Getting Googley in NYC

My staff and I incorporate Google into our daily practice because Google contains wonderful tools that are not only unmatched by competitors, they're actually FREE! It seems word is out. As a result, my staff and I are thrilled to have been invited to present at the Google offices in Manhattan to share how and why the schools we are connected with are getting Googley.

Check out this presentation below to see for yourself.

We'll also be leading a breakout session to discuss how and why schools are using Google Chrome and Chromebooks. You can see what we'll be discussing at this link:

http://oetmanhattan.wikispaces.com/Google+PD

As part of the breakout session, participants will be checking out the Chrome Education Webstore to discover and share an App they might find useful for learning.

They'll share via the Google Presentation below.
 

If you're not using Google to support learning, the ideas shared here from others may very well inspire you.  Are you (or do you plan to be) using Google in these ways or others?  If so, please share your experience.

You have read this article Google / Google App Marketplace / Google Chrome / Google Chrome Extensions / Google Chrome Netbook / Google for Educators / Google in Education with the title Google Chrome Netbook. You can bookmark this page URL https://benncam.blogspot.com/2012/02/getting-googley-in-nyc.html. Thanks!

Losing My Faith in Google+ and Google Chromebook

Guest post by @GDhuyvetter | Cross posted at Work With Hope - Courageous Education in Frightening Times

As with most disillusionments, this one came on slowly, starting with irritations, growing to disappointment, and blossoming in questioning. Finally, I couldn’t deny it any more, and I said out loud (via Twitter) what I had not yet completely admitted to myself.

“I don’t know if I believe in Google any more.”

Let me clarify. I have loved many Google products. No matter where this googlagnosticism goes, I will still use many Google apps and recommend them to others. Google search is like oxygen for cyber travel (I can’t believe that I used such a lame expression). Google docs is a million times simpler than Sharepoint, and probably the best collaboration tool. I also have always liked Google’s ability to provide free tools for educators, businesses and others.

But two products in particular have shaken my confidence and made me question my love affair, and both have to do with dependability.

1) Google+

I was excited by the release of Google+. I saw in this filterable social sharing tool the answers to Facebook’s weaknesses. The ability to create and broadcast to specific circles is genius, and I saw great possibilities for creating discussion groups with colleagues, or even possibly between teachers and students. Lots of little details, like the ability to edit posts and the ability to create longer posts made me think that this was truly a Facebook killer. I encouraged all my friends to leave Facebook and start using Google+. It was a revolution, a Googlepocalipse.

But what happened? 

I notice now that weeks go by when I don’t open Google+, and longer than that without posting anything. This experience is shared by the few friends who have come over. Somehow Facebook and Twitter continue to be a more satisfying and useful experience. 

Google put out this exciting new platform, but they haven’t put the time or money into making the case to the general public as to why they should use it. Likewise, Google is yet to make an application that makes Google+ fully functional on the iPad. Interestingly, there is now a Verizon commercial showing how to use circles with the Samsung Nexus, but there isn’t any reference to Google+ (if that is what this commercial is showing). 

I am somewhat apologetic to the people I invited over and feel like my credibility has been lessened by this whole experience. Google+ may survive (in a recent development, Google is finding a new and annoying way to integrate your search results with your Google+ account), but there is a perception at least in my circle that this one more WAVE or BUZZ…a great idea going nowhere.

2) Google Chromebook

And what about the Chromebook? A little more than a year ago, in the midst of the netbook craze, Google announced that it was building a lightweight operating system designed to work solely as a web interface. This new chrome operating system would reside on notebook computers called netbooks. By embracing the cloud for all operating functions, the new device was going to be lighter, faster, and with better battery life.

And what happened? First, lots of time passed. Google itself seemed uncertain how the Chrome OS fit in with Android development, and certainly couldn’t make this case to the casual user. Chromebooks are now being released, but the silence behind this release is deafening. No public campaign, no splashy release to schools, no advertising in the mainstream press. So it appears that Google has released a device that solves yesterday’s problems in a form factor that no one wants.

Out of touch?

In general, I have this nagging suspicion that Google no longer has its finger on the pulse of users and doesn’t know how to explain itself to them. When a great product like Google+ dies on the vine, and a product like the Chromebook arrives with a thud, you can’t help but to be wary of jumping on the Google bandwagon so quickly.

______________________________________________________________

GDhuyvetter @GDhuyvetter

Superintendent of Catholic schools in OrangeCounty, CA. Reluctant iPad convert 

You have read this article Google / Google + / Google Chrome Netbook / Google for Educators / Google in Education with the title Google Chrome Netbook. You can bookmark this page URL https://benncam.blogspot.com/2012/02/losing-my-faith-in-google-and-google.html. Thanks!

Reasons an innovative educator likes the Google Chromebook and some things I'd like improved

I have been using Google’s Chromebook for the couple months, and while there were some things I don’t like, overall, it has moved up as my top recommendation for a learning device for a number of reasons. Schools will love that it eliminates the need to purchase software licenses, servers, costly security solutions, and maintenance plans. 

The total cost of owning a Chromebook is up to 70% lower than the ownership costs for a traditional PC. After 3 years, schools receive a whole new set of Chromebooks and can keep their original set (without cloud management or ongoing support) at no charge. Currently Chromebooks go for $449 per device with service for one year ($519 with 3G) or $20 per month per device with an optional $3 per month cost for 3G. Schools should have some of these on hand for students without internet at home. The monthly option includes the hardware and operating system, updates, cloud-based management, and complete support. The one time purchase provides this for one year. This eliminates the time-consuming maintenance tasks like imaging, installing patches, and data recovery which schools often are not equipped to handle.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE DEVICE

It’s fast!

If you’re like me, you don’t like to waste time. My previous laptop took 8 minutes to start up. Not with the Chromebook where you can enjoy “instant on.” You open it, it's on. You close it, it’s off. Additionally, the Chrome browser is faster than any other I’ve used.

A production machine

Provided you're comfortable working in the cloud (and you should be), creating content is quick and easy with Chromebook.

The production apps I use most often include the following:

• Word Processing and Spreadsheets - Google apps
• Presentations - Prezi or Google Presentation
• Video upload and editing - YouTube
• Blogging - Blogger
• Social media: Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus
• Working offline: Scratchpad

Because of speed and ease of use, I find the Chromebook my go to device surpassing my iPad, iTouch, or traditional laptop.

Google App Marketplace

The Google App Marketplace has a ton of free apps that are great for productivity and education. You can see which ones I like best at The Innovative Educator's Picks for the Google Chrome Extensions in The App Marketplace.

Search

You don’t have to go to a search engine to search. You just type what you’re searching for right in the box where you typically type in a URL.

Worry Elimination

• Bugs and viruses
  Because the device is in the cloud, you don’t worry about bugs or viruses and you don’t get those annoying McAfee Antivirus warnings and advertisements.
• Machine won’t slow down
  On a traditional device, before you know it, it has been slowed down with a bunch of software that you never wanted permanently and slows down your device. For the truly sophisticated user you can engage in re-installing the operating system, updating your registry, clearing your cache, etc.
• Image
  You never have to worry about updating your image. It’s tied to your Google Account and you or your administrator can customize it to your liking.

Device interchangeability and indestructibility
For those who’ve been responsible for one-to-one deployments, it isn’t uncommon to hear it isn’t quite the panacea it is touted to be. Today, what’s important is that students can access “their” work anytime, anywhere. Providing ubiquitous access with Chromebooks rather than the traditional one-to-one not only eliminates imaging issues, but now, customizing a device is no longer a problem since you log on with your Google account. As a result, the devices become nearly indestructible. Additionally, many of the inventory issues that have become a nightmare and burden for some one-to-one schools are virtually eliminated.

Battery Life

The Chromebook lasts a full day. That’s right. You can go 8 hours straight. This means you don’t have to worry about powercords and having outlets available all around the room. I love having a device that doesn’t require me to travel with a clunky and weighty powercord.

WHAT I DON’T LIKE OR IS HARD GETTING USED TO

Crashing

I was surprised to find that the browser crashes a lot. When this happens you have the option to “kill pages” or “wait." My advice: always choose "kill." If you don't the machine typically freezes up and you have to restart...though with the quick start up time, that's not so bad. What I don’t like is that there is no ctrl alt delete / force quit. The device seems to crash about once every three hours even after following troubleshooting directions for extensive crashing. I am hoping this is an issue that Google is working on.

Thing you can’t do

There are several programs that I use often that I can’t access with the Chromebook. These include the following:

• Skype
  While there are alternatives to Skype like Google Video and Google Hangout, Skype has become the standard that most people want to use to connect.
• Webinars
  I hosted two webinars and was surprised to find neither webinar provider runs on Chrome. I had to get another device.
• iTunes
  I think it is ridiculous that iTunes is not a cloud-only service. I believe it is moving in that direction but Apple doesn’t play nice with Google, so we’ll have to wait-and-see if this will become available for Chromebooks.
• USB for Wireless Internet There may be a way to make my wireless usb work, but I haven't figured it out. If it can be activated, it is not intuitive, and my hunch is that it can not. A MiFi card however, does work.
• No Java or Silverlight support This means I can't do things like screencasts. This will be a big issue for some educators.

Keyboard

Google has decided to reconfigure parts of a keyboard which I don’t appreciate. Here is what’s missing.

• Caps lock
  In place of caps lock is a search button. I hate this as I keep forgetting and then get launched into a search in which I had no interest. You can achieve caps lock by holding down both shift keys.
• Delete
  I love my delete key. In it’s place is power off. I hate this as well because I forget and inadvertently shut the device off. Fortunately it comes back on quickly. You can achieve the delete function by using alt and backspace which is okay, but I prefer the one-finger option of the delete key.

Right Click

I want my right click button back. I hate the two-finger touch. It’s awkward and glitchy. Additionally, scrolling is a nightmare because it is easy to accidently engage unwanted menus and commands.

Pen Functionality

I miss the pen functionality of my HP Tablet.

Because of it’s speed, ease in maintentance, and functionality as a great production device, Google Chromebooks are the device I recommend for primary use by students and professionals. However, whether used in the school or office, you will want access to other devices for the times you want to engage in activities unsupported such as Skype, webinars, iTunes, and sophisticated video editing (you can do basic editing in the cloud using YouTube).  


You can keep the Google Chromebook conversation going at Chromebook Central - The Official Group for Chromebooks.

You have read this article Google Chrome Netbook / Google for Educators / Google in Education with the title Google Chrome Netbook. You can bookmark this page URL https://benncam.blogspot.com/2012/01/reasons-innovative-educator-likes.html. Thanks!

Move Over iPad! Google Chrome Notebooks are Going to Be the Game Changer in Education

iPads are all the rage in education.  I have my iPad and iTouch too, but after several months of exploration, I’m not convinced they’re the right device for education...at least when it comes to secondary education.  Despite the protests of Apple to the contrary, I see them as great devices for consuming information and even drag and tap interactions, but for real creation, the full functionality of a laptop with flash access reigns number one.  Today, there’s a new device in town, and this one has me more excited for education.  

If you're like me and you already love Google for education (Apps, products, marketplace et.al.), than you’ll be excited to learn that Google is entering the educational computing market with Chrome notebooks which are built and optimized for the web, where digital natives want to spend their computing time. Because it is browser based, you get a faster, simpler and more secure experience without all the headaches of ordinary computers. The devices come complete with webcam for video chat, a vibrant 12-inch LCD display, full-size keyboard and an oversized touchpad which let you enjoy the web comfortably. It weighs in at just 3.8 pounds, provides over eight hours of active usage and a week of standby time.

Here are some of the advantages it provides over other computing options:

• Experience waitlessness.
  Google cleverly promises users the experience of waitlessness, meaning you never have to wait for the web.   
• Instant web
  Chrome notebooks boot in about 10 seconds and resume from sleep instantly. Your favorite websites load quickly and run smoothly, with full support for the latest web standards and Adobe Flash. 
• Same experience everywhere
  All your apps, documents, and settings are stored safely in the cloud. So even if you lose your computer, you can just log into another Chrome notebook and get right back to work. 
• Always connected 
  Integrated Wi-Fi for home and work, and 3G for all the places in between. 100MB of free 3G data every month* on the Verizon Wireless network. Affordable data plans with no commitment required.

Here’s a video that shows how Chrome Notebooks make computing simpler.  


Related Reading

• Here is teacher feedback from one school that has launched these devices.    Here is teacher feedback from a second school. 
• Here is a piece inspired by this post written by Steve Kinney. He does a much better job than I did of evaluating this device.  Check it out here.  
• Here are words from Google CEO Eric Schmidt about price point and future of the device.
• And, if you’re not sure why it’s all that important for Educators to Get Their Heads INTO The Clouds read this. 

You have read this article Educating Innovatively / Google Chrome Netbook / Google for Educators / Google in Education with the title Google Chrome Netbook. You can bookmark this page URL https://benncam.blogspot.com/2011/04/move-over-ipad-google-chrome-notebooks.html. Thanks!