Why the UVHG is focusing on Chromebooks as well as tablets

The Ulrich-von-Hutten-Gymnasium in Schlüchtern uses both tablets and Chrome OS devices for digital instruction. One of the reasons is that the utilized Chromebooks are equipped not only with a touchscreen but also with a keyboard. Moreover, they can be centrally managed online through an admin console. We assisted the school with admin training and enabled teachers and students to easily log in and securely use the Chromebooks via a Microsoft 365 account. Additionally, we serve as points of contact and provide support in case of issues..

The Ulrich-von-Hutten-Gymnasium (UVHG) is a modern comprehensive school in the eastern part of the Main-Kinzig district (Hesse) in Germany, with a long tradition. The aim of the school is to to enable students to enter higher education and also prepare them for a successful professional life.

At first, UVH Gymnasium had iPads and Samsung tablets in use. However, when the Main-Kinzig district asked the school if they would like to test Chromebooks, they immediately agreed. Vanessa Brust, intern teacher and project lead for the Chrome OS devices, said, “I believe it's important for us to have a wide range of devices available so that students can learn about different options. Not everyone has an iPad at home.” A prerequisite for the acquisition was simple device management and secure usage. Additionally, teachers and students should be able to log in to the devices, originally designed for Google accounts, using their Microsoft 365 accounts.

The UVHG has a set of 30 Chromebooks in use, which teachers can use for their classes. Whether conducting surveys, collaboratively working on content on a digital whiteboard, or learning grammar and foreign languages using learning apps – the Chromebooks are used in various ways. By linking the devices with a management license, the Google Chrome Education Upgrade, all devices can be centrally managed with just a few clicks. For instance, URLs like YouTube can be blocked, and apps like GeoGebra can be pre-set.

As a Google for Education partner, we assisted the high school with a 3-hour introductory workshop on the admin console and enabled the management of Chrome OS devices using Microsoft's Active Directory. This allows teachers and students to log in to the Chromebooks easily with their Microsoft 365 account, where they can access their personal files and learning materials. When a session is finished, a device is reset to its initial state, making it impossible to trace who was logged in.

Vanessa Brust is enthusiastic about the Chromebooks and says, “Setting up and operating the devices, in my opinion, is super easy. Moreover, they are very robust and start up extremely quickly.” Even though she doesn't have an IT background, she handles the device management.

She is also very satisfied with the collaboration with this company. “We were always well-informed about different possibilities, but it was never intrusive.”

In conclusion, she has a tip for teachers. “One should not hesitate to integrate Chromebooks into the classroom. The more often you do it, the smoother it runs.”

As a long-standing Google for Education partner, we have already supported numerous educational institutions on their way to digital teaching. We would be happy to help your institution as well. Arrange a free consultation with us.

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