Google announced that an integrated screen recorder will arrive on Chrome OS in March. Google hopes the tool will make it easier for students and teachers to record virtual lessons. “Teachers have long been recording classes to help students do their homework and study for tests, but last year it became absolutely critical for virtual learning,” says the blog post on Google.
It seems very simple. After pressing the appropriate button on your Chromebook, you’ll see a countdown in the center of the screen. While your Chromebook is recording, a red circle will appear on the right side of the shelf.
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Some other tools for Chromebook students are also being developed, and some have arrived. The Chrome OS screen reader, ChromeVox, has some new features: The voice now changes based on the language of the text you are reading and you can search its menus.
In addition, parents can now use Family Link (Google’s parental control application) to manage their children’s school accounts in addition to their personal accounts. This means that the limits on usage time, bedtime and other restrictions that parents impose on their children’s personal accounts can also be applied to school accounts.
On the hardware side, Google has announced that it is launching more than 40 new Chromebooks this year. It states that each model is “equipped to provide exceptional Google Meet and Zoom experiences”.
To help schools navigate new releases, the company has released a list of available Chromebooks, which includes configurations from Samsung, Lenovo, HP, Dell, Asus and Acer, and tips for selecting the correct one. The company recommends a number of basic models, such as the Acer Chromebook Spin 511 and the Lenovo 300e, as well as more sophisticated devices such as the Chromebook Spin 713 (The Vergebest choice for Chromebook) and Samsung’s $ 1,000 Galaxy Chromebook.
Several of these units include LTE connectivity – Google is referring to them as “Always Connected” devices and emphasizes their importance for students with limited access to the Internet (although buying a device with LTE can increase the price).
Chromebooks are big sellers in the education market, in part because of their accessibility and the widespread use of Google Classroom, Google’s online educational portal by districts. 2020 was the best Chromebook year ever, largely due to the increased demand for schools that offer home instruction for the first time.
Google has been developing its services for schools and remote meetings since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the early months of remote education, Google made Meet Meetings with up to 100 participants available to anyone with a Google account. He also added several features to the Meet, in an effort to keep up with major competitors Zoom and Microsoft Teams. The company has launched custom backgrounds, blur effects, real-time captions, low light mode and hand raising in the past few months.