Technology has become so critical to the classroom that teachers are constantly left wondering what schools will be provided with next for their word-processing and Internet-based research needs. For some time since the release of Apple's iPad, a emphasis was placed on smaller, more portable devices that students could use when and how they needed to. Derrick Wlodarz of Betanews argues, however, that the conversation of educational technology has shifted away from Apple iPad and onto Google's Chromebooks and Microsoft's Surface.
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Source: Betanews.
From what I have seen of the iPad and have heard and learned about Chromebooks, I think Chromebooks has a great advantage over the iPad in the school setting; Chromebooks are cheaper, more reliable, it runs on low power and takes up less bandwidth.
ReplyDeleteThere is a comment made in the article a long the lines of "all you need is the web (and Chromebook)" that I am not quite sure I buy into. It's true that the web is a great learning tool and resource, and that students and teachers rely heavily on the web, but I feel like students need tools and resources that not only allows them to gain knowledge through the web but through experience and through analysis of those experiences with the aid of technology. Many times these experiences require higher power performing technology which will not work well with the low power functioning chrome books. For example the technology and tools one might use in a graphic design class or for my future students in a biology class using lab probes, require higher power. While the low power functioning Chromebooks are good in that they reduce cost, allow many students to access the web at the same time because it takes up very little bandwidth, and provide easy access to materials through the cloud, I am not convinced, as of yet, it can provide the learning experiences that students need in classrooms.
The comment in the original article which says "all you need is the web (and Chromebook)" is accurate, in context. What they mean by that is you don't need to buy special software licenses, install countless software applications, or constantly image the machines: all you need is the web--it will do what you need it to do without all the extra hassle.
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