On Medium.com, Gary S. Stager, Ph.D. created a post titled Caution Chromebooks. In this post, he suggests that a computer should be able to do anything that a student wants and he states, “The Chromebook might be sufficient if you believe that the primary purpose of school to be taking notes, looking stuff up, completing forms, and communication.” He continues stating “Where is S.T.E.M? Or the Arts in the examples of classroom Chromebook use? He basically suggests that it is not possible to create movies or edit audio files on a Chromebook and also says that they lack the ability “to connect things like microcontrollers, robotics, 3D printers, laser cutters.”
First, let me start off by saying that I highly respect Dr. Stager and his work for moving to more authentic education in our schools. In fact, I totally agree with his point on Interactive White Boards in my post titled Innovative EdTech: Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing. I also agree that a computer should not be limited and that the point of school should not be to take notes, look stuff up and fill out forms. However, as with most people’s impression on the ability of a Chromebook, his thoughts are limited.
All of the things he said weren’t possible on a Chromebook actually are possible. My Chrome Can Series of posts is working to prove this point. This series of posts show how the Chromebook is a fantastic tool for creativity, collaboration, communication and critical thinking. I regularly make screencasts, edit videos and images as well as do design work on a Chromebook. This series will cover the apps I use and other apps that detail how capable Chromebooks really are.
In this post, I will specifically discuss and give examples of the S.T.E.M. component to Dr. Stager’s argument.
As an Educational Technologist, I support the use of technology in the classroom. I am a big proponent of the Maker Movement and believe that a computer in the classroom should support Maker activities. I have also done S.T.E.M. type learning activities with kids using Chromebooks. Including working with Arduinos, Makey Makeys, micro:bits, Coding with Scratch and Robotics work with both Lego Wedo and Mindstorm.
Below I will share links to places that explain how a Chromebook can support S.T.E.M. activities.
Design fabrication
3D Printing
Recently Google has partnered with Dremel to make a 3D printer that plays nice with Chromebooks. This printer the Dremel 3D40 was created by Bosch. Students can utilize applications like Tinkercad to design objects that can then be printed in 3D!
Want to know how to use Chromebooks with a 3D printer? This post is a great read!
Laser Cutting.
You can do all the prep you need on a Chromebook and then print it from a teacher’s computer. I am assuming if a school had enough money to get a laser cutter they would also have a dedicated computer from which to “print” from. If not there are other options. A Chrome Web app called gcode-sender can help.
Programming and Microcontrollers
Coding on a Chromebook is possible for students who want to learn the basics of coding or even want to create their own games. There are several ways to learn and improve coding skills within a Chrome browser.
Coding with Chrome
Google is working on a project that enables anyone who wants to learn how to code to work in an easy-to-use coding/programming environment (IDE) within the Chrome browser. What is really cool is that this IDE even works offline! Users are currently able to write programs using Blockly, Coffeescript, HTML, Javascript and Python with output to Logo Turtle and/or other connected toys such as the Sphero, mBot and Lego Mindstorms.
Scratch
Scratch, is a great environment for student’s to learn about programming. According to the makers of the web-based app, “Your students can use Scratch to code their own interactive stories, animations, and games. In the process, they learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively — essential skills for everyone in today’s society.”
Arduino
Want to learn more about using Chromebooks with Arduinos? Sparkfun has a great article about codebender and their extension which enables students to program Arduino with their Chromebooks.
MakeyMakey
You can also use the Makey Makey with a Chromebook. Usually, this works best using Scratch from MIT. According to the creators of the Makey Makey, “Makey Makey is an invention kit for the 21st century. Turn everyday objects into touchpads and combine them with the internet. It’s a simple Invention Kit for Beginners and Experts doing art, engineering, and everything in between.”
Micro:bit
According to the creators of the micro:bit, “The BBC micro:bit is a pocket-sized codable computer with motion detection, a built-in compass and Bluetooth technology. Students can use their Chromebooks to create code for their micro:bit using the web-based coding environment.
littleBits
littleBits now has a Code Kit app available for Chromebooks in the Chrome Web Store. The app makes use of Google’s Blockly and allows students to program their creations.
Robotics
There are several robotics kits that work with the Chromebook. These enable students to build and program robots. The most popular are the Lego Education Wedo and Mindstorm and have apps specifically made for the Chromebook. Another fantastic robot is the Mirobot. The Mirobot according to the makers is a “build-it-yourself WiFi drawing robot that teaches children about technology, programming and mathematics.” Students have a variety of applications that can be used to program their Mirobot.
These are just some ways that a Chromebook is a device capable of doing S.T.E.M. work. Add in the addition of Android Applications and you can do much more.
It’s time to stop thinking of Chromebooks as just a browser!
Thanks for reading
Shannon H. Doak Ed.D.
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