.png)
All 6-12th grade Alameda Unified students have been provided Chromebooks to bring home and use in class. Distribution at Encinal started on August 30th.
ChromeOS, the student-focused operating system that runs on Chromebook, was developed by Google in 2011 and is quickly becoming a threat to the world's most popular operating systems. In 2020 Google's Chrome OS officially overtook Apple's macOS in desktop operating system market share. Google holds 11% of the global share compared to Apple's 7.5%.
ChromeOS is a Linux-based operating system designed by Google that uses the Google Chrome web browser as its primary user interface. Even though Chromebooks are primarily limited to web browsing they have become incredibly popular in school environments, including Alameda Unified.
"We have been moving toward 1:1 Chromebook access gradually,” said Jan Carroll, AUSD's Instructional Technology Coordinator. “Going 1:1 has always been the goal—first having 1:1 through classroom Chromecarts so all students could access apps and the internet in class. Now, we are initiating the 1:1 phase with individual students at the 6-12 level to provide access and equity out of school. The importance of students having a portable Chromebook cannot be understated. First, it's a tool for communications, curriculum access and productivity. It's easier to work on than a smartphone, and we cannot assume that students have any other internet access out of school. The pandemic revealed a lack of access both in computers and connectivity throughout the US."
Ms. Carroll acknowledges there are limitations to ChromeOS apps but believes that the pros outweigh the cons. She cites an article on Digital Trends by Arif Bacchus, in which Arif claims Chromebooks are still a top pick for students due to their low price, simplicity, and great integration with Google services used in schools.
Interestingly, Chromebook sales do not make Google any money. Rather, Google makes its money from add-on services after the initial purchase. A Google Chrome Management Console license costs $38 per device and lasts the lifetime of the device. This license allows the school's IT department to lock down the devices, restrict access to specific websites, and more.
"All AUSD Chromebooks, Chromebases, Chromeboxes, and Chromebits should have a Google Chrome Management Console license. All should be managed under AUSD... the number [of managed Chrome devises] continues to grow as we add hundreds of devices in just the last few weeks," said Carroll.
Google announced In Jan 2020 that students and educators use 40 million Chromebooks in classrooms, this number up 33 percent from the previous year. This means there are nearly ten million new students and educators using Chromebooks. If we assume that all Chromebooks are managed, Google could be looking at $380 million just in the last year, and this number is growing.
Inferring from Google’s push to make Chromebooks more accessible, it seems plausible that Google had an incentive to make ChromOS with the goal to have youth more familiar with their services. With a ground-level familiarity with their services, students would likely continue to use these services.
Chris Setera and Thien Nguyen helped with this article.
Comments