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Since my school has about 50 iPad, I wanted to focus on how to effectively integrate them into instruction.

I thought it best to go straight to the source and looked at the Apple website. They had a number of interesting lesson plans submitted by teachers who use iPad in the classroom. Many of these lesson could be easily adapted for multiple grade levels and content areas. There are also links for Special Education and real stories.
http://www.apple.com/education/teach-with-ipad/

I thought this site has many useful links and resources, especially the app reviews.
http://www.teachhub.com/20-amazing-ipad-apps-educators

This site had a lot of resources for use by teachers, students, and parents. There are educations games, app for project based learning, and perhaps most importantly, how iPad function in education and ways to deploy their use.

http://www.teachthought.com/the-future-of-learning/technology/resources-for-teaching-with-ipads/
http://www.teachthought.com/the-future-of-learning/technology/resources-for-teaching-with-ipads/

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by TeachThought Staff

So we thought we'd start an ongoing collection-that is, one that is updated to reflect trends and changes-of the best resources for teaching with the iPad.

This will include resources from all of the best sources, from Apple's own stuff to TeachThought to edutopia to MindShift to DMLCentral to Jackie Gerstein and more. We can update it, or make it a wiki to crowdsource the process, or you can add suggestions in the comments below. Based on the activity of the comments, and the sharing of the post, we'll decide how to handle it moving forward.
Collecting The Best Thinking, Apps, & Resources For Teaching With iPads How iPads Function In Education
The Access Model: 1:1 Teaching with iPads, by TeachThought

Terry Heick of TeachThought looks at the characteristics of an iPad-friendly curriculum.

Jackie Gerstein looks at engagement and user-centeredness of a tech-focused classroom

DML looks at the iPad and " generativity. "

Sync Teaching & Second Screen Learning, by Terry Heick

edutopia's Beth Holland takes a look at the important issue of screen time.

Terry Heick asks, " Are apps the new textbook?"

Apple's resources for iPads in education.

The Tabula Project looks at the riddle of iPad integration

The Padagogy Wheel: SAMR + teaching + apps + pretty graphic
Preparing For iPad Deployment
TeachThought looks at the kinds of big questions that can help you think about how iPads might "fit' in your classroom.

Beth Holland at edutopia looks at your " first 5 days " of an iPad classroom

edutopia follow-ups that post with this one on the first 5 days, weeks, and months

MacObserver looks at the now-infamous LA iPad-rollout fail.

MindShift offers a set of questions to help gauge your "iPad Readiness."

Alyssa Tormala offers lessons learned from teaching with iPads, via edutopia

MindShift looks at rolling out an iPad program with " eyes wide open "

Tips For iPad Security In The Classroom
The Best Apps For Teaching & Learning
38 of the Best Educational Games for iPad

What are the best free apps for teaching and learning? Here is one collection to get you started.
25 Apps For Project-Based Learning
Sam Gliksman's " essential apps for education."

Looking to go with a paperless classroom? Here are some apps to get started.

TeachThought offers apps for guided reading in the elementary classroom.

Apps that demonstrate apps > textbooks
iPad Utility & Function
Apps to make videos, apps for writing on the iPad, apps that promote student-centered teaching, and apps that clarify new ways to learn

Adding YouTube clips to the iPad Photo Roll

A primer for projecting your iPad screen.

Making your iPad function as a document camera.

Apple's iTunes Education Spotlight

Apple's recommendations for iPad assessment. (This one is more about the features of the iPad and how to use Guided Access than it is actual assessment practice.)
Ideas For Lessons
Getting started with PDF worksheets for tablets.

TeachThought's " iPad Spectrum " that offers iPad-designed activities framed (roughly) around increasingly-complex cognitive demand.

Andrew Marcinek at edutopia takes a look at six examples of iPad integration

Using iMovie trailers as icebreakers.

A decent collection of iPad-friendly activities.
Other
62 ideas for teaching with iPads.

Jackie Gerstein asks, Is There A Digital or Intellectual and Pedagogical Divide?

A list of iPad pilot programs

Putting together an iPad pilot proposal

A general technology (& thus iPad-friendly) walkthrough document.
25 Tips For Teaching With Apps
From edutopia, iPads vs laptops, with examples

An annual teaching-with-iPads conference organized by educators, for educators.

Why iOS 8 will be a hit with educators, by MacWorld.

Apple's iTunesU Overview
50 Resources For Teaching With iPads
The History Of the iPad in Education, by TeachThought's Terry Heick

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by TeachThought Staff So we thought we'd start an ongoing collection-that is, one that is updated to reflect trends and changes-of the best resources for teaching with the iPad. This will include resources from all of the best sources, from Apple's own stuff to TeachThought to edutopia to MindShift to DMLCentral to Jackie Gerstein and more.

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BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Two teachers and about 50 elementary school students are helping Hoover school officials decide if the Nook and other electronic devices have a niche in the district's classrooms.

The system has launched a three-year pilot program in which Karen Darroch's fourth-graders at Green Valley Elementary and Ashley Fitzgerald's fifth-graders at Gwin Elementary are using handheld Nooks in their daily work.

Deborah Camp, the director of elementary curriculum and instruction for Hoover City Schools, said she has long wanted to implement a small-scale initiative in which every child has an electronic device -- whether a computer, iPad, smartphone or other tool -- for their school work.

"We want to study all the pros and cons now because all indicators point that this is where education is going in general, with more and more resources going digital rather than print," Camp said.

With district officials' blessing, Camp created a three-year $30,000 budget and partnered with Barnes & Noble to purchase about 50 Nooks, the software that runs them and various electronic books and apps. The money also will cover upgrades for the next two years, she said.

"The initial intent was to provide students with a virtual library, including a dictionary, annotation and highlight capabilities, and web access that would augment their reading and enhance teacher instruction," Camp said. "But then our two teachers took the ball and ran with it."

Darroch and Fitzgerald were asked to take part in the project last August, trained on the Nook and then introduced it to their classes in September.

According to Fitzgerald, when the kids first began using the Nook, they received a variety of mini-lessons that included instruction on apps and good digital citizenship.

"Everyone had to take a Nook license test, and when they passed, signed a contract," Fitzgerald said. "They agree they'll care for the device, bring it to and from school every day and, because it's school property like a textbook, will turn it back in at the end of the year."

Darroch said while she and Fitzgerald were excited about the idea of their students "having the opportunity to have a library right in their hands," they quickly realized the Nook could be applied across all curriculum.

"Now they watch science and history videos, play math games, take vocabulary and spelling tests and use it for study guides for test preparation," Darroch said.

For example, Darroch said she might kick off the morning with a Nook math session that includes individual assignments based on student work assessments from the prior week.

"Some may work on math apps to enhance skills, some may watch math videos to help them better understand fractions," Darroch said. "We're able to pinpoint the areas of help that are needed and individualize so we are meeting the needs of 22 different students all at one time."

Darroch said the Nooks are turned off frequently for the class to take part in the required hands-on curriculum with books and worksheets. "We keep it a good mix," she said.

Mitch Plamondon, one of Darroch's fourth-graders, said using the Nook has helped him raise his grades. "My favorite part is to use it for tests because it's a lot simpler," the 10-year-old Mitch said. "It's made me a better speller, and it's a lot more fun than putting it on paper."

Mitch's mother, Ginny Lou Plamondon said while her son "still struggles with the old-time paper and pencil," he has improved not only his grades, but also his study habits since he started using the Nook.
Updating learning
"We've found out recently that Mitch's been doing more homework on the Nook than we knew he was assigned, and doing it independently and doing it well," Plamondon said. "While we'll have to see what happens, I believe it's very important to keep updating teaching and learning techniques."

Plamondon said the only negative she's encountered with the project is that her son will have to give up his Nook at the end of the year. "So we got him an iPod Touch for Christmas that will allow him to do many of the same things," she said.

Camp, who has enlisted professors at the University of Alabama School of Education to help measure the success of the pilot program, said it's premature to know if the use of Nooks or similar devices will eventually become system-wide.

"We'll look at test scores and do student and parent surveys in order to conduct a thoughtful and in-depth study to see what works and what doesn't," Camp said. "What's important is whether this is making a difference in student achievement and motivation."

Fitzgerald said she's having no problems with student motivation in her fifth-grade class.

"We've recently started reading a novel on Harry Houdini, and every day the kids are coming in with things they've found and wanting to share it with the class," Fitzgerald said. "The students are becoming teachers of themselves and each other and even teaching me."

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Knack for Nook: E-devices help learning in Hoover schools (slideshow and video)

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BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Two teachers and about 50 elementary school students are helping Hoover school officials decide if the Nook and other electronic devices have a niche in the district's classrooms. The system has launched a three-year pilot program in which Karen Darroch's fourth-graders at Green Valley Elementary and Ashley Fitzgerald's fifth-graders at Gwin Elementary are using handheld Nooks in their daily work.

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This article is actually a blog about a teacher who did a small initiative of having Nooks in her classroom - and using them for daily work, not just reading.

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2012/02/a_knack_for_nook_e-devices_hel.html

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So, this article lists ways schools are utilizing Nooks in their classrooms.

http://techfest.instruction.acps.schoolfusion.us/modules/groups/homepagefiles/gwp/3243240/3756362/File/2013/NOOK%20in%20Schools%20Workshop,%20Handout.pdf

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The e-reading tablets let students pick whether to read the books themselves or have it read to them.

It would have been easy to mistake kindergarteners Summer Ehasz and Sarah Enright for tiny technology saleswomen.
The girls, students in Jen Walters' kindergarten class at Codington Elementary School, each had in front of them a Nook, an e-reading device made by Barnes and Noble bookstores. They tapped the screens, explaining what each button did, until Sarah hit a snag.
"Oh," she said, poking repeatedly at her frozen screen. "What's the matter?"
Summer leaned over and, sounding like she worked for Best Buy, delivered a solution.
"Just stop clicking it," she said. "Click on something else."
Sarah did as instructed, and a book called "Pete's New Shoes" popped up, unfrozen. Summer turned back to her own device and smiled.
"It's really easy to do," she said in her most matter-of-fact voice.
Sarah and Summer were spending their small group time in Walters' classroom in the Nooks and Books corner. Students working at the individual reading station can grab a more traditional soft-backed book to read, or they can light up the screen of what's proving to be the more popular choice: the Nooks.
Walters, who was named one of New Hanover County Schools' Teachers of the Year in 2009, used her winnings along with an award from a local business to purchase the devices. Students in her class have been using the Nooks since the beginning of the year.
Watching 5-year-olds plug in headphones and swipe screens to turn pages as they read might seem disconcerting. But Walters and Peggy McSteen, her teacher assistant, said it's a crucial part of learning these days.
"They need to be so comfortable with technology," McSteen said.
The e-reading tablets let students pick whether to read the books themselves or have it read to them. They're also filled with educational games that the students can turn to after they've finished reading.
But the Nooks aren't an all-the-time thing, Walters and McSteen stressed. They don't take the place of any classroom instruction, and both teachers said they still read paper books to the students regularly.
"This is one-on-one practice and attention when they're not with a teacher," Walters said. "It's not taking the place of us reading to the children."
But the pull of a shiny device has proved to be an invaluable motivational tool. Summer and Sarah were lingering over stories on their Nooks during a recent reading session, largely because, as Summer said, they were just easier.
"It's good if you don't know how to read a book, but you still want to read it," she said. "It's the most awesomest thing ever."

Pressley Baird: 343-2328
On Twitter: @PressleyBaird

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Nooks in the classroom are 'most awesomest' thing ever

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The e-reading tablets let students pick whether to read the books themselves or have it read to them. It would have been easy to mistake kindergarteners Summer Ehasz and Sarah Enright for tiny technology saleswomen. The girls, students in Jen Walters' kindergarten class at Codington Elementary School, each had in front of them a Nook, an e-reading device made by Barnes and Noble bookstores.

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For the longest time I've wanted to infuse e-readers into my classroom.  Specifically Nook devices where students could have picture books read to them to help improve their fluency. This article, written by Star News Online, tells about how the use of Nook devices is "the most awesomest" thing ever.

http://www.starnewsonline.com/news/20120429/nooks-in-the-classroom-are-most-awesomest-thing-ever

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Educational Technology and Mobile Learning

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We are sharing with you today a great graphic from Anethical Island on the components of digital citizenship.This is a great resource to use with your students to introduce them to the concept of digital citizenship.

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Awesome Digital Citizenship Graphic for your Classroom

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We are sharing with you today a great graphic from Anethical Island on the components of digital citizenship.This is a great resource to use with your students to introduce them to the concept of digital citizenship.

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Does your staff need Educational Technology training? The K-12 Teachers Alliance can help you plan your in-service professional development at no additional cost.

Regardless of your school's cell phone policy, the reality in most schools is that students have phones in their pockets, purses, or hoodies. Why not get these tools out in plain sight and use them for good and not evil?

Here are some easy to use strategies to use cell phones in the classrooms.

Why Use Cell Phones as Learning Tools

Cell phones are different from a computer lab filled with computers or a cart of netbooks because the cell phone is personal technology. Most students have invested a great deal of time learning about the features of the cell phone, how to navigate and the limitations of the phone. The other reason to really rethink the cell phone debate is because learning on the cell phone can extend beyond the walls of the school or the confines of a class period.

Some people may want to ban cell phones from classrooms, but I disagree. We didn't ban pens in our schools because students can pass notes during class. The pencils have also survived even though you could poke someone in the eye. And the amount of paper that is generated in most schools is almost criminal. This is a new time in education and with dwindling budgets , so we need to rethink possibilities, stretching every dollar. These mini computers are walking through the doors each day, let's put them to work.

Before you consider trying any of these ideas, make sure you understand the policies that are in place and your have checked with your administrator.

Cell Phone Learning Strategies

Recording Lectures: The "Flipped" Classroom
Many teachers are structuring their lessons in what is being coined "Flipped Classroom". These teachers are recording their "lectures" using video or audio and students are listening to that outside of class as the homework and in class they are completing the practice and the teacher serves as a guide, re-teaching as needed. On most cell phones with a data plan students can watch a video of a previous lesson of an appropriate clip on .

Use Cell Phones as Your Student Response System
Using www.polleverywhere.com and your students' cell phones, you can track instant answers from all your students. It's free for classrooms of 30 people or less.

Gina Hartman an eMINTS Instructional Specialist at Francis Howell School District in Missouri shared a fantastic new Web 2.0 site named http://wiffiti.com . The teacher creates a wiffiti screen and students can text in their opinions.

One teacher used this to summarize Act 1, Scene 1 from Romeo and Juliet. They texted in the short summary and it showed up on the screen. In another classroom the students had think about the time period that Andrew Johnson was in office and text something into the wiffiti screen that would have been something he would have tweeted back then. I love this example, talk about engaging students.

Delivering Materials
As more curriculum materials are delivered digitally creative teachers are delivering materials directly to students on their personal cell phones. One such platform is School Town . This learning platform makes it possible for teachers and students to collaborate in discussion areas and chat with each other making blended learning a real possibility.

Awesome Teacher Apps

: One of my most beloved apps is dropbox. Dropbox allows all my computers and my phone to interact together. So the photo I take on my cell phone can be put in my Dropbox app and now it is available on all my devices, love it!

: Next in line of cool apps for the classroom is Evernote. This handy app lets you type a text note, or clip a web page. If your phone has a camera you can snap a photo, and now you can also grab a screenshot. Like dropbox it doesn't matter what device you are on, they all sync together.

Solving Common Problems Using Cell Phones in Class

Students without Cell Phones / Smart Phones
Other issues arise because not every student has a cell phone. The easiest way to work around this is to have students working in groups, collaborating and solving problems together. Now we only need one cell phone to report out the group work. If we get creative, any problem can be solved.

Wireless Access
Wireless access might be another problem. Smart phone users will usually try and find a wireless network instead of going through the provider signal. With all these added devices your network may be burdened. Also cell phone reception is an issue in many schools. If this is the case, you may want to focus more of the group work or homework-related cell phone strategies.

Keeping Cell Phone Use Appropriate
Thinking about using cell phone in the classroom we need to make sure we involve our students in the conversation. Let them teach us about how to reduce the fear of theft or inappropriate use. Every student should be reminded every day about appropriate technology use, and what to do if the rules are broken. We need to help students understand the ramifications of things like cyberbullying , sexting and posting things to social networking sites.

Where do you stand on the cell phone in class debate? Share your thoughts or your creative ways to use cell phones in school in the comments section!

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How to Use Cell Phones as Learning Tools

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Does your staff need Educational Technology training? The K-12 Teachers Alliance can help you plan your in-service professional development at no additional cost. Regardless of your school's cell phone policy, the reality in most schools is that students have phones in their pockets, purses, or hoodies.

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I am interested in combining as many platforms for my students, whether they have computers, smart phones, iPads, Chromebooks, or whatever.

I found an interesting resource for tips for smartphone users in the  classroom. I especially like the one as a flipped classroom. http://www.teachhub.com/how-use-cell-phones-learning-tools

I also think that teaching digital citizenship is very important and found this infographic that is well laid out http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/04/awesome-digital-citizenship-graphic-for.html

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This lesson plan highlighting mobile phones and texting seems like a an excellent introductory activity.

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The following is a link to important policies for managing mobile phones in the classroom.

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Classroom Cell Phone Policies

Cell phones are great classroom tools, but if used improperly, they can cause problems. We've put together a list of cell phone usage policies to get most educational benefit and at the same time eliminate distractions!
1. Set cell phones on silent
Cell phones can be loud-even if you put them on vibrate-but if you are using a cell phone for academics, there is no reason to set phones on ring OR vibrate. After all, students should be focused on class work, not calls and texts. The best part about this policy: because students must use their phones in class, they are more likely to make sure their phone is on silent before class-that means no more loud, accidental alarms, calls, or text messages.
2. Keep cell phones visible
Like any other classroom tools belong on the desk, not under it! Cell phones are certainly no exception. Keeping phones visible makes students usage easier to monitor, ensuring that students do not carry on text message conversations during class.

3. Avoid using phones for non-academic reasons While the first two policies will cut out most non-academic behavior, it may be a good idea to expressly indicate that a student's cell phone is a learning tool in class.

4. Forbid calls during class Students may be tempted to take calls during class if they can see notifications as they pop up during class. Teach them restraint by asking them to refrain from taking calls during class. For high school classes, consider banning calls out right. If an emergency comes up, parents should call the school instead of their student. For college classes, ask that students step out of class to take urgent calls.
5. Make alternate arrangements for students without smartphones
Students need not have a smartphone to access nClass. At the beginning of the semester, make plans with non-smartphone users to access the app via their laptop.

6. Teachers collect phones before exams You could ask all students to hand in their cell phones before the in-class exam. Because of regular use over, you will know which students carry cell phones and can take control of them before tests.
7. Reward the best cell phone usage
When teachers think about cell phones in class, it's easy to see why teachers might punish students for using them. However, teachers can also give students an incentive to stay focused if they reward the most active participants on nClass. Consider giving an award to students who made best use of their phone (or computer) during class.
What cell phone policies work in your classroom? Let us know in the comments.

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Cell phones are great classroom tools, but if used improperly, they can cause problems. We've put together a list of cell phone usage policies to get most educational benefit and at the same time eliminate distractions! 1.

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I am most interested in the   powerful ways smart phones can add rigor through personalized education.  This video provides some justification.

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Chromebooks offer more to schools and students than access to online resources. They help engage students with interactive lessons and prepare them for an increasingly digital workforce. Given the co mbination of high performance, low cost and the development of custom web applications, it should not be a surprise that Chromebooks are quickly becoming the for school districts across North America. device of choice

In today's age, computer literacy is an integral component of any student's learning plan. By providing students with access to the greatest learning tool ever invented--the Internet--they gain unprecedented access to resources and information. As Chromebooks surpass iPads and other devices as schools' choice for 1:1 programs, the applications and platforms available for Chromebooks further augment their contribution to personalized learning.

The Evolution of Classroom Technology

Chalkboard (1890)

Projector (1925)

Calculator (1970)

Chromebook (2015)

Computers and devices do more, however, than provide students with a platform and resources with which to learn.They also help engage students, prepare them for careers (which is particularly important as Science, Technology, Engineering and Math fields continue to increase in demand) and close achievement gaps. Here are seven reasons why Chromebooks are the choice to prepare K-12 students for success in an increasingly digital workforce.

#1: Chromebooks Save Money

Chromebooks have been shown to significantly reduce the amount of time IT Administrators spend managing devices. A recent Forbes article that lists the reasons educators are choosing Chromebooks over iPads, Netbooks, and PCs, says that:

"Chromebooks are the best solution for IT administrators looking for maximum capability without straining the budget. Traditional desktop computers running Windows or Mac operating systems generally cost around $1,000 per device, while the average cost for a Google Chromebook is $200."

Compared to traditional notebooks, Chromebooks are also far easier to deploy, manage and support. The net result is budget savings that continue long past the initial setup phase.

#2: Simplified Chromebook Hardware Translates to Greater Performance

While in many ways Chromebooks appear and act like a traditional notebook, they have significant advantages over the traditional notebook. Like the zero clients used in enterprise environments, Chromebooks trade away large hard drives in favor of the centralized or cloud storage of user data. This approach combined with a lightweight operating system allows for speedy boot times, super fast web browsing, immediate installation of updates and automated file backup. The Chromebooks lightweight hardware also delivers better battery life and enhanced virus protection both on device and in the cloud.

#3: Chromebooks Help With Career Preparation

Global demand for computer engineers, system administrators, technology coordinators, data scientists, and other STEM (Science, Technology, Education and Mathematics) professions continues to rise. Bottlenecks caused by the lack of technically proficient workers are stifling innovation in both the public and private sector. A study by Stanford University shows that computers in classrooms help students "develop the higher-order skills of critical thinking, analysis, and scientific inquiry through active engagement participation, frequent interaction, and connection to real-world contexts." This allows educators to instill effective work habits early on in a student's academic career.

#4: Chromebooks Help Close the Achievement Gap

The Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education found that technology, when implemented properly, can also close the achievement gap between students classified as "high-performing" and "at-risk." Up to 20% of low-income households in the United States do not have Internet access, and before the 1:1 initiative in schools, these same households would also not be able to afford a device for their student to learn on. Therefore, by selecting cost-effective IT infrastructure such as the Chromebook, students gain the ability to access resources in a manner suited to their learning style.

The Stanford University study also found that "one of the benefits of well-designed interactive programs is that they can allow students to see and explore concepts from different angles using a variety of representations." In this way by using online word processing, spreadsheets, databases, webpage production, and presentation software, teachers can take students who were failing 9th grade and help them outperform students in high-track AP classes. Computers in classrooms create an interaction between students and course material that accommodate different learning styles in ways that traditional curriculum cannot.

#5: Chromebooks Keep Students Engaged

Technology in schools has been shown to engage students, not distract them as some educators had initially feared.

Chromebooks allow students to engage with other peers both near and far, within the classroom and with classrooms on the other side of the world.

There are educational tools and applications designed specifically for the Chromebook. Even popular games like MineCraft have been applied for educational benefit. Helping students hone important skills and knowledge in ways that pull from their interests makes lessons more engaging and memorable.

#6: Chromebooks Help Teachers Gain Insight into Student Behavior

Given the rapid expansion of technology in the past 10-20 years, there are so many different ways that adults and students access information, share information and communicate. While the Internet and online communications in general offer a tremendous opportunity for learning, there is a darker side to these communications. Students are at risk of being exposed to inappropriate content, predators and can even be cyber bullied by peers cloaked in the anonymity of the web.

By instituting a standard 1:1 device policy, educators and parents can gain valuable insight into their students internet behaviors while proactively blocking potentially dangerous content. Tools like GoGuardian can block sexual or otherwise inappropriate content while opening up a new-world to educators with the data collected from their students.

#7: Chromebooks Are Green!

Bringing Chromebooks into the classroom, schools can dramatically reduce paper needs. Teachers can manage tests, textbooks requirements, homework assignments, projects, and student reporting online. 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.

Is your school using Chromebooks in education? How have they helped your students in learning or development? Share your stories with us below!

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7 Reasons Your Students Need Chromebooks in the Classroom

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There are many reasons why Chromebook technology is good in the classroom. Chromebooks are a cost-effective, high performing tool that can help students engage with interactive content while preparing them for a digital workforce. Here are 7 reasons why to adopt Chromebooks at your school.

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Google's Chrome OS has evolved into a robust operating system with a niche focus. I have been using Chromebooks for a while now, from the "glorified web browser" days to the current all powerful Play Store time. This page is my collection of Chromebook tips. I regularly update this list, adding new tips as they are added to Chrome OS. If you are a new Chromebook user, this is the perfect place to start!

Chromebook Tips, Tricks and Timesavers

1. Here is a bunch of Chromebook guides for new Chromebook users. Getting Started With Chromebook is the perfect starting place for new Chromebook users.

2. If you are worried about how to use Chromebook offline, this guide can help you.

3. Looking for caps lock? press ALT + SEARCH: Chromebooks do not have a dedicated caps lock button. You get a Search key instead.

4. You can configure the Search key to do other things. Go to the settings page and search for Keyboard Settings. On Keyboard Settings page, Search drop-down menu is what you are looking for. You can set it to work as Alt, Ctrl , Caps Lock or disable it.

5. For Home key, press CTRL + ALT + Up Arrow. For End key, press CTRL + ALT + Down Arrow. For Delete key, press ALT + Backspace. You can use the same keyboard shortcut for deleting files from the file manager and Google Drive.

6. To lock your Chromebook screen, press SEARCH + L.

7. You can open apps pinned on the taskbar using a keyboard shortcut. ALT + Number, where Number is the position of the app. For example, on the taskbar, the first icon is always the Chrome icon which opens a new tab. Ignore that, assume that the second app pinned there is Gmail. Press ALT + 1 and you will see Gmail opening in a new tab.

8. To get the firmware of chrome your Chromebook is running using CLI in dev-mode [crosh/shell] type:
/usr/sbin/chromeos-firmwareupdate -V | grep "BIOS version"To view in the GUI (in chrome itself) type:
chrome://chrome/help

9. How to print from your Google Chromebook

10. How to access your iTunes library from Google Chromebook by importing your playlists to Google Music

11. How To Reset Your Chromebook (Factory Reset or Wipe) Easily

12. How to Diagnose Wifi and 3G Connection Issues on Your Google Chromebook

13. How To Download Torrents on Your Google Chromebook

14. Now, let's have some fun. CTRL + ALT + SHIFT + RELOAD will make your Chromebook do a barrel roll. Its cool! Do not forget to try this next time you are showing off your Chromebook to friends.

15. To find hundreds of offline apps visit the offline apps section of the Chrome Web Store, click here. Apps that work offline are presented as a well organized category there.

16. To take a screenshot, use the following keyboard shortcut:
Ctrl+

17. Take a partial screenshot by selecting the area you want to capture, Ctrl+ Shift+ If you are on a Chromebook with touchscreen, go to Settings > More tools > Take screenshot to take screenshot using the touchscreen.

18. Google Drive is available as an extension of the FIles app on your Chromebook. It works more like an additional drive. The Google Drive section can hold cached copies of your files. How do you refresh this cache? To refresh Google Drive cache, go to chrome://drive-internals/ and click "Clear local data" to clear cache.

19. Changing your chromebook's release channel, (software version) is a good idea if you want to experiment or check out new features waiting for general release. Chrome OS has stable channel which is without any experimental features and Beta and Dev channels which feature experimental features.
To change channels, visit chrome://help and click More Info. You can switch channels here, and with one re-start, you will be on the new release channel you picked.

20. To insert Unicode characters, press CTRL + U + The number for the unicode character.

21. To open a command prompt, press CTRL + ALT+ T. Once you are on the command prompt, type shell and hit enter to go to shell prompt.

22. Once you are in the command prompt (CTRL + ALT + T ) you can do SSH using the following format. ssh username computernameORipaddress. To view available SSH options, type ssh hit enter, and then hit enter one more time.

23. On an ARM Chromebook, Hold ESC + Refresh buttons then push power to enter developer mode.

24. To view hardware information of your Chromebook while it is booting, press Ctrl + i or Tab + i.

25. To get the version of chrome your Google Chromebook is running using CLI in dev-mode [crosh/shell] type: /opt/google/chrome/chrome -version

26. To view free space available on your Google Chromebook's local drive (HDD or SSD) visit chrome://quota-internals/. Alternatively, you can click the gear icon on the Files app to view remaining space.

27. To enable accessibility options on your Google Chromebook, visit chrome://settings/search#accessibility. You can enable the Accessibility menu, spoken feedback and other accessibility options.

28. Enable tap dragging from settings (accessibility). Search "tap" dragging from the settings page.

29. Press SHIFT + ALT + M to open the file manager. The file manager on Chrome OS is called the Files app. This app has an inbuilt audio player, video player and a picture viewer with basic editing options.

30. Here is a comprehensive guide on the Files App in Chrome OS.

31. While viewing pictures from the Chrome OS File Manager, (Files app) press E (as in Editor) to quickly edit the picture using the inbuilt image editor.

32. If you are experience trouble with 3G or Wifi internet connection on your Google Chromebook, here is a way to start your diagnostic. Visit chrome://diagnostics and test your connection status.

33. You can create a recovery media right from the Google Chromebook. You need a 4GB or larger USB flash drive or SD card. This card needs to be wiped completely so make sure you don't have any data on it. Open up chrome://imageburner and follow onscreen instructions.

34. To view total amount of RAM, open chrome://system, find meminfo and click expand.

35. To view the mac address of your device, go to Settings, search for Internet Connection. Now, click on the name of the network that you are currently connected to. A popup box with the network information will be displayed. The Hardware address listed there is the MAC address.

36. To know the bandwidth used by your Chromebook/Chromebox, open chrome://net-internals/#bandwidth

37. Hold Shift key and click on any app to open it in a separate window,without the addressbar. This makes it look like an app, instead of a website!. You can right click any app to change the way they open by default, for example, full screen, new tab, new window etc.

38. How to change MAC address of your Chromebook.

39. To change the launcher/taskbar position, right-click the taskbar and go to Launcher position menu.

40. A Simple Method to Upload Music to Google Play from a Chromebook.

41. How To Add Locally Managed Users in Chrome OS.

42. On the Status Area (The small pop up menu you get by clicking the time and profile icon on the bottom right corner of Chrome OS desktop) click the profile icon to easily access profile pic changing settings.

43. On the file manager, right-click Downloads drive to see available space on your Chromebook's HDD/SD.

44. In Settings search for "Use High Contrast Mode" and enable to view Google Chrome OS in high resolution.

45. If you try to open a .swf file (flash) from the Files app, you will get an error saying it is unsupported. Drag the file to a Chrome tab, and it will work fine!

46. Do a Powerwash to Factory Reset your Chrome OS device.

47. Looking for some help with Chrome OS File Manager? Its here.

48. Looking for some additional security features for your Chromebook? here are 7 things you can do right now to make Chromebook secure.

49. Accessibility options on Chrome OS, a guide.

50. Keep pressing Alt + - (Alt Key and minus (-) to minimize each open window, till you see the desktop!. On HTML5 videos, this keyboard shortcut works as toggle between full-screen mode.

51. On the file manager, Ctrl + E creates a new folder. You can create a new folder (also) by clicking the gear icon on the top right corner of the file manager

52. On the file manager, while you are dragging and dropping files, hovering over a folder will open it. To open the folder immediately without waiting for it, press the spacebar

53. To quickly get the IP address and MAC ID of your Google Chromebook, click the Ash Tray (the right end of your taskbar where time and your profile icon) and click the wifi icon, and then the "i" icon.

54. How To Stop Chromebook From Grouping Windows Per Application

55. You can access files present on the inbuilt Google Drive app from Chrome omnibar too. Open drive:drive/root/ followed by the file name. Note: it will not work without a file name.

56. In Chrome OS, a hidden folder is actually a folder that starts with a dot like ".hidden_folder" for instance. By pressing <Ctrl> + "." in the Files App, you can quickly toggle hidden folders visibility. It also works with files.

57. To remove wallpaper images that you added through "Custom" section, right click the image and select Delete.

58. On the Chrome OS wallpaper picker screen, you can check "Surprise me" to see a random wallpaper each time you login.

59. You can use Google DNS servers on your Chromebok. Here is how To Use Google DNS Servers On Your Chromebook

60. How To Keep Chromebook Stay Awake with Screen On

61. You can rotate Chrome OS screen using this keyboard shortcut. <Ctrl> + <Shift> + <Refresh> . Try portrait mode now!

62. The keyboard shortcut to rename a file in the Chrome OS Files app is CTRL + ENTER.

63. A hard reset is one of the primary troubleshooting steps that you can try whenever there is an issue with your Chromebook. A hard reset will restart your Chromebook hardware, like the keyboard, touch pad, and battery. The reset won't delete any files or settings from your Chromebook. On most of the Chromebooks, this can be done with REFRESH + POWER. Find more details here.

64. Press Ctrl + Shift + Q , twice (second time for confirmation) to exit

65. <Shift> + [ ] (F4 or the full screen key) to make a packaged (native) app full screen.

66. If you are on Developer Mode (not developer channel) you can force an update to Chrome OS by typing the following command in Chrome OS shell update_engine_client -update.

67. If you have a Chromebook Pixel, you can play with the lightbar, control its colors and have fun!

68. When you open the Message Center, press the red bell icon to pause notifications for a day. You can click the Android like clear notifications icon (those three lines!) to clear all notifications at once.

69. On the Files app (file manager) use the following keyboard shortcuts to navigate: <ctrl> + 1 switches to Google Drive <ctrl> + 2 switches to Downloads <ctrl> + 3 switches to USB Drive

70. By clicking the Play button or the video while holding <Ctrl>, the video will play in a looped mode.

71. Here's a cool keyboard shortcut to manually control the keyboard backlight of your Chromebook Pixel:- <Alt> + <Bright Down> decreases key brightness - <Alt> + <Bright Up> increases key brightness

72. Pressing the <Ctrl> + <Shift> + 9 keyboard shortcut toggles the Projection Touch HUD. This is useful when you are doing a presentation on an external display, and wants to show your interactions with the touchscreen.

73. Open chrome://gesture to tweak gesture settings in Chrome OS

74. You can create shortcuts (on the left sidebar) in the Files app to certain folders. Right click and choose Create shortcut. You can remove the folder by right clicking and choosing "Remove folder" (Currently behind the flag hrome://flags/#file-manager-enable-folder-shortcuts )

75. If you want to disable touchscreen on your Chromebook, (read Pixel for now) chrome://flags and set the "Touch Events" flag to "Disabled".

76. Here is how to use the new "overview mode" on Chromebook. Overview mode is OSX Like Mission Controls Exposé for Chrome OS. It now works with ALT + TAB

77. Chrome OS has a MacOS like Exposé feature. Here, it is called the Overview Mode. This as the name suggests, gives you an overview of the open tabs and windows. You can access the overview mode with three finger swipe. Swipe from top of the touchpad to the bottom.

78. Quickly manage displays connected to your Chromebook with these keyboard shortcuts: + = Swap primary monitor
<Ctrl> + <FullScreen> = Mirror monitors

79. To switch the virutual keyboard layout, tap long on the keyboard icon to trigger the layout switcher overlay and pick the one you want among the hardcoded System QWERTY ¹ , QWERTY and Dvorak for now.

80. Under keyboard settings, enable "Treat top-row keys as function keys" to get windows like function keys on your Chromeook.

81. From settings, check "Enable stick keys" to perform keyboard shortcuts by typing even them sequentially in Chrome OS. In this mode, you can press and release a modifier key such as , or and have it remain active until any other key is pressed.

82. Open chrome://power to display battery charge percentage over time. This page will be updated soon with more power/battery related information.

83. While using Chromecast with a Chromebook (ie, casting from a Chromebook), you can close the lid without worrying about losing your content. Chrome OS considers Chromecast similar to an external display and continues to cast.

84. Pressing <shift> while clicking on a Chrome Hosted App in the App Launcher opens it in a window instead of a regular tab by default.

85. Press and Hold Power Key For a Second to Lock Chromebook's Screen

86. On the Camera app, type CRAZYPONY (in caps) to make it a video player and take funny screenshots of the video.

87. Here is how you switch between multiple accounts on Google Chromebook, <Ctrl> + <Alt> + <Period> and <Ctrl> + <Alt> + <Comma> (keyboard shortcuts.)

88. You can do a Power Wash and reset your Chromebook without logging in the device. This is useful if you ever get locked out of a Chromebook. At the first login screen, press Alt+Ctrl+Shift+R and tap the Restart button.

89. If you have the "Multi Profile" mode enabled, click the drop down arrow on the profile icon on the login screen to choose another account.

90. For a split-screen effect, you can dock a window to the left or right. Click and hold the maximize icon, you will see two arrows, one pointing to the left and the other to the right. Use these to dock the window to the right or left. You can also use the shortcut ALT + [ to dock left, or ALT + ] to dock right.

91. You can right click any folder inside your Google Drive account and create a shortcut for easy access.You can do this for your sub-folders too, which makes this feature even more useful. If you have a folder that you frequently access, but is couple of levels deep (like I do most of the times; Documents > Home > Bills > April, that kind of stuff) this is going to help you a lot. Just right click any Google Drive folder from the side bar of Files app, and select "Create Shortcut".

92. The Files app displays your storage media as separate drives. You can use memory cards, USB drives and external hard drives and even Android phones. What's the one thing that you remember doing while removing such external media from your computer? Safely ejecting before removing them. On the Files app, use the keyboard shortcut CTRL + SHIFT + E to eject a removable device.

93. Do you have a touchscreen Chromebook? Nice! What if you want to turn off the touch screen occasionally and use just the keyboard and the touchpad? You can do this with a keyboard shortcut. Turn on/off the touch screen using this keyboard shortcut: SEARCH + SHIFT + T.

94. Are you a mouse person or a touchpad person? I use a mouse most of the times and can manage without turning the touchpad off. However, in some cases, it is good to have it turned off to avoid accidental clicks and mouse movements. Turn the touch pad on/off using this keyboard shortcut: <Search> + <Shift> + P

95. While connecting any device using Bluetooth, it is important to be able to identify the device by its name. To change your Chromebook's Bluetooth device name, open a Chrome OS Shell with [CTRL] + [ALT] + T, type bt_console and go to Bluetooth Console. Enter "system-alias <deviceName>" where <deviceName> is the new device name.

96. On the Files app, press ALT + E to open the menu.

97. On the Chrome OS audio player, use SPACE + K to pause / play music. Use Down/Up or Left/Right to Rewind/Forward min(5s, 10% of the duration) and J/L => Rewind/Forward min(10s, 20% of the duration).

98. Use the keyboard shortcut CTRL + SHIFT + along with + or - to increase or decrease screen resolution on your Chromebook.

99. Instant tethering helps you connect to your phone's WiFi hotspot with one click.

100. And of course, follow the latest Chromebook news and tips here!

Hope you learned a thing or two here. Please do share this resource with your friends and fellow Chromies!Thanks everyone who shared these tips on various forums and communities. A big thank you to François Beaufort and all my Google Plus friends!

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100 Chromebook Tips and Tricks to Master Chrome OS in 2018

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Google's Chrome OS has evolved into a robust operating system with a niche focus. I have been using Chromebooks for a while now, from the "glorified web browser" days to the current all powerful Play Store time. This page is my collection of Chromebook tips.

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Chromebooks
We are getting over 500 Chromebooks this year so I wanted to focus on them.
I found the 100 Best Tips for Chromebooks on Kathy Schrock's website.
http://www.chromestory.com/chromebook/tips/
The second website is a blog that shares 7 reasons students should use Chromebooks.  This will be helpful in justifying to teachers and perhaps parents why students will have them.  The reasons are quite interesting!
http://blog.goguardian.com/7-reasons-why-your-students-need-chromebooks

This short video highlights features so the teachers can get a quick overview of how they work for students.