Benefits of Google Apps and Chromebooks
Updated version of this as a Google Doc: https://goo.gl/zbcAA2
How does Google Apps and Chromebooks compare to Apple or Microsoft inside the classroom?
- Google Apps and Chromebooks are extremely easy to use. Students and teachers can access thousands of web apps and extensions, most free, as well as everything on the internet.
- Schools using Chromebooks have great experiences with limited issues or concerns.
- Unlimited file storage on Google Drive (any type of file)
- plenty of resources to help teachers use them to improve teaching and learning
- can use Office Editing (free app) in Docs, Sheets and Slides to edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint files
- can use Office 365 or any web based software
- can be used as the only device, or in a mixed device environment
- huge community of users that share and support each other (over 50 Millions users of GAFE!!)
- Google Classroom is a game-changer…it allows teachers to share resources and communicate with students, distribute, collect and grade assignments, and so much more. Google Classroom resources for Educators
Resources for Teachers:
- Google for Education Training Center - excellent resource for teachers on using Google Apps in the Classroom
- Google Chromebooks Basics course - another excellent resource for teachers using Chromebooks in the Classroom
How do they manage a Chrome device versus an Apple or Microsoft device from an admin perspective?
- Chromebooks are extremely easy to manage, whether managing 30 or 30,000
- Management is done through web based admin console from anywhere, on any device
- do not have to physically touch the devices once they are enrolled
- settings, apps, etc are all pushed out almost instantly
- over 170 settings can be managed
- manage users, networks, devices, apps, and much more
- import users from a variety of systems into Google Apps easily
- easiest devices to manage
- no re-imaging,
- easily shared in as a multi-user shared device
Technical Resources:
What is the ROI and price?
- huge ROI and low prices
- GAFE is free
- most web apps are free (even when the iPad app had a fee)
- easy to use so they get used all the time in class (and <7 second start up)
- Example - 1000 students - 3 year total cost of ownership
- Windows PC $6,213,000
- Chromebooks $1,071,000 - savings of $5,141,000 !!! (that is 82 % less)
- Mac and Apple are similar to or even higher costs than Windows (higher hardware costs, more labor to deploy and manage, software costs)
- Example:
- iPad: $399 + $99 Apple Care + $99 keyboard + $49 case = $646
- Chromebook: $299 + $30 license = $329 – half the price of an iPad
- A Chromebook ($329) and a Nexus 7 tablet ($199 + $30 license + $30 case = $259 ) (Total $588) can both be purchased for less than the price of just one iPad
- Chrome web apps are 95% free
- iPad apps, while there are free ones, are more fee based and license is non-transferable
- Windows devices have higher up-front cost, are harder to manage, require more IT support, Antivirus and more.
- Most users are using web-based apps anyway, or there is a web based version available
* Easy to use, inexpensive, easy to manage, great training and PD resources, you can do anything on them. *
