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The Chromebook Classroom Podcast

If you want to use Chromebooks to improve teaching and learning, this is the show for you! I interview teachers and district leaders who are using Chromebooks in creative and inspiring ways, answer your Chromebook questions, and share the best tools and resources for teaching with Chromebooks. Chromebooks are an amazing tool for the classroom, but using them well does require some thought and planning. I’m glad you are here and can’t wait to help you teach with Chrome!
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The Chromebook Classroom Podcast
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Now displaying: Category: Season 5
Jul 15, 2021

As part of my daily routine, I scan dozens of blogs, visit a handful of Facebook groups, and skim through Twitter.

The goal: find the most helpful resources, tools, and articles that I can share with my teacher friends (that’s you!).

Here are my favorite links for June 2021:

  1. NEW online course
  2. New age-based admin setting
  3. Custom templates for Google Sites
  4. Attend a meeting in-person or virtually
  5. Android Apps for Windows Laptops
  6. Giphy Chrome Extension
  7. Chromebook training guide
  8. July 17 is World emoji day!
  9. Three questions for professional learning
  10. A.I. Apocalypse

For show notes and resources on teaching with Chromebooks, visit http://chrmbook.com/podcast

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Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review!

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show!

Jun 25, 2021

On June 22, 2021, Google hosted a virtual event where they announced updates for Google Classroom, Google Meet, Google Drive, and Chromebooks.

All of these updates will be ready for you and your students this fall when you return to the classroom!

If you missed the anywhere school event, don't worry! I'll break down the entire thing in less than 30 minutes.

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Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review! 

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show! 

Jun 7, 2021

As part of my daily routine, I scan dozens of blogs, visit a handful of Facebook groups, and skim through Twitter.

The goal: find the most helpful resources, tools, and articles that I can share with my teacher friends (that’s you!).

Here are my favorite links for June 2021:

  1. Google Admin Bootcamp
  2. Classroom Quickview Extension
  3. Google Meet looks a little different
  4. Google Slides “Theme Builder”
  5. New Jamboard Book
  6. Introducing Smart Canvas 
  7. Place text on top of images in Docs 
  8. Add a checklist in Google Docs 
  9. Free Google Classroom Course for teachers!
  10. The Anywhere School 2021

For show notes and resources on teaching with Chromebooks, visit http://chrmbook.com/podcast

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Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review!

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show!

May 23, 2021

I recently took the Level 1 and Level 2 Google educator exam.

There are some important changes for 2021....in this episode, I break down what's new and share my tips for passing the L1 and L2 tests. 

 If you want to earn your Google certification this summer, I invite you to join me for the Google Certification Academy! You will work directly with me to prepare for your L1 and L2 exams. 

Learn more: HTTP://gEducator.com

For show notes and resources on teaching with Chromebooks, visit http://chrmbook.com/podcast

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Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review!

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show!

May 17, 2021

As part of my daily routine, I scan dozens of blogs, visit a handful of Facebook groups, and skim through Twitter.

The goal: find the most helpful resources, tools, and articles that I can share with my teacher friends (that’s you!).

Here are my favorite links for May 2021:

For show notes and resources on teaching with Chromebooks, visit http://chrmbook.com/podcast

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Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review!

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show!

Apr 13, 2021

As part of my daily routine, I scan dozens of blogs, visit a handful of Facebook groups, and skim through Twitter.

The goal: find the most helpful resources, tools, and articles that I can share with my teacher friends (that’s you!).

Here are my favorite links for April 2021:

For show notes and resources on teaching with Chromebooks, visit http://chrmbook.com/podcast

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Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review!

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show!

Mar 29, 2021

During the "learn with Google" event in February, Google announced three new tiers for Google Workspace for Education:

  • Education Standard
  • Teaching & Learning upgrade
  • Education Plus

In this episode, I want to look at each of these tiers and decide if they provide enough value to justify the cost of upgrading .

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Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review! 

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show! 

Mar 17, 2021

As part of my daily routine, I scan dozens of blogs, visit a handful of Facebook groups, and skim through Twitter.

The goal: find the most helpful resources, tools, and articles that I can share with my teacher friends (that’s you!).

Here are my favorite links for March 2021:

  1. Schedule breakout rooms in advance 
  2. Version history for Jamboard
  3. All the new stuff in ChomeOS Ver. 89 
  4. NEW screen recording for Chromebooks
  5. 30 Ways to use Google Forms in the Classroom
  6. 7 tips for teaching with Jamboard
  7. Create fill-in spaces with Google Docs
  8. Review: One by Wacom
  9. Stop stealing dreams
  10. Chromebook Prank guide 

For show notes and resources on teaching with Chromebooks, visit http://chrmbook.com/podcast

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Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review! 

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show!

Mar 9, 2021

Chromebook turns 10! Let's take a look back and a look forward at the impact Chromebooks have had on education and computing.

Episode Links:

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Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review! 

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show! 

Mar 4, 2021

Thanks to Wacom for sponsoring this episode. The One by Wacom makes it easy to annotate images, teach a lesson and grade student work. It is also one of the first drawing tablets that works with a Chromebook!

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Remember the "good old days?"

  • Teaching a lesson in front of the whiteboard or overhead projector was common practice.
  • Using white-out to create worksheets as an essential skill.
  • Everyone graded homework on paper with a red pen.

Things have changed.

Teaching in front of a computer screen can feel a bit rigid and scripted, but it doesn't have to be!

Can your Chromebook replace the whiteboard and the red pen?

Episode links and resources:

Feb 19, 2021

On February 17, 2021, Google hosted a virtual “learning with Google” event where they announced more than 50 significant updates for Google Classroom, Google Meet, Google Drive, and Chromebooks.

This episode is devoted to review and discussing all of this exciting updates! 

I knew I would need some help to get through all of these updates so I asked my friend Lissa Brunan to join me.

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Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review! 

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show! 

Feb 9, 2021

As part of my daily routine, I scan dozens of blogs, visit a handful of Facebook groups, and skim through Twitter.

The goal: find the most helpful resources, tools, and articles that I can share with my teacher friends (that’s you!).

Here are my favorite links for February 2021:

  1. Learn with Google event (Feb. 17)
  2. Custom background for Google Meet
  3. Chromebook Screensaver
  4. Virtual games from Arts & Culture
  5. Learn with Google Event (Feb 17)
  6. Google Meet Enhancement Suite 
  7. Drawing tablet support for Chromebooks!
  8. Dino QR codes
  9. Improvements to Google Meet & Zoom on Chromebooks
  10. Valentine’s day activity ideas

For show notes and resources on teaching with Chromebooks, visit http://chrmbook.com/podcast

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Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review! 

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show!

Jan 28, 2021

My guest today is Duane Habecker, a veteran math teacher and designer of engaging digital math challenges. 

Duane is passionate about helping students understand math…not just on a superficial level, but understanding the logic and beauty of the language of numbers.

For show notes and resources on teaching with Chromebooks, visit http://chrmbook.com/podcast

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Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review! 

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show! 

Jan 14, 2021

As part of my daily routine, I scan dozens of blogs, visit a handful of Facebook groups, and skim through Twitter.

The goal: find the most helpful resources, tools, and articles that I can share with my teacher friends (that’s you!).

Here are my favorite links for January 2021:

  1. Google acquires Cloud Ready software
  2. Two updates for Google Meet: 
  3. Printing from your Chromebook
  4. Grading tips from a HS science teacher
  5. Doodle for Google is back!
  6. Mindset Moment with Andrew J. Canlé
  7. Get to know the student behind the mask
  8. Jan. 28 is digital privacy day
  9. Link Lock
  10. Annotate Meet Chrome Extension

 

 

For show notes and resources on teaching with Chromebooks, visit http://chrmbook.com/podcast

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Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review! 

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show! 

Dec 15, 2020

On March 12, 2020, I was attending a conference when the news broke that the entire state would be under stay-at-home orders for several weeks due to COVID-19.

As someone who is a full time speaker and edTech consultant, this was a terrifying moment as I realized that all of my scheduled school visits and conferences sessions would most certainly be cancelled.

Since that date in March, I began providing virtual PD for schools.

These are some of the lessons I have learned after facilitating more than 150 hours of virtual learning. 

District Webinar Subscription Program

To help schools continue to provide helpful virtual PD, I am offering a district webinar subscription program.

For only $25/FTE your teachers can attend a weekly webinar by me between January 12 and May 21. 

🔗 Program details: http://SowashVentures.com/subscription

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Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review! 

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show! 

Dec 8, 2020

As part of my daily routine, I scan dozens of blogs, visit a handful of Facebook groups, and skim through Twitter.

The goal: find the most helpful resources, tools, and articles that I can share with my teacher friends (that’s you!).

Here are my favorite links for December 2020:

  1. Google Sites gets custom fonts
  2. Google Vault update
  3. Cheaters can’t outsmart Google!
  4. Improved comment / suggestion modes for Docs
  5. Improved “people” directory in the Gmail side panel
  6. Computer Science Week
  7. Get creative with Chromebooks
  8. Five Jamboard templates
  9. Funkify
  10. Sowash family Christmas tradition

For show notes and resources on teaching with Chromebooks, visit http://chrmbook.com/podcast

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Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review! 

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show! 

Dec 2, 2020

Google Cloud Print will be shut down at the end of 2020.

If you plan on printing from your Chromebook, you need to find a new solution.

Because students and teachers have been taking Chromebooks home due to COVID, connecting your Chromebook to your home printer is more important than ever. 

We'll also discuss managing district printers using the Google Admin Console. 

For show notes and resources, head over to http://Chrmbook.com/podcast

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Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review! 

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show! 

Nov 23, 2020

Chromebook wins, frustrations, and strategies

In November 2020 I was invited to be a panelist on the weekly teacher round table hosted by Tim Cavey of the Teachers on Fire Podcast.

Chromebooks was the topic for the November 14 discussion and I was honored to join four other educators to share our Chromebook wins, frustrations, and strategies.

Become a teacher on fire! 🔥

For more conversations like this, make sure you subscribe to the Teachers on Fire podcast.

During each episode, my good friend Tim Cavey highlights a teacher who is crushing it in the classroom.

Each episode is a dose of inspiration and encouragement to continue changing the world, one student at at time.

SUBSCRIBE to the Teachers on Fire podcast:

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Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review! 

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show! 

Nov 18, 2020

If you or a family member is in the market for a new computer, black Friday is a great time to make a purchase! 

While specific deals will come and go, I’d like to explain how to spot the best holiday deals on Chromebooks.

I’ll also point you to a few specific deals for the 2020 holiday season.

Teacher device recommendation:

Student device recommendation:

Honorable Mention:

Stocking stuffers: 

  • Stylus (USI, EMR, other): $20-50
  • Chromecast: $19 at Walmart (Black Friday only)
  • Roku: $17 at Walmart (Black Friday only)
  • External monitor

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Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review! 

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show! 

Nov 18, 2020

If you or a family member is in the market for a new computer, black Friday is a great time to make a purchase! 

While specific deals will come and go, I’d like to explain how to spot the best holiday deals on Chromebooks.

I’ll also point you to a few specific deals for the 2020 holiday season.

Teacher device recommendation:

Student device recommendation:

Honorable Mention:

Stocking stuffers: 

  • Stylus (USI, EMR, other): $20-50
  • Chromecast: $19 at Walmart (Black Friday only)
  • Roku: $17 at Walmart (Black Friday only)
  • External monitor

-----------------

Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review! 

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show! 

Nov 12, 2020

As part of my daily routine, I scan dozens of blogs, visit a handful of Facebook groups, and skim through Twitter.

The goal: find the most helpful resources, tools, and articles that I can share with my teacher friends (that’s you!).

Here are my favorite links for November 2020:

  1. New Quarter, new Class 
  2. Background replace for Google Meet 
  3. Let everyone into Google Meet 
  4. More .new shortcuts! 
  5. Admin Google Meet setup guide 
  6. Yi Note Extension 
  7. Chromebook Black Friday Deals
  8. Join me LIVE on Saturday for a Chromebook roundtable 
  9. Pixel Art Reveal
  10. Breakout room slide template 

For show notes and resources on teaching with Chromebooks, visit http://chrmbook.com/podcast

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Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review! 

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show! 

Nov 4, 2020

Should your district upgrade to the enterprise edition of G Suite for Education?

That’s the question I would like to help you answer! 

During this episode we will explore the differences between the free and paid versions of G Suite for Education, look at pricing, and try to decide if upgrading is a good fit for your district.

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Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review! 

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show! 

Oct 21, 2020

As part of my daily routine, I scan dozens of blogs, visit a handful of Facebook groups, and skim through Twitter.

The goal: find the most helpful resources, tools, and articles that I can share with my teacher friends (that’s you!).

Here are my favorite links for October 2020:

  1. Citation for Google Docs
  2. Migrate data between Google Domains
  3. Introducing Google Workspace  
  4. Google Meet gets all the things 
  5. Sweet new virtual whiteboard  
  6. Virtual parent teacher conferences 
  7. Why you should read Edgar Allen Poe
  8. Need a Halloween costume? Google can help!
  9. Halloween Choice Board
  10. Virtual Pumpkin Carving with Slides

For show notes and resources on teaching with Chromebooks, visit http://chrmbook.com/podcast

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Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review! 

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show! 

Oct 11, 2020

A touchscreen Chromebooks is even better when you add in a digital pen. 

Teaching during the COVID pandemic made this abundantly clear to me...sometimes you just need to write with a pen. 

Only a handful of Chromebooks come with an included digital pen, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add a pen to your Chromebook. 

In this episode you'll learn about three types of digital pens and how the Universal Stylus Initiative (USI) is going to make pens even better for Chromebook users. 

For show notes and resources on teaching with Chromebooks, visit http://chrmbook.com/podcast

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Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review! 

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show! 

Sep 22, 2020

As part of my daily routine, I scan dozens of blogs, visit a handful of Facebook groups, and skim through Twitter.

The goal: find the most helpful resources, tools, and articles that I can share with my teacher friends (that’s you!).

Here are my favorite links for September 2020:

  1. Background Blur for Google Meet 
  2. View everyone in Google Meet
  3. New moderator controls for Google Meet
  4. Share folders within a Shared Drive
  5. Art Zoom Series 2 
  6. Smithsonian WWII collection 
  7. Doodle for Google finalist for all 50 states
  8. Digital pens are coming to Chromebooks 
  9. Google is adding screen recording to Chromebooks
  10. 5 Ways to get MORE value out of Google Classroom

For show notes and resources on teaching with Chromebooks, visit http://chrmbook.com/podcast

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Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review! 

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show! 

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