In the K-12 education world, there’s no hotter piece of must-have technology right now than a Chromebook. These compact, affordable computers were absolute lifesavers for scores of educators, parents, and students during the pandemic when schools were forced to pivot to remote learning models. Thanks to its low price point, ease of use, and lightweight, portable construction, the Chromebook has outpaced just about every other type of laptop computer as a top choice in classrooms nationwide.
…But is it a laptop?
This begs the question, is a Chromebook a laptop? Can the two terms be used interchangeably to describe the same thing? Yes…and no. Any model of computer designed for portable, on-the-go use can be considered a laptop, and the term “laptop” technically refers to portable PCs running on the Windows operating system.
How is a Chromebook different from a laptop?
The main difference between a Chromebook and a laptop is that a Chromebook runs on the web-based Google Chrome operating system. Unlike a traditional laptop, which relies on software installed on the computer’s hard drive, a Chromebook uses cloud-based apps such as Gmail, Google Docs, and even Microsoft Office that run on the Chrome OS software and can be bookmarked, opened, and shared on any computer.
For example, if you don’t have your Chromebook with you and need to work on a document, you can still open it up on your friend’s Mac or PC by using the Google Chrome browser to access your account. This versatility means that Chromebooks can be used by multiple students in a single day, which is ideal for classroom use. Additionally, eliminating the need for a hard drive also helps keep the price of a Chromebook drastically lower than a PC or Mac laptop.
Chromebooks in the classroom
At the onset of COVID-19, when it became clear that students would need access to reliable technology to attend school remotely, many schools across the country purchased Chromebooks for students to check out and use at home. Now that class is back in session on a traditional, in-person level; these schools are now able to issue Chromebooks for student use in select classroom activities. When not in use, Chromebook carts are a popular choice for keeping class sets of Chromebooks organized, charged, and safe. Best of all, these carts are mobile and can be wheeled from classroom to classroom so the entire student body can share a single class set if necessary.
While a Chromebook isn’t technically a laptop, in many ways, its capabilities fulfill the needs of students and teachers far more than a traditional laptop does. Most importantly, their relative affordability makes it much more feasible for schools to supply students and teachers with enough Chromebooks for an entire class. Chromebooks are an essential part of today’s K-12 education landscape and won’t be going anywhere soon!