8 Ways to Enhance Your Classroom With Chromebooks

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Once Teachers Obtain Chromebooks . . .

how do they actually proceed to use them with students?

The Chromebook offers many possibilities to bring new and interesting opportunities for teaching and learning.  So the questions to ask ourselves is, once students have Chromebooks how are teachers using them in their classroom?


Here are 8 ways to use Chromebooks in your classroom that can have an impact.

1.  Writing with Instant Feedback Using Google Docs
Google Docs allows students to be able to work privately while allowing teachers to comment and make edits instantly. Instead of teachers having to constantly move throughout a room to check on each student's writing, the teacher can remain in one spot and review student's progress in real time and leave the students suggestions and comments.

2. Homework that is Enjoyable
Teachers can assign additional practice that is exciting such as using educational games. Sites such as Funbrain, Quizlet, IXL, or Quizziz offer games that are challenging yet help to increase student overall performance and understanding.

3.  Collaborate on Creating a Class Video 
Online tools such as Animoto and WeVideo can be used to create a group video. Perhaps students will create a libdub or a video about different cultures. The possibilities are endless.  

4.  Storytelling through Presentations
One of the best methods of learning is to learn by doing. When students create a presentation or use a digital story telling app, their role switches from that of receiver of information to deliverer of information. Using sites such as Google Presentations, Slides Carnival, Sway, or Powtoon will give students the ability to put together a professional presentation.

5.  Invite Visitors into Your Classroom Virtually
Use Google Hangouts or Skype to invite experts, career specialists or authors into your classroom with a video chat or presentation. Students can participate by asking critical questions and also by using a backchannel chat such as Today's Meet. Visitors can share their presentations virtually and students can also share with the visitor. Imagine the possibilities of connecting globally with people from different countries.


6. Collaborate with Other Teachers on Lesson Plans and Units
With the use of shared folders in Google Drive, teachers can easily share and comment on lesson plans and unit plans with their colleagues. Many sites such as Socrative, EdPuzzle and Nearpod, allow a teacher to share their creative assessments and lessons with their fellow teachers.  Finally, teachers can collaborate on YouTube playlists to collect quality videos for use in their classrooms.


7.  Blended Learning Lessons Allow for Teacher Facilitators
Using sites such as Buncee, GoClass and LessonPaths can be used by teachers and students to teach and learn through digital technologies. The teacher is freed from the front of the room to be more of a guide on the side, and students have more independence in their learning and can work at their own pace.

8.  Add Apps and Extensions for Personalization, Productivity and Engagement
Have students visit the Chrome Web Store to add interesting apps to use in their everyday work. Some recommended apps include 

 Quizlet

Biodigital Human

Word search puzzle

The Elementals

Carrotsticks

20 things I learned

Lucid Chart

SketchPad

Remind

Extensions can add functionality to the Chrome browser and to websites. Here are a few to consider

Boomerang for Gmail

Session Buddy

Incredible Start Page

Chrome Tips Beta

AppJump App Launcher

Chrome Vox

goo.gl URL shortner

Extensity

Conclusion
With so many free Google applications and various web resources, using Chromebooks in the classroom has never been easier and learning by means of technology is natural to our students. Are you using Chromebooks in your classroom?  I would love to learn how you are preparing students for a world surrounded by technology. Please share in the comments below.

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