Getting started basics of setting up a Chromebook in G Suite

[paulkerton]

Another question (sorry). Would you force install the Google Classroom app from the Android store or use the browser version, is the app better?

 

No. Stick to the web app. Android stuff is a per profile thing at the moment. There was talk of them building on-device caches for apps, so profile information travelled in their accounts, but the apps were kept up to date in a central location on the device, but that hasn't surfaced as of yet. I'm sure its still in the roadmap though. Android apps are something we would only be looking at deeply with 1:1 right now.

Almost there... Just a couple more questions

1) Will the settings (specifically user settings) effect someone's personal Chrome device that they have logged onto at home using the school login, or do these settings only effect devices that are licenced in G Suite?

2) I notice little symbols on some of the settings that indicate chrome browsers (not Chrome OS) does that mean I would be changing everyone's Chrome browser settings on their windows devices if I change these settings

Just answered this one and yes they do change the settings on everyone's computers

 

1. Yes, user settings affect whatever Chrome OS device they would sign into. So if you use a cloud filtering solution, when logged into a school account they would be filtered as per the school's filtering, for example. We're currently investigating using Securly for 1:1 devices off-site (and our current on-site solution when they get on site) with a view to move to Securly wherever they are in the long term. That's how we'd do that.

 

2. If they sign-in on Windows/Mac/Linux devices, they should use the profiles feature of Chrome Browser. Assuming their home machine is signed in with a personal account already on Chrome, if they use the "Add Another Account" in the browser, it'll get all kinds of confused as to which account is signed in. I have a personal Windows machine and I use the profiles in Chrome, that way I essentially have multiple versions of Google Chrome, one with my personal account, one with my work account, one with my old business account and everything is siloed away from each other.

 

https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/2364824?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en will explain more.

Its much easier to use profiles that sign into a work account from inside Chrome signed into another account altogether

Edited October 2, 2020 by paulkerton

[jthompson]

2) I notice little symbols on some of the settings that indicate chrome browsers (not Chrome OS) does that mean I would be changing everyone's Chrome browser settings on their windows devices if I change these settings

Just answered this one and yes they do change the settings on everyone's computers

 

They will affect Chrome browser on Windows only when the user is actually signed into Chrome (i.e. in the menus of the app itself, not just into Google on the web). That's not necessarily going to happen automatically. I'd recommend also using Group Policy to manage Chrome on Windows, which will apply settings to the browser regardless of whether a profile is signed in to it or not. https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/187202?hl=en. Use that for things like start pages, preventing installation of extensions, etc.

[TwistedHelixis]

I have this odd app listed under app management as force install and pinned, any idea what it is?

[TwistedHelixis]

No. Stick to the web app. Android stuff is a per profile thing at the moment. There was talk of them building on-device caches for apps, so profile information travelled in their accounts, but the apps were kept up to date in a central location on the device, but that hasn't surfaced as of yet.

 

Well that's a XXXX, one of the reasons (not the only) for us getting Chromebooks was for the android app store, as it has loads of curriculum apps

Edited October 2, 2020 by TwistedHelixis

[caffrey]

Google calendar

[gh5000]

Well that's a XXXX, one of the reasons (not the only) for us getting Chromebooks was for the android app store, as it has loads of curriculum apps

If you're able to work out a strategy where the same students pickup the same device (presuming it's a bank of Chromebooks) and you don't delete the stored profile regularly, you will reduce the impact of per user Apps installing first time.

[TwistedHelixis]

If you're able to work out a strategy where the same students pickup the same device (presuming it's a bank of Chromebooks) and you don't delete the stored profile regularly, you will reduce the impact of per user Apps installing first time.

 

Can you delete the profiles via G Suite?

[DGardiner]

Can you delete the profiles via G Suite?

 

dont think you can bulk delete, but you can tell a device to wipe its profiles

[TwistedHelixis]

Just wanted to check - For the apps (including the play store apps) do you apply them at the root OU but have them (not installed) and then in the different user OUs install them, or do you only install them where they will be needed?

 

Was just thinking if they are all listed under the root OU it might make keep things tidy.

[paulkerton]

Just wanted to check - For the apps (including the play store apps) do you apply them at the root OU but have them (not installed) and then in the different user OUs install them, or do you only install them where they will be needed?

Was just thinking if they are all listed under the root OU it might make keep things tidy.

 

Install where needed, at user level.

[TwistedHelixis]

HELP, I seem to have made some error with the apps system.

 

When I logon to my personal (not school) chromebook using a test teacher account, to simulate teachers using their own devices at home and then open the Play app store, I only have access to the one app I setup as an 'Allow app', I don't have access to all the other play store apps. I assume I don't want to block the teachers from having access to all apps in the store, otherwise how will they test and find new apps for class.

 

When I check the teacher OU user settings it lists

Additional application settings > Android applications on Chrome devices > Allow an approved set of Android applications to be installed on supported Chrome devices = ON

 

If I disable this, access to the play store is completely blocked

 

How should I restrict the pupils to just the apps we choose but give the teachers full access to all the apps?

Edited October 9, 2020 by TwistedHelixis

[paulkerton]

No, this is expected behaviour. Google Play Store for Education is curated. You only get access to the applications allowed in the Admin Console.

[TwistedHelixis]

o, this is expected behaviour. Google Play Store for Education is curated. You only get access to the applications allowed in the Admin Console.

Ohh OK thanks.

 

Now I need to workout why the teachers don't have the Play App Store listed in their Chrome browsers under the 3x3 dot app section, I am sure they had it at some point.

[paulkerton]

Ohh OK thanks.

 

Now I need to workout why the teachers don't have the Play App Store listed in their Chrome browsers under the 3x3 dot app section, I am sure they had it at some point.

 

Push an app to them, and it should appear, I believe. Don't quote that though

[DGardiner]

Push an app to them, and it should appear, I believe. Don't quote that though

 

depending on your filtering theres a fair bit of whitelisting to do if you ssl inspect things too!

[TwistedHelixis]

depending on your filtering there's a fair bit of whitelisting to do if you ssl inspect things too!

 

Ohh no, its controlled by our LA, this could take ages to sort out.

 

To make matters worse, I just logged into another school, They don't have any chromebooks and never used the android app store and the app store icon is listed in Chrome browser. Just need all my users to switch domains and I am good to go :-(

[TwistedHelixis]

o make matters worse, I just logged into another school, They don't have any chromebooks and never used the android app store and the app store icon is listed in Chrome browser.

ignore that, I wasnt signed in

 

epending on your filtering there's a fair bit of whitelisting to do if you ssl inspect things too!

Just checked this from my home network and still no Play Store icon. So its not filtering

[TwistedHelixis]

My workaround might be to add this to the staff bookmarks - https://play.google.com/store/apps

[TwistedHelixis]

I am really confused :-(

 

How are staff meant to test new apps for the school if they cant even access the Play Store from a Chrome device?

[rogerdnixon]

You don't go to the web version of the PlayStore on the Chromebook - you open up the PlayStore App which is there by default - just like you would on a phone. You load that up with Apps you have approved and people can then add them. Only apps you approve in the admin console appear in the PlayStore. You can allow different apps for different users.

[localzuk]

Note that not all Android apps will work on Chromebook.

[TwistedHelixis]

You don't go to the web version of the PlayStore on the Chromebook - you open up the PlayStore App which is there by default - just like you would on a phone. You load that up with Apps you have approved and people can then add them. Only apps you approve in the admin console appear in the PlayStore. You can allow different apps for different users.

Yes but I am not a teacher, so how should I know what apps they might need for geography or science etc, only the teachers themselves will know this, but they can't even open the app store on a Chromebook and see all the apps.

[rogerdnixon]

You can browser the entire store on the admin console and deploy apps to an OU that only you are in for testing purposes. We have a Google Form where people request access to apps - we check then out - do they work etc and then more generally deploy as required.

[DGardiner]

Yes but I am not a teacher, so how should I know what apps they might need for geography or science etc, only the teachers themselves will know this, but they can't even open the app store on a Chromebook and see all the apps.

 

how would they have done this for your windows network? its locked down just as they would have been.

 

You wouldnt want people loading crap from the play store anyway half of it is malware

[TwistedHelixis]

how would they have done this for your windows network? its locked down just as they would have been.

 

They would have browsed the software online and then checked with me, but by default teachers cant even browse the apps in the Play Store. When they open the Play Store they can only see the apps I have whitelisted, so how are they meant to let me know which apps they want, or are you saying they should be able to browse the apps in the Play Store but I have something blocking them in my setup?