teacher Should Know

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Cards on the table, we love Chromebooks. They're a fast, relatively low-cost portal to powerful learning opportunities. And that's what we want out of classroom technology: something to push learning beyond current limitations. We collected some next-level tips every Chromebook-using instructor should know: There are tons of em.

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This link has 10 important tips for you Chromebook about apps, extensions, privacy, editing, and sharing.

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October 30, 2015
If you are using or planning to use Chromebook in your instruction, the tips below are definitely worth your attention. These are instructions to help you make the best of your Chromebook in terms of how to search for and find educational apps to use on it, how to customize its settings to suit your own teaching purposes, how to save files to Google Drive and edit and share images using Chromebook's built-in editor, how to add users and control who can use your Chromebook and several other tips that are integral to an effective integration of this device in your class.

1- Find apps for your Chromebook
Apps are web applications that allow you to do specific tasks on your Chromebook. Chrome Web Store is the place where you can look for and download Chromebook apps. Watch this video to learn more about how you can look for and install apps.

2- Add apps and extensions to your Chromebook
Once you have found the apps or extensions you want to use on your Chromebook, follow the instructions below to learn about how to install them:

Open the Chrome Web Store.

From your Chromebook, click the launcher , then click the Web Store icon .

In the left column, click Apps or Extensions.

Browse or search for what you'd like to add. The store contains both free and paid items.

Click Add to Chrome (if free) or Buy (if paid).

If you're adding an extension:

Review the types of data that the extension will be able to access.

Click Install.

3- Uninstall apps and extensions
Here is how you can easily uninstall apps and extensions from your Chromebook:
A- Remove apps

1. Click the launcher > All apps.

2. Right-click the app you want to remove.

3. Select Remove from Chrome.

B- Remove extensions

Open a new tab in Chrome.

Click the Chrome menu & More tools & Extensions.

Next to the extension you want to remove, click the trash can icon .

If your extension is a button on the browser toolbar, you can also right-click its icon and select Remove from Chrome.

To temporarily disable the extension, go to the Extensions page and uncheck the checkbox next to Enabled.

4- Save files to your Google Drive
Saving files to your Google Drive instead of Chromebook will enable you to access them anywhere you go and across different devices. Here is how to save files to Drive:

Sign into your Chromebook.

Click the status area, where your account picture appears.

Click Settings & Show advanced settings....

In the Downloads section, click the Change button. You'll see a window where you can select the location to download your files.

Select Google Drive.

To save to an existing folder, double-click it.

To save to a new folder, click the New folder button.

5- Edit and share images
Chromebook has an integrated image editor that allows you to easily edit the images you have saved and share them with others. Here is how to open the image editor:

Click on the apps list icon and select Files to open the Files app.

Select the image you'd like to edit.

Click Open at the bottom of the screen.

To close the editor, just click x in the top-right corner of the screen.

Watch the video below to learn more about how to edit and share images and files

6- Customize your Chromebook's privacy settings
There is a number of settings that are enabled by default in your Chromebook.'For example, Chrome can use a web service to automatically offer completions for search terms or website addresses you type in the address bar.' Here how to turn off a privacy setting:

In the top-right corner of the browser window, click the Chrome menu icon .

Click Settings.

At the bottom of the page, click Show advanced settings.

Under Privacy, uncheck any privacy settings you no longer want. When you turn a privacy setting off, that information will not be sent to Google.

7- Share your Chromebook with others
Guest browsing feature allows you to share your Chromebook with others without them being able to access your account information. 'Guests can visit websites and download files, but they can't install apps. Their browsing data won't be saved, but some websites might still have records of their visit.' To share your Chromebook, first change the settings so you can add other users:

Sign in to your Chromebook.

Click the status area, where your account picture appears.

Click Settings > Manage other users.

In the "Users" window that opens, check or uncheck the box for "Enable Guest browsing."

8- Save and view webpage bookmarks

Here is how you can save web pages and create bookmarks of things you like to view later.

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10 Important Chromebook Tips Every Teacher Should Know about

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October 30, 2015 If you are using or planning to use Chromebook in your instruction, the tips below are definitely worth your attention.

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A basic look at what a Chromebook can do for the classroom.

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Cheap isn't sexy, but neither is getting stuck paying for things you don't need. Laptops are a great example: while the Dell XPS 13 is a beautiful computer at a great price, it's also far more computer than most people need. That's where Chromebooks come in.

Simply put, a Chromebook is an affordable (typically under $200) laptop that doesn't run Windows or OS X, but can run one thing: the Chrome web browser. While that may seem limited, these days you can do just about everything in a browser, including checking e-mail, writing papers, editing photos, and watching streaming video services like Netflix and Youtube.

But what else can a Chromebook do? To answer this, we took the sub-$200 Lenovo 100S for a spin. After spending a little less than a week with it-including writing this article and editing all the photos you see here-we have to say we're impressed.

Are Chromebooks Good For Students?

Chromebooks are an affordable option that naturally appeals to students, especially if you've got a hefty tuition bill in your future. In most cases, a Chromebook can do everything a student will need it to do, whether that's checking the syllabus online, responding to e-mails, or writing papers.

It won't run the full Microsoft Office suite, but using Google Docs or Microsoft Word Online you can draft, edit, and save Word documents in common formats like .doc and .docx. If your major requires more dedicated software-such as photo editing or computer-assisted design programs-you may need to step up to a full laptop.

Can Chromebooks Print?

Once those papers are done, you'll need to print them off. Though Chromebooks can't hook up directly to a printer via a USB port or WiFi, you can just save your document to a thumb drive and print from there. If that's not an option you can try to connect your printer to Google Cloud Print or use your printer's own cloud printing solution if it has one.

Can Chromebooks Get Viruses?

Sort of.

Since Chromebooks don't run traditional Windows or OS X programs, they usually aren't susceptible to malware written for those kinds of computers. But they are still susceptible to browser-based attacks, so you still need to be vigilant.

Your best bet here is just good, safe browsing habits. Chromebooks don't need (and can't run) traditional anti-virus software, but to be safe just avoid visiting websites you don't trust and don't download attachments from your e-mail unless you know what it is-especially if you will transfer those files to a Windows PC or Mac that will be vulnerable.

Credit: Reviewed.com / Chris Thomas

Device settings are easy to access, though not very exhaustive. View Larger

Do Chromebooks Have Cameras?

Most Chromebooks come with a built-in webcam, just like any other laptop. This means that you can do things like video chat, as long as you're using a service that operates via the browser. Google Hangouts is a great option for this; Microsoft's Skype service works via the web app, but it doesn't support video calling on Chromebooks yet.

Do Chromebooks Work Offline?

Since most of their functionality requires an internet connection to work, it's easy to assume that Chromebooks don't work offline. Luckily, this isn't true for the most part. Though most Chromebooks have very limited storage, if a file is on your local machine you should still be able to work on it without a connection. You can even use apps like Gmail Offline and respond to e-mails; the Chromebook will send them off as soon as you find a connection.

Can Chromebooks Run Microsoft Office?

If you're a Microsoft Office diehard, you can use Office 365's web apps to create, edit, and share your documents. However, you do need an active subscription to the service to use it.

If you've got a lot of old documents and don't want to pay for the subscription, apps like Google Docs will let you read and edit .doc, .xls, and .ppt files with ease. You can even create and share these documents with other Google users without much issue. You can also create and edit any of these offline as well by enabling this in settings.

Credit: Reviewed.com / Chris Thomas

Sheets is Google's Excel-clone replacement for Microsoft's iconic Office software. View Larger

To enable offline editing, sign into your Chromebook, open Chrome, and go to Google Drive. Once you're in there, on the right side of the screen you'll see a little gear. Click that, and scroll down to where it says "offline." Tick off that checkbox and you're good to go.

Do Chromebooks Have Bluetooth?

Most newer Chromebooks have Bluetooth antennas buried inside, allowing you the use of wireless accessories like Bluetooth headphones. You can also use the USB port to power dongles from accessories like a wireless mouse just like a regular laptop, but only if they don't require specialized software to run.

Do Chromebooks Have Good Battery Life?
Generally, yes.
While many new laptops get excellent battery life, Chromebooks tend to excel in this arena. Since they have such limited functionality, there is less that is draining the battery at all times. This tends to result in very good battery life. If you have the screen brightness turned way up and you're playing movies, though, your mileage may vary.

Credit: Reviewed.com / Chris Thomas

As a daily driver, most of your needs can be satisfied by a Chromebook.

Can Chromebook Run Games Like Minecraft?

You're not going to be able to run Steam or any really high-end games on your Chromebook, but you can find a smattering of low-intensity timewasters on the Chrome store games section.

Pretty much anything that you already run in Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer, Edge, or Firefox will work on a Chromebook-unfortunately, this doesn't include Minecraft. If you want to run that, you'll have to be comfortable installing a Linux distro like Ubuntu and running the Linux version of the game.

Can Chromebooks Run Other Programs?

This is the main drawback of the Chromebook. If it's not on the Chrome Web Store, your device can't run it. This means that unfortunately a service like Sling TV -which streams through a dedicated program and not through a web browser-doesn't work. It also means you can't run the full versions of programs like Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Quickbooks, etc.

Credit: Reviewed.com / Chris Thomas

Chrome's Web Store has a ton of extensions and apps for download.

Should You Buy One?

By including things you actually need and very little that you don't, Chromebooks are the tool of choice for budget-minded Pinterest warriors, Facebook fanatics, and young students. Truth is, if you're like most people and spend nearly all your time in the web browser, then a Chromebook just may be the best cheap laptop you can buy.

That said, it's not for everyone-myself included-because sometimes you need more than what a browser can do. Despite being able to carry this article from start to finish with a $180 Chromebook, I can do that-and much more-faster on a full-size laptop. I also generally prefer the superior screens of laptops, though Google's flagship Chromebook Pixel is an exception.

But for the vast majority of people the vast majority of the time? A Chromebook is good for just about everything you'd need.

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Cheap isn't sexy, but neither is getting stuck paying for things you don't need. Laptops are a great example: while the Dell XPS 13 is a beautiful computer at a great price, it's also far more computer than most people need. That's where Chromebooks come in.

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Getting Started with Chromebooks

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Official Chromebook Help Center where you can find tips and tutorials on using Chromebook and other answers to frequently asked questions.

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Google for Education Chromebook Training

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Google for Education Chromebook Training

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Google Training - Chromebooks
This Google Training site will walk you through the basics you need to know to get started with a Chromebook.

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New teachers would need to know how to use Chromecast.

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Chromecasting in a Chromebook 1:1 Classroom

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When we first started using Chromebooks, I found this link very helpful.  Students and teachers are so used to using a mouse that they may have trouble using the touchpad at first.  Here are some touchpad tips:
https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/1047367?hl=en

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Lenovo N23 Chromebook Specs - This is the device we will be using for 1:1.

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Lenovo N23 Chromebook | Rugged Chromebook for Education

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Built for students and teachers, the durable Lenovo N23 Chromebook is designed to run Chrome Web Store apps, and includes the fast boot-up and instant resume needed in the classroom.