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Google Apps for Education and Chromebooks  are very popular with education for many reasons, one of which is the ease of management and deployment. The Admin Console allows staff to manage apps, user settings, devices settings and much more. Here are some tips and best practices for settings in the Admin Console. The Admin Console is relatively easy to use, although some settings can be hard to find. Remember to use the help features by clicking on the question marks throughout the console. The icons on the console can be moved and arranged via drag-and-drop so you can put the ones you use most up front. Typically, Users, Device Management, and Apps are the most used.  Here are some excellent resources: Resources for IT Teams (G Suite for Education) - Learn more about G Suite for Education and Chromebooks, review best practices for deploying the tools smoothly, and access support when you need it. Transition Guides - help prepare your organization for the switch to G Suite. ...

Last week had two interesting announcements for EDU - a new iPad and the Acer Chromebook Tab 10 tablet. There have been a lot of different reactions from the two, but most reactions were very positive towards the Chromebook Tab and very "meh" to the new iPad. Here are my thoughts and some articles that were posted about them. I've used iPads and Chromebooks, as well as managing them in the education space. I've been using a Chromebook Tab 10 for over a week now and here are my thoughts and comparisons: Management and Deployment - Apple still hasn't gotten this right. Chromebooks, including the new Tab 10, are the easiest devices to deploy and manage. iPads are not easy and require 3rd party tools. This means less headaches, work and cost for school IT departments.  Price - $329 for the Tab 10 includes the stylus, which docks into the tablet and does not need charging. The $299 iPad doesn't include the stylus and there is no where to dock it. In addition, the A...

Android Apps for Education  Android is the most popular mobile operating system in the world, running on smartphones and tablets. But, you can also use Android Apps on Chromebooks , including the new Chromebook Tab 10 Chrome OS tablet. Chrome and Android all in one! And don't forget about all of the Chrome Apps, Extensions and full websites Chromebooks and the Chromebook Tab can access. Finding good apps can be hard, so here is a list of Android apps for Education to use on Chromebooks, Chromebook Tab and other Android devices. Google for Education Resources  Android for Education Resources  Android Apps "Education" Category   Google Classroom  - the Android app does more than the web app Ability to digitally handwrite on top of PDF's and Google Docs Ability to take pictures and record videos to insert into assignments, posts, and more Google Jamboard - collaborative whiteboard supporting text, images, links, notes and assets from the web.  https://gsuite...

Acer and Google have just announced the first Chrome OS tablet , the Acer Chromebook Tab 10. Works and managed like a Chromebook, but in tablet form. This is a great device for schools looking for a tablet device, with a stylus and Android apps, that is easy to deploy and manage. It uses the same management license as Chromebooks and is managed in the same way. It also has a full desktop browser, removing the limitations of mobile browsers. It is mobile, lightweight, touch and easy to use. Using Chrome OS makes it easy to deploy, manage and share with others. It has dual cameras, an integrated EMR active stylus, multimedia features, note taking and handwriting apps, educational apps (Chrome and Android) for K-3, STEM, video, multimedia and accessibility apps and features. It has a textured surface, similar to the Acer C738T, making it easier to carry, and less likely to be dropped. Performance is fast and smooth, handling over 15 tabs and 5 apps during my testing time and the stylus is...

Android has come to Chromebooks and is available on EDU Domains! This opens up a whole new world of possibilities with Chromebooks, adding thousands of great apps, features and capabilities. Here are the resources for Admins to get Android apps enabled for their domain: Android Apps and Chromebooks As of right now, these Chromebooks support Android apps: Asus Chromebook Flip, Acer Chromebook R11 / C738T / CB5-132T, Google Chromebook Pixel (2015) All Chromebooks launching in 2017 and after will support Android apps (very soon) Chromebooks listed below will work with Android apps at a time to be announced in the future*: https://sites.google.com/a/chromium.org/dev/chromium-os/chrome-os-systems-supporting-android-apps Manage Android Apps on Chrome https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/7131624 Here are some great suggestions for Android apps (and some web apps): Android App Suggestions for Chromebooks (all are free) MyScript Calculator:  http...

Google for Education , which includes G Suite for Education , Chromebooks , and content, is one of the most popular, and most updated, platforms for education. Here are some great resources for IT, Teachers, Students and more. Google for Education main site:  https://www.google.com/edu/   Getting started with G Suite for Education:  https://support.google.com/a/answer/2856827 G Suite for Education:  https://www.google.com/edu/products/productivity-tools/   Chromebooks:  https://www.google.com/edu/products/devices/   Google Device Showcase - Chromebooks, Chromeboxes and more  Google for Education Transformation Center - resources, examples and tips for transforming your classroom and school Class Content:  https://www.google.com/edu/products/class-content/  - content and apps that have been approved by Google Benefits of Google Apps and Chromebooks - lots of resources, tips and ideas Google Apps Administrator Help Site  - for G Su...

Epson announced the availability of the Epson iProjection™ App for Chromebooks , enabling students and teachers to wirelessly display content from Chromebooks on Epson BrightLink ® interactive projectors and most PowerLite® projectors. With the Epson Multi-PC Projection with Moderator function1 and the Epson iProjection App for Chromebooks, the teacher has the ability to display up to four Chromebook notebook computers simultaneously from a maximum of 50 connected devices for an engaging collaborative classroom experience. This is a huge feature that many teachers have been asking for. Imaging being able to move around the classroom, projecting from your Chromebook, or having your students share their work with the class, all wirelessly! I wish I had this when I was a teacher! More info below: LONG BEACH, Calif. – Sept. 27, 2016 –  Epson, the number-one selling projector brand worldwide, today announced the availability of the  Epson iProjection™ App for Chromebooks , enabling...

Mojo Networks Introduces Mojo Enforce for the K-12 Education Marketplace Mojo Enforce is the First Cloud Managed WiFi Feature to Integrate Directly Into Google for Education to Automatically Enact Policies on the School’s WiFi Network This is a great option for schools to control access to their wireless networks and works with Chromebooks. Mountain View, CA, September 7, 2016 – Many K-12 schools and districts have challenges in controlling what devices connect to their WiFi networks because of the limitations of current WiFi authentication techniques. With the continued growth of connected devices – iPads, Chromebooks, smartphones and tablets and more – in schools, there is a growing need for school IT administrators to control WiFi device connections. Mojo Networks, a leader in secure cloud managed WiFi for the K-12 educational market , announces Mojo Enforce. Enforce takes policies for network access and device management from third party systems and applies them to the WiFi netwo...

Google Apps for Education and Chromebooks have become truly awesome resources for schools and Google just keeps improving them. Here are some of the recent announcements: Android apps are coming to Chromebooks! - some Android apps have already been available for use on a Chromebook. I've been using the Evernote app for a while and love it. But in order to get them to work, developers had to do some work themselves. With this new announcement, the Google Play Store and most of it's app will work with Chromebooks. Three models are getting access in June with more getting access later. See this link for full details on which Chromebooks will get this and when. This is huge for schools as they will be able to benefit from the low cost and ease of use and management of Chromebooks, and use all of the great Android apps that are out there. With this announcement, touchscreen Chromebooks are even more functional for schools. For specs, 4GB RAM is always my suggestion and 16GB driv...

In the past, I've written about the technology I use on a daily basis (see bottom of page for links). Here's my updated version for Spring, 2016. I am a K-12 Education Strategist for CDW-G . In this role, I work with schools on selecting and implementing technology solutions to improve teaching and learning. I do a lot of research on best practices in education and technology and do a decent amount of traveling. I'm a huge user of  Google Apps  and  Evernote . They are my main work, and personal tools, and all of my devices work with them. Without these, I'm stuck. I also back them both up. My day typically consists of email conversations and support with our account managers and customers, Google Hangouts with customers providing support, advice, strategy planning, training and professional development, and doing online research, as well as creating tools and resources, like presentations and reference materials. If I am traveling, I only bring my smartphone and my Ace...

Soundtrap is a new site that lets you make music online, from any device, with your own instruments or the virtual ones on the site. The free version offers 5 projects, 750 loops, 151 instruments and sounds and lots of other features. There are premium levels with more features and less limits. Soundtrap works on Mac, Windows, iPad, Android tablets and phones, Linux and Chromebooks . It allows you to start, edit and collaborate on your recordings wherever you are.  You can collaborate with others and even share your music on Facebook, Twitter and SoundCloud, as well as iTunes. You can sign in with Office 365, Google, Facebook or an email account.  This is a great tool that schools can use to help students learn and explore music.  The Education version  is in a walled garden and COPPA compliant and has different pricing than the consumer version. With this version, students and teachers are in their own private area and can more easily collaborate. Pricing is based ...