Technology

A Chromebook is a laptop computer that was launched in 2011. Since then it has grown in popularity around the world and is suitable for all types of computer users.

The Chromebook is manufactured by many different manufacturers, so it’s easy to find a Chromebook that is suitable to your needs. What makes it different from other types of computers is its operating system Chrome OS.

Chrome OS is the operating system installed on a Chromebook computer. All computers and mobile devices need an operating system to run correctly. The operating system is the main difference between computers that are currently available.

The main operating systems currently available are Microsoft Windows, Apple, Chrome OS and Linux. Chrome OS is based on Linux, which is considered the most secure and safest operating system in the world today. Most supercomputers around the world use a Linux based operating system.

The Chrome OS operating system was created by Google. Google has a huge team of developers who are continually working on developing Chrome OS. This means you get regular updates to Chrome OS, which keeps you safe and secure while working online.

The main competitors to Chrome OS are Microsoft Windows, which is created by Microsoft. The other is Apple iOS, which is created by Apple.

Both Microsoft Windows and Apple iOS was created many years ago before the internet was as advanced as it is today. Although they are updated regularly, they are computers that have been designed to work without an internet connection.

This is different from Chrome OS, which has been created with the internet in mind. You can use Chrome OS without an internet connection but it works best when connected. Chrome OS is a cloud-based computer, which makes it a perfect choice because you do not need to worry about buying expensive individual software packages. Everything you need is available on the internet.

You do need a Google Account to use a Chromebook. When you first purchase a Chromebook it will ask you for your Google Account email address and password. If you do not have a Google Account you can easily create one at this stage.

The Google Account is free and comes with Gmail, which is Google’s email service and is widely considered the best email service available in the world.

A Google Account also comes with many other features, which you’ll likely become familiar with the more you use your Chromebook computer.

As the Chromebook uses Chrome OS it’s considered one of the safest computers that you can use. There are many reasons for this. The Chromebook receives regular Chrome OS updates, so any security floors are identified and removed much quicker than you would get with Microsoft or Apple iOS.

Also, Chrome OS is different from other operating systems when it comes to security. You do not install programs onto a Chromebook, so you do not need to worry about computer viruses. The safety record of Chrome OS is one of the main reasons why the Chromebook has grown in popularity over the years.

The internet is great and has changed how we interact with the world. However, the internet also has a dark side where viruses are waiting to steal your data and identity. Google has created Chrome OS with security in mind, so you are kept safe while surfing the internet.

You do not need anti-virus software to keep safe when using a Chromebook. This is because Chrome OS has been specifically designed around security. This means you can get on with using your computer without having to worry about computer viruses.

It also means owning a Chromebook is a lot cheaper than owning a Microsoft or Apple MAC computer. Anti-Virus software can cost a lot of money when you consider the best anti-virus software comes with a yearly subscription cost.

Find out more about why Chrome OS makes the Chromebook one of the safest computers you can use. Have a read of this article if you want to know more about Chrome OS and Chromebook security features.

The Chromebook computer can replace a computer running Microsoft Windows or Apple MAC. In fact, many Chromebook users switched to the Chromebook after becoming frustrated with Microsoft Windows.

This is because Chrome OS offers a totally different experience when using a Chromebook. It’s much safer and is an easier computer to use, which means you can spend more time doing what you want to do.

Most people use the majority of their time on the internet. The Chromebook was specifically created for the internet, so it’s the perfect choice for internet surfers. It’s also capable of much more than that and there is little you cannot do on a Chromebook that you can do on a computer running Microsoft Windows.

Find out more by reading can a Chromebook replace a Microsoft Windows computer.

This is one of the main differences with a Chromebook. You do not install programs like you would on a traditional type of computer. This has many benefits and one of these is not having to purchase software to install. Instead, you can access programs on the internet and many of these are free to use.

For example, Google has created its own Office Suite, which has been specifically made for cloud computing. Google Docs includes a word processor and a powerful spreadsheet program. These programs are accessed by simply visiting an internet web address in your Chrome browser.

Software developers are moving away from traditional programs that you install onto a computer. You’ll notice most of the well-known software developers have now moved to create software that is accessible online.

However, you can install Android Apps onto a Chromebook.

Android Apps are accessible from the Google Play store and were originally designed for Android mobile phones. Over the last few years, Google has made Android Apps available for the Chromebook. This has changed how Chromebooks work for the better.

There are hundreds of thousands of Android Apps and most of these are free to use. You’ll find Android Apps to use for many different tasks, which makes the Chromebook much more versatile than it once was.

You can use Microsoft Office on a Chromebook. As you cannot install programs onto a Chromebook you’ll need to access Microsoft Office by installing Microsoft Office Android Apps. These apps give you access to most of the programs that are available through Microsoft Office.

However, you do not need to download Android Apps to edit Microsoft Office files. Google Docs allows you to open/edit and save Microsoft Word Documents. This is the same as Google Sheets, which allows you to open/edit and save Microsoft Excel files.

All Chromebooks are different, so you would need to do a little research to find the one that is right for you. For example, some Chromebooks can only be used as a laptop while others can be used as a laptop or tablet and come with a touchscreen.

Also, the Chromebook is the most popular device that uses Chrome OS. However, the Chromebook is another word for laptop. There are other types of Chrome OS devices such as a Chromebox or Chromebase. A Chromebox is a desktop PC and a Chromebase is an all in one computer built into a display.

To consider whether you should buy a Chromebook or Chromebox. Have a read of Chromebook or Chromebox – which one is right for me. This article goes into further detail to help you make the right choice.

One of the reasons why the Chromebook is successful is because it’s extremely fast compared to computers running Microsoft Windows. Chrome OS has been coded with speed and security in mind. This means you can turn a Chromebook on and be asked for your login credentials in less than a couple of seconds. Once you’ve entered your login details you can open a browser and surf the internet within five seconds.

The Chromebook does not slow down over time, which is totally different from what you would get with Microsoft Windows. Whether your Chromebook is two months or two years old, you will get the same speed as when you originally bought your Chromebook computer.

Find out more about what makes the Chromebook so fast. This article explains further why the Chromebook is considered one of the fastest personal computers you can buy.

One of the major issues with laptop computers is battery life. Chromebooks are well known for having great battery life. Depending on the type of Chromebook you purchase. You can expect a battery life from between 12 and 7 hours on a single charge.

This is much better than the typical battery life of a laptop running Microsoft Windows, which is about 4 hours. The main reason for this is because Chrome OS is a streamlined operating system, so it takes up a lot fewer resources to run than Microsoft Windows.

Another reason is that the hardware inside a Chromebook, in general, takes up a lot less power to run. Also, Chromebooks do not come with a hard disk with moving parts. All the Chromebooks currently available come with hard disks with no moving parts. This dramatically reduces the power needed to access data.

To find out more have a read of why the Chromebook has such good battery life. This article goes into greater detail on why the Chromebook battery lasts longer than traditional computers.

You can play games on a Chromebook. There are plenty of Android App games available from the Google Play Store. Many of these games are free, which is another reason why the Chromebook costs a lot less through its lifetime.

However, you cannot play computer games like you can on a Windows-based PC. This is because these computer games need to run a program to install onto your computer. The Chromebook does not allow executable files, as everything you use is web-based.

This may change in the future because some Chromebooks also support Linux Apps. Linux Apps have the potential to be a lot more powerful than Android Apps. At present though, this is a project that is still in progress and you should not expect Linux Apps to be ready for the consumer any time soon.

You can find out more about whether Chromebooks can run computer games by reading can a Chromebook run steam games.

Sign out of your Chromebook and then in the upper right hand corner of your login box, click the arrow and choose remove user. Confirm and then once sign in screen comes back up, login again.

Sign out of your Chromebook and then in the upper right hand corner of your login box, click the arrow and choose remove user. Confirm and then once sign in screen comes back up, login again. This should help clear up some of the slowness as well as free up disk space. If there are multiple users on your device, removing the additional users will help as well.

Click on the 3 dots in the right hand corner and click settings. Scroll all the way to the bottom, click advanced. Scroll all the way to the bottom again and click reset settings. Close Chrome and reopen then try again.

Sign out of your Chromebook and then in the upper right hand corner of your login box, click the arrow and choose remove user. Confirm and then once sign in screen comes back up, login again. This should help clear up some of the slowness as well as free up disk space. If there are multiple users on your device, removing the additional users will help as well.

1. Connect your Chromebook to the internet over Wi-Fi or ethernet.
2. Click on the settings tray in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
3. Enter the settings using the g
4. ear icon.
5. Click on “About Chrome OS” on the bottom of the left column.
6. Select the “Check for updates” option.

This is likely due to dust/lint or other foreign objects getting into the very small microphone slot.  A repair will need to be scheduled to get this corrected.

If you have a gaming headset at home, this is the perfect alternative to a lengthy repair.  You likely will be able to both hear others better and they will hear you better if you use your gaming headset.

Hold power down for 20 seconds or until all lights shut off and then power back on.

Can you try click on the 3 dots in the right hand corner and click settings. Scroll all the way to the bottom, click advanced. Scroll all the way to the bottom again and click reset settings. Close Chrome and reopen then try again. 

Seesaw is a platform for student engagement that inspires students of all ages to do their best, and saves teachers time! Students use creative tools to take pictures, draw, record videos and more to capture learning in a portfolio. Teachers find or create activities to share with students.

If your student is having trouble logging in to Seesaw, please have them sign in with their Google account.

(Classroom teachers provided Google login info, passwords are lunch account # Abcd)

Example Sign In - Username: lrgotto31@alexschools.org, Password - 1234Abcd or 1234abcd

Follow these instructions to add your child's new journal to your existing account. You can also follow these instructions to add another child to your account.

With the direct email invite:

1. Check your email.
2. Choose to connect to your child's journal.
3. Sign in to your existing Seesaw account. 

With the QR Code (On iOS, Android, Chrome or Firefox): 

1. Sign in to your family account.
2. Tap your profile icon (top left).
3. Tap “+ Add Journal”.
4. Scan the QR code on the handout from your child's teacher.

With a link:

1. Follow the email link or type in the URL on the handout from your child's teacher.
2. Choose your child from the class list.
3. On the signup screen, click the "Sign in" tab at the top instead of creating a new account.
4. Sign in to your existing account and click the “Register for Updates” button.
5. The teacher will need to approve your access. Once you have access, you can tap the Menu button to switch between journals.

With a SMS invite:

1. You will receive a SMS text message on your device
2. Open the message to see directions to connect to your child’s journal.
3. You will be prompted to sign in with an existing account.

You’re in control of how often you're notified about new information in Seesaw. Here are your options in the Seesaw Family account:

1. Tap your Profile Icon in the upper left corner.
2. Tap the Gear Icon.
3. Choose Account Settings.
4. Turn email and/or push notifications ON/ONCE A DAY/OFF.  

Seesaw is a digital student portfolio that gives students an audience for their work! It gives families a window into what's going on every day in their child's classroom.

Students add posts to their journals. Student posts showcase the creative projects they've been working on in the classroom. This could include photos, artwork, videos, activities, notes, projects they've created in other apps, and more.

Families get notified when there are new posts in their student's journal. They can view posts and add likes and comments.

Seesaw requires an invite from your child's teacher in order to sign up. If you do not have an invite QR code or link, contact your child's teacher. Up to 10 family members can connect to one child's journal.

The Family App gives family members a view of what their child is working on in the classroom. Family members can comment on student work, view announcements, and message their child's teacher. Family accounts cannot respond to Activities or post directly to a student journal.

In order to complete Activities and post student work at home, students need to log in to the Class App. Students can also login at app.seesaw.me by selecting 'I'm a Student'. Students can only complete assignments and post work from the Class App.

Family members can access their child’s work through the Seesaw app or website as long as their child’s class is active.

After a class has been archived by a teacher using free Seesaw or Seesaw Plus (usually at the end of the school year), family members will have 60 days to download a .zip archive of their child’s journal, including images, videos, voice recordings, captions for free. When a class is archived, we will automatically notify family members with instructions on how to download the .zip archive. After a class has been archived for 60 days, family members will no longer have access to the class.

Please note, for Seesaw for Schools accounts, families will continue to have access to their child's content after a class is archived and will not receive an email notification with instructions on how to download the .zip archive. 

If you’d like to be able to continue to access your child’s content in Seesaw, ask your school to upgrade to Seesaw for Schools. 

Here's how to download a .zip archive of a Seesaw journal, including images, videos, audio recordings, and text notes or captions. For a French translation of these instructions, click here. Please use a computer and a Chrome or Firefox browser only, the .zip file will not download on a mobile or tablet device.

Students who sign into Seesaw using their email address can also download their .zip archive by following these instructions. 

1. Sign into your Family or Student account at https://app.seesaw.me. 

2. Click your Profile Icon on the top left.

3. Click the Gear Icon.

4. Click Account Settings.

5. Scroll down and click Download Journal Archives.

6. Click the Download Journal button for the journal you want to download. This might take awhile depending on your Internet speed and how many posts your child has in Seesaw. 

This is what you get! It is organized by month and then ordered by the date the post was added. You'll see an html file with a thumbnail, text notes or captions, folder names and links (if the post used the Link Creative Tool). You'll also see the original image, video or audio files. 

Have more questions? Get in touch

Find the GSUITE Status Dashboard here:   
https://www.google.com/appsstatus#hl=en&v=status

Yes!  Gsuite can be accessed on any internet connected device.

No, graduating seniors will have access to their account until August 1st the year they graduate.  Students are offered a tool to transfer their content to a personal Gsuite account.

Gsuite for education offers unlimited storage for students and staff.

Yes, while you can access Gsuite in all browsers, Chrome works best.

You'll go to the Staff or Student Resource page and click on the Google Drive or Gmail Icon.  You will log in with your Alexschools.org account.

Schoology is a learning management system (LMS) for K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and corporations that allows users to create, manage, and share content and resources.

Visit:  Help Center

Please check the Schoology Status Monitor:  
https://status.powerschool.com/