Google Chrome: Educators scrap computer hardware for a collaborative learning platform
The technology-centric curriculum that drives the paradigm of today’s educators includes a fresh look at the way students can utilize laptop computers. Some educators and tech experts are finding the future shift to Google’s Chrome™ OS Notebooks may be the ideal means to parlay collaborative coursework via cloud computing in a speedier and more cost effective fashion than a traditional computer.
That is because rather than rely on traditional computer hardware to run through its operating system to connect students’ Web browsers to the Internet the Google Chrome OS instead streamlines the connection via the Internet cloud.
How it works
One main difference with a Chrome browser and notebook is the speed in which Chrome connects a user to the Internet in order to conduct Web searches, read documents, watch online videos, chat or email, among other computer activities. The Chrome operating system (OS) runs from the Internet’s “stateless” cloud as opposed to running through the hard drive’s operating platform beforehand, according to Google and tech critics. This differs from a traditional computer hardware with Internet and browser connectivity that gets bogged down by its needs to run off an internal operating platform.
Google claims this speedier Chrome connection occurs within 10 seconds of user launch compared to what experts indicate is typically a 45-second wait when operating off a traditional computer hardware’s operating platform.
The Cr-48 Chrome Notebook: An “ideal” student computer
Why, then, is the Cr-48 Chrome purportedly “ideal” and “easiest” student computer, as suggested by one tech reviewer?
On one hand, it is a smoother technical way for educators to promulgate learning tools for cloud-based course studies versus worrying about what hardware is available or affordable to achieve the same educational goal. Also, the wireless Internet-dependant notebook bids adieu to the PC days of installing applications on hard drives, delayed browser connections and hard disks because students’ every need, from Gmail™ to study-specific extensions, like apps for Web design students, are easily accessible via the cloud.
Students further benefit from the variety of apps, which include “Note Anywhere.” This app affords students the ability to post virtual sticky notes on Web pages they may need for project research. These notes reappear when they log back into the Chrome browser.
As noted by Chrome Product Manager Ryan Tabone on the Google Chrome Notebook demo: “All apps and your bookmarks will be synced to all of your computers running the Chrome browser.”
Educators can do this by syncing the notebooks using its sync feature so that all students engage in the same experience when logged in. Further, the new computer allows students to log in from any Chrome notebook, even if they lose theirs, because it allows them to instantly retrieve work from the cloud.
Higher education has use for Chrome Notebook too
It also is a key student notebook because it works seamlessly with Google’s Apps for Education, which provides educators and students with customized collaboration platform to engage in studies via cloud computing.
At the higher education level, Apps for Education allows students to access documents remotely and conduct in-time collaboration on course work. It also allows for collaborative project websites, all in a speedier fashion with enhanced security features, among others. This is primarily effective for educators and students because it the needs for costly on-site hardware. In fact, it’s free.
And potentially so is the Cr-48 Chrome OS via its pilot program. Google is currently accepting applications from educators to receive distribute and test drive Cr-48s. For free.
However, before educators jump the hardware ship in lieu of this temporarily free collaborative learning platform, they should consider the possibility of potential kinks with the Cr-48 Chrome due to the fact it is still only in the pilot phase.
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