Learn from home with Chromebooks

As schools close their doors due to Covid-19, educators and students turn to technology to move their classroom learning to their homes. Google is providing free access to advanced Hangouts Meet features, as well as resources and tips for teaching classes remotely.

School admins can quickly and securely prepare their school’s Chromebooks to go home with students. Educators and IT administrators can also use Google’s new resource hub to find materials, resources and training. 

Chromebooks are remotely managed through the Google Admin console, making it simple for schools and IT administrators to deploy and manage thousands of devices. There’s no need to manually install software or login to a device to apply settings. Admins simply flip a switch online and every device updates its applications and settings automatically. These same capabilities make it just as easy to turn school-based Chromebooks into take-home devices for students to continue learning in times of need. For example:

• Admins can restrict device access to managed student accounts or set “Off Hours” when students can sign in with their personal accounts.

• Admins can use URL blacklists to set content restrictions and ensure that students are held to the same responsible-use policies off-campus as they are inside their classrooms.

• Admins can enable and share applications for notetaking, podcasting, video editing, book publishing, drawing, screencasting, and other schoolwork—providing digital tools and resources to fill in for classroom supplies they might not have at home.

Even if students don’t have WiFi access, they can still access their Google Drive and edit and save files offline. They can also take photos, record videos and screencasts while offline on Chromebooks. 

Some parents and guardians might not be familiar with Chromebooks and how they differ from other computers. Admins might consider sending an email home to parents to explain how these devices work and how to assist students at home with Guardian’s Guide to Chromebooks. It’s important to share information with families about how to manage their child’s Chromebooks, including activity controls and which sites to allow. Schools might also consider sharing their distance learning plans with families so they might know how to support the transition.

As families support students learning at home, you can find resources on Google’s distance learning hub and watch webinar below on distance learning strategies. There’s also Teach from Home, a temporary hub of information and tools to help teachers during the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis.