iPads, laptops, Nexus tablets and other devices have their strengths. But if pressed for one device for my classroom, I pick Chromebooks. Here’s why. (Flickr / flyshoe)
Some love their iPads. Others insist on MacBooks. Or Windows laptops or Nexus tablets or any other device.
My school district is headed down the 1:1 path, and my students and I have gotten to check out several devices.
If I had to pick one, my choice is the Chromebook.
(I know there have been countless blog posts written about why one device is best for a 1:1 environment. Let’s file it among the masses as just another vote.)
Disclaimer: I’m a high school Spanish teacher. My students create using Google Apps almost every day. They blog. We do a lot of accessing various websites. We do create video and photos some, but not often. And my district is not social media-friendly, so Twitter, Google Plus, Facebook, Instagram, etc. are not an issue.
That said, here are my reasons for backing the Chromebook:
1. The start-up time. Google claims that a Chromebook will load up in less than 10 seconds, and in my experience, that’s right. My students have worked with older desktop computers for the last few years, and they’re usually ready to go after a non-computer-related warm-up activity. This is an important point for me.
2. The touchpad. I love all of the multi-finger gestures the Chromebook has to offer (i.e. two-finger swipe to scroll, three-finger side swipe to switch tabs, etc.).
3. The size and weight. It’s slim, and although it’s larger than an iPad, it will easily slip into a bag or backpack without commanding too much space. It’s easy to manipulate on the go, too.
4. The keyboard. A full keyboard is one of the most important aspects for my classes because we do so much writing. Even though many kids are so adept at handling a touchscreen keyboard, writing more than a few sentences at a time is slow and taxing.
5. The Google Apps compatibility. Links are built right in. The device is made to run Google Apps. For any school that has implemented Google Apps for Education and is bought in to the system, Chromebooks are probably a great fit.
6. The price. Chromebooks are available new for around $200. Refurbished ones can cost less than that. A classroom set of 30 at that price would start around $6,000.
7. The USB access. Students can connect a USB mouse to a Chromebook if they need more control. They can easily download photos off a digital camera. It opens up so much functionality.
8. The HDMI port. As this high-definition video output becomes more and more available, having that option to display or present will become more and more important.
9. The battery life. The Samsung Chromebook boasts 6.5 hours of battery life. That, in an ideal world, takes care of my students from the beginning of school at 8:15 a.m. to the end of school at 3:15 p.m. with a half-hour break for lunch. (In the real world, they will probably need a charge at some point, but that’s a decent amount of time without being tethered to a charger cord.)
10. The screen. The colors and detail, in my opinion, are sharp. The screen makes reading easy.
That’s the conclusion I’ve come to from my own perspective: someone who has tried out several devices for months but has not become an expert yet on any of them. However, for my purposes, and judging by the reactions of my students as they test different devices, the Chromebook seems to fit the bill.
There are other perspectives. In fact, Jennifer Scott’s is a great one.
She says to pick them all.
Her classroom has Chromebooks (40), Windows desktop computers (8) and iPads (2). And that’s on purpose.
“Each device has a purpose,” she tweeted. “Students need to know when one device is more effective than another for a given task.”
Scott claims these advantages for each device:
- Desktop computers: graphic design
- iPad: quick communication with students and colleagues
- Chromebooks: blogging and collaboration
She has even mixed in an iPhone to provide as many device options to her students as possible.
Scott’s philosophy: “If students must know different purposes and combinations of informational/argumentative/narrative writing, why not the same for tech?”
I think Jennifer has opened my mind. If I had to pick one device right now, it would be the Chromebook. But if I could pick several devices like she did, I would like that option better.
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