Congratulations, you and your students have Chromebooks! These little computers are great tools that will allow your students to elevate their learning. You will now be able to create assignments that were previously impossible or at least, very challenging. Flipping the classroom is just one great example!

But first, it’s a good idea to get everyone on the same page with the jargon and vocabulary needed to properly navigate the Chromebooks. Below is a list of Chromebook lingo that you may want to learn and go over with your students to ensure they are getting the most out of their Chromebooks.

• Shelf: this is the area at the bottom of the screen where we can dock applications. Think Chromebook “bookshelf.”
• Pin: docking or attaching an app to the shelf.
• Launcher: the circle icon in the bottom left hand corner of the display. Click on it to find and “launch” apps.
• Status Area: located in the bottom right of the screen, this is where you can find your network settings, battery level, notifications, and where you would go to turn off or sign out of your Chromebook.
• Apps: interactive programs that are on the Internet and can run in a browser.
• Extensions: these “extend” or modify the capabilities of the Chrome browser. In the Chrome browser, they are the icons in the upper right hand corner of the screen. They can be added through the Chrome Web Store.
• Waffle: where you can access Google apps from the Chrome browser. Located in the upper right hand corner of the Google home screen.
• Hamburger: a menu option found in the upper left hand corner of Google app homepages or many other websites and apps. Clicking on it reveals the menu options.
• Gear/Settings: where you can access the “control center” of many different apps. Usually located in the upper right hand side of the screen.
• Omnibox: located at the top of the Chrome browser, this long bar is where you enter a website address, search Google, or ask a question.
• Bookmark bar: the bar under the Omnibox showing the pages that were bookmarked. Bookmarks can be added by navigating to the desired page and clicking the star on the right hand side of the Omnibox.

Going over this Chromebook lingo and vocabulary with your students will help to ensure that all students are on the same page and communicating efficiently and effectively while using their Chromebooks.

If you would like further help on how to use your Chromebook, Teq’s OTIS for educators platform has you covered! There are a number of videos on how to best use your Chromebooks, Google’s suite of apps, and many other videos on using technology in your classroom. Happy learning!