Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Laptops, Part 2

Torbert, Nancy

Rapp, D. (2011). Libraries, Chromebooks, and Google Apps. Library Journal, 16.

Many schools use Apple products—Macs, iPads, and the iPod touch as technology tools as well as part of the Apple 1:1 program.  Some schools are finding that the program can be too expensive and students are struggling to make their payments on their lease to buy their laptop or iPad. 

As an alternative to Apple’s laptop program, some schools are transitioning to the Google Chromebook available at a lower cost and using Google’s cloud-based applications.  Students don’t have to worry about the applications being out of date, as Google upgrades the applications with new updates.

Not only are school’s using Google apps but some public libraries have also migrated to Google—two examples cited in the article are Palo Alto City Library and the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL)--a large contract with the city of Los Angeles.

Beginning in 2013-2014 our school will phase in Google Apps for Education, beginning with Chromebooks for students who have opted to participate in an Academy that will focus on grade level collaboration among core departments. Teachers have been selected from English, Science and Social Studies.  In the meantime, however, teachers not in the Academy will need to learn Google Apps—sounds like a good use of the learning commons to provide some professional development in the ELC!

1 comment:

  1. As Apple has pretty much dominated the tablet/portable device school market the last couple years, it will be interesting to see how Chromebooks do. I wonder if schools will initially stick with Apple because the program is already in place, and then later realize it's more cost-effective to switch over. While I personally use Apple products, I do feel they're very expensive for many cash-strapped schools.

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