Chrome book demo

[Mimi-]

Afternoon, do we have any reps for chrome books on this site or anyone who knows someone who will give our school a demo of how chrome books can benefit our school.

 

We are looking to investing but need a demo for staff to see if it’s the way forward for us.

 

Thank you. We are a school in Surrey.

[rogerdnixon]

If you want to see Chromebooks in action - you are welcome to visit - we are a Google Reference School (11-18 with 1:1 Chromebooks) - Wheatley Park in Oxfordshire and use ChromeOS devices across our Trust. Might be a bit far for you - but could be a nice day out! Otherwise, there are lots of good Google Partners who could help you - we tend to buy kit from C-Learning who are helpful.

[Mimi-]

Thank you for the offer, I would love a nice day out but I do have a feeling I might be told it’s too far. I will look into c-learning.

 

We have a suite of 32 computers running Windows 10, we also have 45 iPads. We are investing as the iPads are popular and everyone wants them at the same time. I thought more iPads then we had a suggestion of chrome books which I know nothing about but would like to understand how they can benefit our school. We are a junior school and we still do English and maths in books.

What can chrome books do to make a difference? Thanks

[rogerdnixon]

Chromebooks or any other technology won't, in itself make a difference. Its far more about the pedagogy, how the tech supports and adds to the learning. Just plonking a new device into a classroom won't work. Chromebooks work best if you have G Suite for Education embedded into how you work - so using Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Classroom etc. So if you are not a G Suite school - I'd look at that first. However, generally speaking, the reason our primaries user Chromebook rather than another device:

Cost-effective.

Easy to use - primary students just login with QR code lanyards.

Integrate closely with G Suite - so we centrally setup and manage Google Classroom for them.

Work well as a multiuser device (better than iOS).

Simple setup and all remotely managed by the Trusts IT Team (err mainly me). Apps all centrally deployed - managed PlayStore etc.

 

Thats the basics.

[Ditto]

Afternoon, do we have any reps for chrome books on this site or anyone who knows someone who will give our school a demo of how chrome books can benefit our school.

We are looking to investing but need a demo for staff to see if it’s the way forward for us.

Thank you. We are a school in Surrey.

Have PM'd as I may have a couple of local schools that are using Chromebooks that may be willing for you to visit.

 

Perhaps not so age relevant, but potentially useful, https://www.bcot.ac.uk/news-and-events/2018/04/bcot-named-as-google-for-education-reference-college/.

 

I agree with @rogerdnixon comments, and for pedagogical reasons, I think you are best seeing CB's (and G Suite) used in schools rather than just getting a device demo. Having worked with CBs/G Suite, iPads and traditional Windows platforms, from a purely administrative perspective, I'm taken by the CB/G Suite approach. It just seems to work with minimal hassle. Beyond that, I also believe there is a driven, passionate and enthusiastic user base out there that is unrivalled. Also, you'll need to do the sums for you school, but I think it can offer the best cost model too.

[jcollings]

As a MAT we are moving to GSuite and Chromebooks (8 primaries and 1 secondary).

 

We have done a lot of work with Getech. They lent us 30 for the whole of last year so we could do trials in all our schools. Simon Hool is the chap we talk to [email protected]

[PotNoodleTech]

Do you already use google and gsuite for teaching? If so then chromebooks are really excellent.

[Ditto]

Still working on my contacts. In the meantime, I don't know if we have any Edugeeker's from this Surrey school (which I have no association with) but on their website they have published their journey with G Suite and Chromebooks. I'm trusting it is OK to circulate, after all it's in the public domain. I felt it was a particular good case study and well worth working the PowerPoint slides that are linked in the page (did I really say that about PP slides!).

Technology for Learning Strategy - Glyn School

Of particular note here is the schools have gone 1-1 but the kids parents buy the Chromebook. Also, a phased roll-out - they really seemed to have thought things through.

[PotNoodleTech]

Wow - something just doesn't sit right with me when you make the parents pay for equipment needed for your learners to learn.

 

I mean - basically the parents are funding the schools entire ICT strategy so the school can pocket the saved money? Is that really how we should proceed?

Edited September 19, 2019 by PotNoodleTech

[Ditto]

Wow - something just doesn't sit right with me when you make the parents pay for equipment needed for your learners to learn.

I mean - basically the parents are funding the schools entire ICT strategy so the school can pocket the saved money? Is that really how we should proceed?

I sympathise with the viewpoint, but it's the reality of the under-funding of schools that leads to this sort of approach - it could be a case of this way or stay on outdated or non-existent IT equipment. I've very much doubt the school 'pockets' anything.

My biggest worry is if those children, whose parents can't or won't fund the device miss out. I know in the information states that any child without a device won't be disadvantaged, but given how the explain so well that their approach enhances education... well it just doesn't stack up. Could you imagine being the only child in a classroom without a CB - that would just be unacceptable.

[TMBS]

We used C-Learning, they were brilliant! Gave us a class set of Chromebooks to test and play around with and we've not looked back since. We now have 200+ Chromebooks in school that are booked out every lesson and work really well!

[jthompson]

This might not give you an in-depth enough demo, but for a freebie hands-on go with Chrome OS using some existing hardware, have a look at Neverware CloudReady.

[Ditto]

This might not give you an in-depth enough demo, but for a freebie hands-on go with Chrome OS using some existing hardware, have a look at Neverware CloudReady.

I like this idea! But, I would suggest getting at least an i3 spec chip an if possible 4Gb Ram, certainly no less than 2. The reason I say this... I got an NC10 netbook running Neverware, but it was no more performant than the cut down Windows XP that was on the device before and would give an unrealistic impression of what a real CB can offer. Also remember, a few of CB strengthens are battery life, boot times and built-in security, some of those you won't see on a re-purposed device.

[Ditto]

@Haptic, is this something you can help the OP with?