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Chromebooks have emerged as the clear leader
- Thread starter bobenhaus
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Chromebooks are only a vendor lock-in for as long as they are viable. A ~$150 Chromebook is practically disposable when compared with the $1000 Macbooks districts are using right now where I live. And as I pointed out earlier, they aren't even used all that often.
And just like we were never concerned with how blackboards were built and where they came from, young children are not specifically learning how to use complex computer systems or code on these machines. They are supplimental learning tools like pens and pencils and blackboards and books. A dumbed-down OS is what is needed, not some wonky Linux variant that is not quite ready for prime time.
Again, Chromebooks are not being used to educate. Teachers are still doing that. Chromebooks are being used as a tool so that students can complete assignments more quickly/easily, and so that teachers can provide feedback more quickly/easily.
But don't let facts get in your way. I'm also glad you got out of school long ago. You'd languish in my class having to do a research project with pen, paper, and books, while everyone else gets to do online research and turn in their results electronically.
But don't let facts get in your way. I'm also glad you got out of school long ago. You'd languish in my class having to do a research project with pen, paper, and books, while everyone else gets to do online research and turn in their results electronically.
Is everyone in this thread intentionally trying to miss Michael Goffs point?
The fact that google just got it dingy whacked for tracking education chromebooks after saying that they wouldn't should be enough that they never end up in another classroom.
The fact that google just got it dingy whacked for tracking education chromebooks after saying that they wouldn't should be enough that they never end up in another classroom.
People should actually try a Chromebook or Chrome OS before making wrong assumptions. It's much more than just a browser if they have the old Internet Explorer mentality. You can actually run editors, development IDE, etc. and if you want you can dual boot Ubuntu with Crouton. Suggest to check out the available development tools and utilities to realize its capabilities. It's like Linux with the simplicity of Android. By far the easiest way to install and run a SSH client and it can run in a window (go to chrome://apps/, right click icon select 'open as window' and launch).
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/app/11-web-development
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/app/9-utilities
It sounds like EFF doesn't understand what the Sync feature is which is similar to Windows roaming profile.
http://googleforeducation.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-facts-about-student-data-privacy-in.html
https://fpf.org/2015/12/01/future-o...rontier-foundation-student-privacy-complaint/
http://blog.siia.net/index.php/2015/12/some-misunderstandings-of-the-student-privacy-pledge/
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/app/11-web-development
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/app/9-utilities
It sounds like EFF doesn't understand what the Sync feature is which is similar to Windows roaming profile.
http://googleforeducation.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-facts-about-student-data-privacy-in.html
https://fpf.org/2015/12/01/future-o...rontier-foundation-student-privacy-complaint/
http://blog.siia.net/index.php/2015/12/some-misunderstandings-of-the-student-privacy-pledge/
Not intentionally. I don't recall him saying that, and have no idea what you're talking about.
I dislike the assumption that anyone that thinks Chrome OS is just a browser (which it is. Anything you mentioned that deals with Chrome OS itself can be done on Windows in Chrome) just hasn't used it. I have. I've owned two or three different Chromebooks.
Google Play has a section that organizes ebooks. I've been able to read ones in the .epub format.
Chrome OS has games, but given the single one I've played (an overhead view, tank shooter), it seems like it's not that great for gaming. Here, I would just buy any other system. Chromebooks are cheap enough, that spending an additional few hundred $s on an Ipad, video game console, Nintendo DS, or using that $$ towards a better desktop PC is still financially on the level.
I find this to be absolutely false given my own experiences. Amongst the first computers I've used in school (from my recollection, as it's been decades, so exact models escape me) include some IBM compatible machine, and some Apple Mac computer. I played Arkanoid and Oregon Trail. I typed up essays using both. I even used Turtle to draw stuff, which was probably my first exposure to command line interfaces.
Were these ever used again? No. Throughout college and work, I've been using Windows 95 through Windows 7, with Microsoft Office. I use Android and iOS. Even several flavors of Linux (Solaris and Red Hat are the ones I can remember by name). Many of these were quite different than the "school years stuff"
Were they useless? Absolutely not. We got the basics of general computer knowledge (bits, bytes, turning on, what flashing lights mean, load times, etc.). Knowing how menus work, how to use a pointing device like a mouse, crude image editing software programs, etc. Much of this knowledge was fallen back on to learn how smartphones work, and how later versions of operating systems work. Which brings up another point... change is a constant in the tech world. If they learn one OS or platform, but then can't adjust with some training or their own exploration, they most certainly won't be able to cut it in many of the tech studies, and even beyond. For example, somebody who learns how C++ works should have a much smaller learning curve then somebody starting from scratch. It would be folly to argue "there's no way I can write something in Python! All I know is C++!". Most developers aren't that inflexible and rigid with their careers.
Windows is more expensive than Chrome. A $300 win laptop isn't an Apples To Apples comparison with a $200 Chromebook.
Why are they not teaching people? Children are using it to type up reports, essays, and articles. It can be used to read ebooks. They learn how to use the internet, and to do research. Internet is very much a part of our lives.
As another poster mentioned, if this doesn't work out, they're free to switch. It wasn't as costly an investment as going with high end PCs, Macs, or more expensive Ipads. Presumably, school districts are doing research to minimize risks. If they went with Windows laptops, or Ipads, they'd be locked into those instead. Same difference.
Chromebooks utilize Google Office, and many other Google services. If they get Linux, then you'd need somebody to set up all of the software with sharing articles and essays, somebody needs to install Open Office or its equivalent on all of the workstations, and you argued before how kids "won't have a clue how to use computers"... well, Windows is still pretty dominant.
Privacy is indeed a concern. However, if alternative solutions are too expensive, then you can't get blood from a rock. If it's that bad, they're welcome to try other solutions, but given how prevalent Chromebooks have become, that seems to be something they're willing to deal with, otherwise, Chrome OS wouldn't have gotten a 50% share of education already.