Chromebooks in school

In 2017, Google wrestled itself into the clear lead when it comes to devices in classrooms across the US. Studies show that nearly 60% of US schools and districts use Chromebooks in school as part of an ed-tech program. This figure was just 5% in 2012. No other device type or brand has managed to capture the market in this way. The Chromebook has just gone from strength to strength and is taking over even more of the global education market in 2019.

But why are so many schools choosing to use Chromebooks? What do they have to offer that their competitors can’t?

1. Cost

Chromebooks are much cheaper than most laptops and tablets on the market, with the starting price being around $200. Another bonus is that these devices are simpler and cheaper to manage from an IT perspective. Schools don’t need dedicated IT teams or personnel.

This lower price point has also gone a long way towards closing the technology gap in lower income schools and households. If you are concerned about the lack of a reliable internet connection in your school or at the students’ homes, don’t be. Chromebooks can be used offline too.

2. Cloud-based Control

Chromebooks are app-based, meaning you don’t download anything onto the device itself. Everything is stored in the cloud. Add in a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution, and teachers can have complete peace of mind that they can do two important things:

1. Ensure that the Chromebook is being used for its intended purpose
2. Ensure that the student is protected from potentially damaging content\

Mobile Guardian’s MDM solution for Chromebooks also allows teachers to see a live view of what is happening on each Chromebook during class, as well as checking browser history. They can also take screenshots of each student’s device. All of this can be done from the teacher or administrator’s own dashboard using Mobile Guardian’s Classroom Management Tools.

This kind of control goes a long way towards keeping students focused on their lessons and not distracted by Youtube. It also helps teachers and administrators to uphold the school’s eSafety policy with ease.

3. Collaboration

“Digital collaboration is one of the most important skills students need for success in the workplace” according to Insights. The ability to allow full and seamless collaboration is one of the biggest bonuses to having Chromebooks in school.

Chromebooks make use of apps like Docs, Sheets and Slides. These are Google’s answers to Microsoft’s Word, Excel and Powerpoint. They are all cloud-based programs, meaning that everything is automatically saved online. Students can access their projects on the go and share them with their peers at the click of a button. They can even edit their work at the same time as someone else, but still keep track of the document edit history.

4. Convenience

Google has also developed educational suites and apps that allow teachers to track their curriculum, day-to-day lesson plans and class assignments. This is useful for both teachers and students because no one is able to forget what needs to be done and when.

Managing Chromebooks in K-12 Schools

Combine this with some of the device management features of Mobile Guardian’s MDM solution, and teachers can truly reap the benefits of mobile devices in their classrooms. Purpose-built for education, Mobile Guardian lets teachers restrict exactly what students are able to open so they can’t get distracted during class or study sessions. The school can also edit restrictions based on the time of day and the location of the device. The MDM configuration can be customised to meet your school’s eSafety policy and scaled to match the number of Chromebooks in your district or school.

Here's how we can help you manage Chromebooks in your K-12 school or district.

Onwards,

Robyn Hobson

Team Mobile Guardian