Helpful site for Chromebooks and more

In my post-Thanksgiving web browsing, I came upon Schooled in Tech, a helpful site with lots of tips for using Chromebooks and Google tools.  Some of these I've shared myself previously, but this is a nice "go-to" spot for Chromebook use.

Learn how to use your Chromebook for video-conferencing, how to export your data, useful keyboard shortcuts, and more.  There are also tips on using Microsoft Office 365.

Some Chromebook tips that will make your life easier

As I've been working with 9th graders in the Core, I've been developing a list of Chromebook tips that not everyone knows and that can be extremely useful.  Here are my top three, in no particular order:

1. Alt-click to right-click. On a Chromebook, holding the Alt key while clicking on the trackpad is the equivalent of a right-click.  If you don't love the "two-finger click" try using the Alt key instead.
2. To quickly find your downloads, pin the Files app to the shelf.  Search for Files (its icon is a white folder in a blue circle). Right-click the icon (see tip #1!) and choose Pin to Shelf.  Now it will always appear at the bottom. Within Files, you will see both Drive and Downloads.
3. Need to take a quick screenshot? Hold Ctrl and press the "Screen Switcher" key, which is just above the 6 key. Holding Shift as well allows you to take a screenshot of a selected area. [Want a better screenshot tool that lets you annotate?  Try the Awesome Screenshot extension].

Using Google Cast

I've posted before about Google Cast for Education, but since it's come up for a few people lately, I thought I'd share both some written instructions and a step-by-step video on how to use it.

As a reminder, Google Cast allows you to project what's on your (or a student's) Chromebook through the projector in the classroom.

Here's the video

and the written instructions.

Solving Chromebook/Chrome problems

I just helped a student who was having a problem with the Screencastify extension in Chrome. The solution ended up being the same thing that's worked over and over for others-- and it's a simple one...

...update Chrome!

Many apps and extensions require Chrome to be up to date.  Updating Chrome is simple to do.

Here's how:

On your Chromebook, Chrome should update automatically, but you need to restart the Chromebook in order for the update to apply. The cue for this is when you see an up-arrow icon in your status area (down in the lower right where you see your profile pic/icon).  Click that arrow, then "Restart to update." Here are Google's instructions for this.

On other computers (or on your Chromebook), you can update Chrome manually by clicking on the 3 vertical dots icon on the upper right, then Settings, then About.  In particular, if you notice that those dots have changed color, that's an indication that Chrome is out of date.  Again, here are instructions from Google.

Chromebook Workshop

I'll be posting screencast recaps from last week's Chromebook workshops.  This first topic is using Googlecast to project your Chromebook's screen through your classroom projector.

Taking a screenshot on a Chromebook (and other devices)

Here's a question that's popping up a lot: "How do I take a screen capture/screenshot (i.e., an image of my screen) on a Chromebook?"

It's often useful to snap a picture of what's on your device's screen.
On a Chrombook, this is done by pressing the Ctl key together with the "Switcher" key (so called, because it otherwise switches you from tab to tab in Chrome)

Here's how to do it on other devices:

• On Windows computers, the Snipping Tool (in Accessories) does this nicely.  
• On a Mac, you can use Command-Shift-4
• In iOS (e.g., iPhone) or Android, hold the power/sleep button and home button (or volume down if your Android doesn't have a home button) at the same time.

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Need more advanced features?

Chromebook workshops

I'm doing a workshop next week called

So you have a Chromebook. Now what?

If you have questions about how a Chromebook differs from a traditional laptop, how apps and extensions work on Chromebooks, or what keyboard shortcuts are available on a Chromebook, come check it out!

We will be in room 118 (note-- not the library lab) for the first half of each block on Thursday, 10/6 and Friday 10/7.