Google Chromebook provides an attractive option for teachers who want to better leverage innovative technology in their classroom. The only impediment is learning how to best use the Chromebook, something now addressed by an online class designed specifically for teachers.
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The “Chromebook Classroom” course from Fresno Pacific University offers educators the opportunity to learn about the Chromebook while also earning professional development credits. The 100% online course covers the “nuts and bolts” of the device while also offering in-depth information on productivity apps, online surveys and learning groups.
Jan 9, 2012 - Websites Apps Web 2.0 tools for Education, ios, apps, app, ipad, ipod, iphone. Apple, edtech, ed tech, technology, teaching, web20, web 2.0, integration,. The apps can be accessed when users sign in to their Chromebook and are also available on a Windows, Mac, or Linux computer when users sign in to the Chrome browser with a Google Apps account. The App Packs save teachers time, offer discounts for bulk app purchases, and help teachers find the best apps by category and grade level. Since their launch in 2013, Chrome apps have been in active development and more are being added to the Chrome Web Store, ready for you to download and install via Chrome. Among the many choices, these are the Top Ten Chrome Apps that are best free and curated for a good start in this new year.
Why Use Chromebook in the Classroom?
Affordable yet powerful, the Chromebook offers teachers a low-cost way to integrate digital tools in the classroom. The Chromebook gives students and teachers access to internet connectivity and a broad range of applications.
On its education webpage, Google writes that Chromebooks make education more efficient and engaging. Chromebooks are lightweight and easy for students to carry. As with many products from Google, the emphasis is on simplicity and shareability. Students can use Chromebooks to collaborate with other students.
Google offers ideas for Chromebook use in categories that include coding, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, family and community engagement, multimedia creation, music composition, STEM and social-emotional learning.
In one of many recent, positive reviews for the course, an Ohio teacher wrote that the class is “very informative. Assignments were things I could use in my classroom the next day! Assignments were easy to follow and relevant to the times.”
What You Learn in the Fresno Pacific Course
The Chromebook Classroom course from Fresno Pacific University first covers all the basic uses of the Chromebook before delving deeper into ways it can revolutionize how educators approach leading a class.
The course is hands-on, but you are not required to have a Chromebook. You can also use a computer with Windows or an Apple MacIntosh.
The course is taught by Steve Young, who has a Master of Arts in Educational Technology from Fresno Pacific University. A teacher himself (now retired), Young has developed online education courses for teachers since the mid-1990s.
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A Pennsylvania teacher wrote in a review that Young is “always prompt and helpful.” Another teacher in Ohio wrote, “I appreciate the accessibility to Steve when I needed it. I felt challenged by the assignments and proud of my useful results. Keep doing this, Steve. We need you.”
The Chromebook Classroom course is one of hundreds offered through the Fresno Pacific University Continuing Education program. It allows teachers to earn professional development credits in a wide range of areas. All courses are offered online, giving educators the opportunity to expand their skillset from wherever they live in the country.
Topics Covered in The Chromebook Classroom
The Chromebook Classroom course covers a lot of ground. Topics include:
- Introduction to the Chromebook
- Hardware Tips and Tricks
- Filing and (Cloud) Storage
- Apps for the Chromebook
- Using a Mac or Windows with Chromebook Apps
- Using Productivity Apps
Teachers learn about using Word processing, presentation and spreadsheet documents. They also take a pre-course and post-course survey.
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Learning outcomes for the course include:
- Familiarity with learning theory terms as they pertain to learning with technology.
- Understanding a teacher’s role in using Chromebooks in the classroom
- Using modeled teaching strategies to instruct others in the techniques of instructing with technology
- Developing classroom management strategies when working with Chromebooks
- Identifying technology uses for peer-to-peer and student communication
- Gaining hands-on experience in creating curriculum-specific projects using Chromebooks
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By the end of the course, teachers will know how to access and navigate Chrome OS, create and access documents, access and use web-based apps, manage a Chromebook classroom and work collaboratively.