Speedy, simple to use and great value, Chromebooks make the perfect laptops for schools.
We’ve supplied several schools and colleges with Chromebooks over the years – and they’ve been delighted with the results.
We can provide your new Chromebooks with Google Workspace for Education all set up, so your email addresses, accounts and admin settings are all ready to go. Because all the work carried out on a Chromebook is web-based and stored online, everything you and the students do is held safely and can be easily shared by those with permission.
Even better, Google Workspace for Education is free for schools, so that’s all the software you need at no extra cost.
Let’s take a closer look at the accessible and easy-to-use Chromebook.
What is a Chromebook? Meet the latest in great-value laptops for schools: the Chromebook.
A Chromebook is essentially a laptop, but it uses a specific browser and stores your work in a different way to a conventional device. Chromebooks are powered by Google’s operating system (rather than a Microsoft or Apple OS) and just about everything on a Chromebook is carried out online, via Google’s Chrome browser.
The apps, programmes and work are stored online in cloud-based storage. Because the work is carried out online, Chromebooks don’t need big or fancy processors, which really helps to keep the cost down and the battery life high.
Chromebooks are made by all the big names in IT. Acer, Lenovo, HP, Samsung, to name just a few, all offer fantastic Chromebooks. They come in a range of screen sizes, between 10 and 15 inches. You can even get models that double as tablets.
At Nortech IT, we often recommend Chromebooks to schools, not least because their education software, Google Workspace for Education, is free and intuitive to use.
How do Chromebooks compare with laptops?
Easy-to-use Chromebooks are an excellent option for schools and colleges.
What’s the difference between a Chromebook and a laptop? The key distinction is that Chromebooks use only Google applications whereas you have more options with a conventional laptop. However, that isn’t a disadvantage for most users, as most of us engage with at least one Google app every day, from the famous search engine to finding our way via Maps.
Features of Chromebooks
Unlike a Windows laptop, you won’t have the familiar MS suite of apps and programmes, but there are alternatives to most of them. For example, instead of using MS Word for documents, you’d use Google Docs, and your work would be stored in the cloud-based Google Drive, rather than under File Explorer.
This cloud-based storage makes saving and sharing much easier (with less risk of loss) for multiple users, like a school or college.
Because they’re constantly online, the security is great: it keeps checking and updating, and is virus protected by default. Plus, any software updates happen automatically.
As a massive benefit for schools, the efficient Chromebook will last all day without needing a charge, because it doesn’t have an energy-hungry hard drive or processor. Teachers won’t need to spend the lesson dealing with low batteries and the dreaded cables.
Google Workspace for Education
Specialist tools and services that are tailored for schools
The Chromebooks we supply come with Google Workspace for Education installed and ready to go. This is a suite of fantastic free Google services created especially for schools, full of tools to support classroom teaching, remote learning and homework.
Education Fundamentals
The Education Fundamentals (formerly known as G-Suite for Education) package is free. However, schools can upgrade to a range of premium options if they want more features (we can discuss the options with you).
The introductory package includes Google Classroom and Google Meet, which have become essential packages during remote education periods, as they allow teachers to run online classes while setting work, and make it easy for classes to collaborate on tasks.
It also comes with GMail, Google’s emailing system. Google Docs, Google Forms and Google Chat are also included in the free Fundamentals package.
As for management and admin, that’s easily controlled using this cloud-based package. Again, we can talk you through this and set it up for your admin team. With everything stored online in Google Drive, access and storage is safe and straightforward.
Google Mail for Schools
Dedicated, custom email addresses for everyone in your school
Google Workspace for Education comes with GMail, Google’s own email system. We can help you set up email accounts for your teaching and admin staff, as well as setting up email addresses for the pupils. Their school Gmail accounts will let them receive school emails and safely log into features such as Google Classroom and Meet.
Find out more about Chromebooks
If you think that Chromebooks and Google Workspace for Education would benefit your school, please get in touch with the team at Nortech IT.