FRIDAY WORK

For Friday, do the following:
  • Read the Introduction to Chromebooks section below
  • Watch the videos - some are just links to product pages for the peripherals or apps we'll be looking at Saturday
  • Come up with some possible ideas for Chromebook stations and/or centers that would make use of the apps and peripherals - and if you know of additional apps or materials that would apply, note those as well.  We'll discuss these in class Saturday as we work with the Chromebooks.
INTRODUCTION TO CHROMEBOOKS
            A Chromebook is a laptop-sized computer that uses the Google Chrome web browser as its principal user interface.  Most of the laptops you might be familiar with use either Windows or MacOS as an operating system, so if you're new to Chromebooks, the interface (how you interact with the computer) is a little bit different.  Macs and Windows laptops were designed for doing a lot of work offline - Chromebooks were designed to work primarily online.  Chromebooks don't have a large amount of working memory or storage space so many of the programs you might use on your Windows or Mac laptop won't work on a Chromebook.  That is not to say that Chromebooks can't be used offline; we're going to be looking at a number of offline apps that can be very useful in classrooms as part of learning centers and stations.

            And Chromebooks do come with a number of advantages.  They are inexpensive.  You can find a basic model for around $100, and if you are willing to buy a refurbished model, you might end up paying about $50 or so.  High end Chromebooks can be expensive, costing as much as $700, but are still cheaper than a medium to high end laptop.  Chromebooks also have a very long battery life with up to 7 or 8 hours between charges.  They also work with a number of peripheral devices such as drawing tablets and Micro:bit microcomputers.
            
Some helpful videos:
APPS AND PERIPHERALS
            We'll be working with a few apps and peripheral devices on Saturday.  I've provided some links to give you some idea of what we'll be doing and to help you think about you might use these resources in your classrooms.

Drawing and Painting
Can you draw on a Chromebook? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWvY7pwVrBA 
List of Chromebook drawing apps: https://beebom.com/best-drawing-apps-chromebook/ 

Digital Microscope

Coding with the Micro:bit
Makecode micro:bit coding: https://makecode.microbit.org 

3D Viewing and Design

AI on the Chromebook
Seek (iNaturalist simplified version): https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/seek_app 

Data Sensors for the Chromebook
Vernier Graphical Analysis program





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