Dive Brief:
- Chromebooks have surged in popularity among K-12 educators nationwide in the past year, overtaking Apple's iPads as the classroom device of choice.
- Education Talk radio host Larry Jacobs and Google Certified Innovator and trainer Chris Scott tell eSchoolNews that the Google-powered laptops are leading the pack largely due to their under-$200 price point, brand integrity, device longevity, overall simplicity, and support network.
- To train educators, Google offers device training and "a large network of certified trainers and innovators," in addition to conferences and professional development, contributing to its reputation as a "safe" choice by many educators due to ease of use.
Dive Insight:
The top reasons why Chomebooks are the current device of choice all fall largely on common sense. With a price tag substantially cheaper than competing laptops and tablets like the iPad, they also make financial sense. In terms of trustworthiness, many view Google's brand as reliable and dependable. The Chromebooks are also collaboration-friendly, with a simple learning curve for teachers and students to overcome before becoming proficient.
"...The devices also offer users access to Google’s popular suite of tools and apps, which are widely used even in schools that don’t use the devices," Education Dive reported last month. "The integration of the tools with the devices can help ease the hurdles of getting teachers and students used to a new system."
And while Chromebooks aren't necessarily kid-proof, they are touted to be "built to be abused."
