Chromebook 101: Parts of a Chromebook

Chromebook 101: Parts of a Chromebook

If your district is implementing a computing program, Chromebooks are an essential consideration. Low in price and secure, Chromebooks are internet-heavy devices running on Chrome OS.

One of the most attractive features about a Chromebook is the fact that they are relatively low maintenance. With little to no software, OS and app updates are often automatic and occur in the background. In terms of hardware, there are very few moving parts in the device.

 

Parts of a Chromebook

Even though they are lean on hardware, you should still be familiar with their parts. Here are the parts of a Chromebook:

 

Motherboard

The heart of your Chromebook, the motherboard is the main circuit board. It holds and enables all communication between many crucial systems in your Chromebook. The motherboard holds the central processing unit (CPU).

 

Battery

Chromebooks use lithium-ion batteries, which are rechargeable. Another draw about Chromebooks is their long battery life. Most Chromebooks can support an eight-hour school day easily on a single charge.

 

A/C Adapter

Also referred to as a power cord or charger, a Chromebook’s A/C adapter is its external power supply that recharges the battery.

 

Display

Referred to by many names, a Chromebook’s display is composed of an LCD and the glass screen. Depending on your Chromebook, it may also have a digitizer.

  • LCD: Liquid-crystal display, or LCD, is a flat-panel display that uses liquid crystals in its primary operation. LCDs are extremely common today, and largely replaced light-emitting diode (LED) displays.
  • Screen: The protective glass that covers the LCD
  • Digitizer: If your Chromebook features a touch screen, it will have a digitizer which enable s the touch screen functionality.

 

Bezel

Typically made of plastic, the bezel is the border around the display.

 

Web Cam

The web cam is located above the display in the bezel.

 

Microphone

The microphone is typically located beside the web cam.

 

Ports

Chromebooks come equipped with a variety of ports which can include:

  • USB ports: type A, C, or both
  • Headphone and/or microphone jack
  • Micro SD slot for expandable storage
  • SIM card slot for Chromebooks with LTE capabilities

 

Keyboard, Touchpad, and Palmrest

Often sold as one part, the keyboard, touchpad, and palmrest is where the action occurs on the Chromebook.

  • Keyboard: Although still in QWERTY format, Chromebook keyboards differ from a Windows laptop or MacBook. The caps lock key has been replaced with the search/launcher key. There are also no enhanced function keys (F1-F12).
  • Touchpad: Also referred to as clickpad or trackpad, the touchpad is a touch-sensitive panel that controls point-and-click functionality.
  • Palmrest: The plastic cover surrounding the keyboard and touchpad is the palmrest.

 

Top and Bottom Covers

The shell of the Chromebook is comprised of the top and bottom covers. They can be made of plastic or aluminum.

 

Repairing Your K-12 Chromebooks

Although Chromebooks are low maintenance, they sometimes do need to be repaired. The good news is that they are generally easy to repair and oftentimes the repairs can be completed in house.

All you need is a reliable Chromebook parts supplier to source parts and a tutorial. That’s where we come in! AGParts Education has the capability to support school districts of any size in parts procurement with:

  • An inventory of 500,000+ OEM new and reclaimed parts
  • Orders that ship the same day plus free shipping
  • Discounts on bulk order
  • A dedicated sales executive to simplify and assist your district in managing your 1:1 program
  • A comprehensive YouTube library of 250+ repair tutorials for a variety of models and variety of repairs

 

AGParts Education has been in the classroom since Chromebooks were first introduced, partnering with Council Bluffs School District, one of Google’s pilot schools. Find out why 7,500+ school districts, including Council Bluffs, rely on us for their Chromebook parts, technology buyback, and more. Contact us today to see how we can help your school district today.

 

How to Support Students with Health & Wellness Apps

How to Support Students with Health & Wellness Apps

Many school districts wrestle with how to support students’ health and wellness effectively. With more students seeking mental health services, a school district’s role in supporting students and providing adequate resources and care is critical.

In the 2021-2022 school year, 96% of public schools reported providing mental health services to their students. Of those, 88% of schools agreed they could not effectively provide mental health services to students in need.

Schools identified an insufficient number of mental health professionals to manage their school’s caseload, inadequate access to mental health professionals, and inadequate funding as three limitations to effectively addressing their students’ mental health needs.

How can districts effectively support their student’s mental health needs? One consideration is through health and wellness apps.

Before we explore the apps available, let’s learn more about student wellness.

 

What is Student Wellness?

Student wellness is defined as the recognition by schools, districts, and educational professionals that there are many factors that impact a student’s academic attainment. It is an approach that focuses on supporting the whole child and is composed of seven factors—emotional, intellectual, social, personal, occupational, physical, and environmental wellness.

  • Emotional wellness is the ability to successfully handle life’s stresses and adapt to change. Emotionally well students have a positive attitude, high self-esteem, a strong sense of health, and the ability to recognize and share their feelings with others in a constructive way.
  • Intellectual wellness is a person’s ability to recognize their creative abilities and find ways to expand knowledge and skills. Intellectually well students have good study habits, critical thinking skills, are creative problem solvers, and can communicate clearly.
  • Personal wellness is a person’s ability to create a sense of meaning and purpose in life. Personally well people are empathetic, have a clear sense of right and wrong, and can explain their beliefs.
  • Social wellness is a person’s ability to develop a sense of connection, belonging, and a well-developed support system. A socially well student is assertive, self-confident, and able to work in a team effectively.
  • Occupational wellness is a person’s ability to gain personal satisfaction and enrichment from one’s work. Occupationally well students experience satisfaction from completed work and understand their personal learning style.
  • Physical wellness is a person’s ability to learn and model healthy practices and routines. When a person is physically well, they are attentive and alert.
  • Environmental wellness is a school’s ability to promote safe and supportive environments that encourage wellbeing in the home, at school, and in the community. When a school is environmentally well, it creates of culture of respect within its shared norms and values.

 

Health and Wellness Apps

Health and wellness apps can help districts address their students’ health and wellness needs. Some of these apps could be used supplementally, while others could form the foundation of a robust health and wellness program. Here are four health and wellness apps that could better equip schools to address their students’ mental health needs.

 

Oasis Mental Health Applications

Oasis’ mission is to create technology that increases human connection and provides quality, holistic mental health care. Their comprehensive program is designed to get students back to learning and teachers back to teaching.

For the K-12 environment, Oasis offers the Oasis Education app featuring:

  • Assessment and roadmap: Oasis’ clinical team works with you to assess your individual needs and creates a unique support roadmap.
  • Student Support: the app provides students with on-demand support from mental health professionals and evidenced-based content to improve mental health and learning.
  • Faculty & Staff Support: the Oasis Connect App provides educators with 1:1 classroom management coaching, as well as resources that support their mental and emotional health.
  • Platform Implementation: Oasis’ clinical team guides you with evidence-based strategies to determine how to best support your students and teachers.

 

Sanvello

Sanvello’s aim is to meet people where they are in moments of need and surround them with tools and strategies that provide relief. Their app offers four types of support—self-care, peer support, coaching, and therapy.

  • Self-care includes a daily mood tracker, guided journeys, and coping tools. Through weekly check-ins, Sanvello creates a roadmap for improvement.
  • Peer support allows users to view posts from other members about a diverse range of topics in a judgement-free, label-free space.
  • Coaching is like a fitness trainer for your mind. When users need help achieving their mental health goals, they can find the support and encouragement they need.
  • Therapy can help users get unstuck, out of a spiral, and back to their lives. With a Sanvello therapist, users can identify unhealthy thoughts and patterns, and create a plan to feel better.

 

Daylio

Daylio is a self-care bullet journal with goals, a mood diary, and a happiness tracker. Without writing a word, users can easily track their moods and habits to compile a mood journal. Daylio then crunches the data and displays them in stats, charts, and correlations.

 

Teen Talk App

Teen Talk App provides a free, anonymous, safe space for teens to request support from trained peers and learn from others with similar experiences. With over 200 teens trained nationwide and teens supported in 100+ countries, the app has a 89% satisfaction rating.

 

Supporting your students’ health and wellness is paramount for any school district. Health and wellness apps can equip schools to provide students with the foundation for healthy lifestyles.

 

Find out why 7,500 districts and counting have trusted AGParts Education for Chromebook buyback, parts procurement, and more. Contact us today!

 

Sources:

National Center for Education Statistics

New Hampshire Department of Education

AUE in 2023: Are Your District’s Chromebooks on the List?

AUE in 2023: Are Your District’s Chromebooks on the List?

Managing your Chromebook’s lifecycle can be tricky. Unlike other devices, Chromebooks have a specific shelf life with an end-of-life date, called the Auto Update Expiration. What is AUE? What Chromebook models have a AUE in 2023? What should your school do if it deploys Chromebooks with a 2023 AUE?

We’ll answer all these questions today.

 

What is AUE?

Auto Update Expiration is the date when the Chrome OS will no longer support auto updates on your Chromebook model.

This doesn’t mean your Chromebook will self-destruct after this date. Think of AUE like a best by date, not an expiration date. Your Chromebook will still power and function, but it won’t receive software updates for new features or critical security patches. You also do not have access to technical support after the AUE.

 

Chromebooks with an AUE in 2023

Below is a list of Chromebooks with an AUE in 2023.

BrandModelAUE
AcerChromebook Tab 10 D651NAugust 2023
AcerChromebook 11 (C771, C771T)June 2023
AcerChromebook 14 for Work (CP5-471)June 2023
ASUSChromebook Tablet CT100August 2023
ASUSChromebook Flip C101PAAugust 2023
ASUSChromebook Flip C302June 2023
CTLChromebook Tablet Tx1 for EducationAugust 2023
DellChromebook 13 (3380)June 2023
HPChromebook 13 G1June 2023
LenovoThinkPad 13June 2023

 

AUE in 2023? What to Do Next

Although Chromebooks still function after their AUE, upgrading your district’s Chromebooks is critical. Chromebooks that eclipse their AUE no longer receive OS updates or those vital security patches to ensure student success and privacy.

The question remains: what should your district do with its fleet of end-of-life Chromebooks? Old Chromebooks can’t just be thrown in the dumpster as their components are harmful to the environment. Rather than letting your used fleet collect dust in storage, your best option is to turn those old devices into cash through Chromebook buyback.

Chromebook buyback is the process of selling back your used devices to a company that processes used electronics devices. That company will evaluate your devices and assign a value to each device.

Tech buyback falls under the umbrella of IT asset disposition (ITAD). ITAD is the process of disposing of used or unwanted IT assets in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. This includes securely wiping data of the devices prior to disposal.

When choosing a company to sell your Chromebooks to, remember the acronym C.H.E.A.P.:

  1. K-12 Chromebooks contain sensitive information. Compliance with National Institute of Standards (NIST) is important. This guarantees data is wiped clean according to NIST guidelines and ensure your student data is protected.
  2. A hassle-free process will save your district many headaches. The buyback process should be simple and smooth, with flexible options to accommodate your district’s needs.
  3. Experience can be challenging to find as Chromebooks aren’t even ten years old, but that doesn’t mean it should be overlooked. Ensuring your district partners with an experienced company in tech and Chromebook buyback is paramount. Experience means less stress and pain in the buyback process and can often translate into more money for your used fleet.
  4. As stated above, Chromebooks contain components that are harmful to the environment. Adherence to responsible recycling practices is essential. Be sure your tech buyback company takes environmental responsibility seriously.
  5. A company that values you as a partner, and not just a number, is key. They should be with you from start to finish, available for your needs.

That may seem like a daunting list of considerations, but we have good news. AGParts Education has all those qualities! In the classroom since Chromebooks were first introduced, our process is simple and designed with our school partners in mind. We even offer two methods of payout—cash or credit. With our credit option, your district will earn 10% more, keeping those funds in your technology budget. You’ll never have to worry about data falling into the wrong hands or components carelessly thrown away. Plus, your dedicated sales executive will be with your district every step of the way, and beyond.

 

Find out why 7,500 districts and counting have trusted AGParts Education for Chromebook buyback, parts procurement, and more. Contact us today!

Guide to Chromebook Keyboard Shortcuts

Guide to Chromebook Keyboard Shortcuts

Ready to work like a pro on your Chromebook? Integrate these common Chromebook keyboard shortcuts to boost your productivity. For more tips, check out our guide to Chromebook basics.

 

Keyboard overlay of all shortcuts: Press Ctrl + Alt + ? 

Lock your Chromebook’s screen: Press Search + L or Launcher + L

Log out of your Google account: Press Ctrl + Shift + Q twice

Screenshot: Press Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows, select Screenshot, then full screen, partial, or window screenshot in the bottom menu

Record Screen: Press Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows, select Screen Record, then full screen, partial, or window screen record in the bottom menu

Toggle Caps Lock: Press Alt + Search or Alt + Launcher (the Search/launcher key is in place of the caps lock key on a Chromebook keyboard)

Launch the Task Manager: Press Shift + Esc

Launch apps 1-8 in the shelf, starting on left: Press Alt + 1-8

Launch last app in the shelf: Press Alt + 9

Split screen: Press Alt + both bracket keys [ ] 

Dock window to the left side of your screen: Press Alt + [

Dock window to the right side of your screen: Press Alt + ]

Open the Files app: Press Alt + Shift + M 

View notifications: Press Alt + Shift + N

Rotate screen 90 degrees: Press Ctrl + Shift + Refresh (F3)

Magnify whole screen: Press Ctrl + Search + M or Ctrl + Launcher + M

Partial magnification: Press Ctrl + Search + D or Ctrl + Launcher + D

 

Looking for more? Visit the complete library of Chromebook shortcuts.

 

Web Shortcuts

 

If you are savvy with keyboard commands on a Windows laptop or MacBook, you may recognize some of these.

Open new window: Press Ctrl + N

Open new tab: Press Ctrl + T

Close current tab: Press Ctrl + W

Activate tabs 1-8, starting on left: Press Ctrl + 1-8

Go to last tab: Press Ctrl + 9

Go to next tab in window: Press Ctrl + Tab

Go to previous tab in window: Press Ctrl + Shift + Tab

Maximize window: Press Alt + = 

Minimize window: Press Alt + – (minus)

For more web shortcuts, learn the 47 keyboard commands that work in all web browsers.

 

Text-Editing Shortcuts

 

Just as Chromebooks support a bevy of web shortcuts, they also supports most text-editing shortcuts.

Undo: Press Ctrl + Z

Copy: Press Ctrl + C

Cut: Press Ctrl + X

Paste: Press Ctrl + V

Select All: Press Ctrl + A

Delete previous word: Press Ctrl + backspace

Delete: Press Alt + backspace

 

AGParts Education is your complete partner for your 1:1 Chromebook initiative. Supporting over 7,500+ U.S. school districts, find out how we can help your district. Contact us today!

 

Updated on 8/2/22. Originally published on 11/19/20.

UL-Certified AC Adapters 101: Everything You Need to Know

UL-Certified AC Adapters 101: Everything You Need to Know

With any educational technology program, AC adapters, aka power chargers, are crucial to sustain the daily functionality of your Chromebooks. AC adapters are a high-failure item, and therefore commonly replaced. It’s imperative when doing so to only purchase and use UL-certified AC adapters. While generic adapters may seem like a more budget-friendly option, they may cost more in the long run. More importantly, they could put your students and staff at risk. AGParts Education stocks 500,000 OEM new and recertified Chromebook parts, including authentic UL-certified AC adapters.

So, what exactly is a UL-certified adapter? Why is it so important to use only authentic UL-certified AC adapters? And, how can you spot a counterfeit adapter? Today, we’ll answer these important questions.

 

What is UL?

UL stands for Underwriter Laboratories. Founded in 1984 in Chicago, they are a third-party certification company that provides benchmarks and standards for products and processes in regard to safety, quality, security, and sustainability. Their mission is to make the world safer, smarter, more secure, and more sustainable.

UL holds manufacturers to higher standards during the manufacturing process, reducing risk and increasing safety. When a product bears the UL Mark, it means the product:

  • Has completed and passed rigorous UL testing to ensure reliability, functionality, safety, sustainability, and overall quality
  • Has been manufactured according to UL guidelines
  • Meets operating standards set by the Original Design Manufacturer (ODM)

Non-UL-certified products may have been manufactured using substandard parts or under inconsistent manufacturing processes. This could lead to unpredictable output voltages, higher-than-normal operating temperatures, and overall lower quality and reliability for products. Overt time, this could lead to damage, failure, and possible fire hazards.

 

What is a UL-certified AC adapter?

A UL-certified AC adapter bears an authorized UL Mark. This means it has been evaluated and meets the appropriate Standard for Safety. These adapters comply with UL safety requirements for the US.

It’s important to understand that if an AC adapter bears a UL Mark, this does not mean that it is not a counterfeit or generic adapter.

 

Why is it so important to use a UL-certified AC adapter?

It’s simple: generic AC adapters are dangerous. We understand that electronic devices are expensive and generic accessories could seem like a good way to cut costs. But their risks far outweigh the money saved.

Counterfeit and generic AC adapters are often are made with substandard parts that fail to meet basic safety requirements. These faulty parts are a serious safety risk because they can overheat. Overheated parts can damage your equipment. More importantly, these sub-standard parts pose an immediate fire and burn risk and hazard.

Since generic parts are made with substandard parts, they also have a higher risk for failure. The money saved on buying a generic part quickly vanishes when your district has to replace the generic parts with authentic UL-certified adapters.

When you use a UL-certified AC adapter, you have the peace of mind knowing that this product has met stringent requirements for safety and quality.

 

Head-to-Head Testing: UL Certified Vs Generic

We internally tested generic adapters against the UL-certified adapters in our inventory. Here are our observations and results:

  • Substandard parts which pose a risk for part and device failure, fire hazard: The generic adapters used substandard parts. One had a clip-type plug for the grounding wire, whereas a UL-certified adapter uses a solder joint. Another generic adapter had additional exposed wire not covered by an insulator.
  • Above-average operating temperatures posting a potential fire hazard: Internal testing showed that some generic adapters ran 14% warmer than their UL-certified counterpart.
  • Continuous voltage and current ratings outside of UL specifications: Internal testing showed output voltages registering less than the 5% variance acceptable under ODM standards.

While we could not verify the differences in the components, the results indicated that the clear difference between a reliable UL-certified adapter versus a substandard generic adapter.

How can you spot a counterfeit AC adapter?

If an AC adapter is branded and bears a UL Mark, this does not necessarily mean that it is a UL-certified AC adapter unfortunately. Most counterfeits will closely resemble an authentic UL-certified AC adapter.

To truly discern whether a product is fake it should not only be examined for label inconsistencies, but it should be tested by a trained technician. Below, we’ve outlined our process for authenticating AC adapters.

The first step is label inspection. There are several tell-tale signs on the label of an AC adapter to help you identify a counterfeit. These are easy indicators that you can spot yourself. The trick is to look for inconsistencies. Counterfeit products have phony printed logos, texts, and in some cases, typos. See photo below.

 

UL-Certified AC adapters should include:

  • OEM logo
  • Matching OEM part numbers
  • UL Mark
  • Clear text and no typos

If the label passes inspection, this still does not guarantee it is an authentic UL-certified AC adapter. That’s why further mechanical testing and inspection are required.

After label inspection, AGParts Education tests the AC adapters for power and current under load. Once the adapter passes, our technicians then perform an internal component inspection. We perform a spot check, opening a percentage of each shipment to verify:

  • Industry-standard construction methods
  • Authentic OEM identifiers
  • Safety compliant materials

The best way to ensure that your school district has UL-certified AC adapters is to purchase from a supplier that sells authentic UL-certified AC adapters. At AGParts Education, the safety of your students and teachers are our number one priority. We only sell authentic UL-certified AC adapters.

For more information on how we can help with your district’s 1:1 Chromebook program, contact us today!

Originally published 7/14/2020. Updated on 8/25/2021, 3/30/2022.

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