by AGParts Education | Chromebooks, Internet Safety, Laptops, Tips and Tricks
Almost 90% of teenagers have home access to a computer and almost half of teenagers say they’re online almost constantly. It’s more important than ever before to teach internet safety for high school students. This is due in part to complacency—with such computer prevalence, it’s easy to become relaxed and fatigued on the most basic internet safety principles.
Why? Well, let’s not forget that teenagers (13-17 years old) grew up with this technology. In the early and mid 2000s, when this age group was born, computer ownership fluctuated around 75% in US. The iPhone, which not only made the smartphone a household name, but a household requirement, launched in 2007. This technology was in their hands earlier than any other generation.
How do you combat this complacency? While it may seem paradoxical, it’s important to return to the basics, but also teach more advanced safety tips. Here are five tips in teaching internet safety for high school students:
Teach the Risks & Rewards
Internet safety all starts with educating all students on the dangers and risks of being online. Be open and honest. Don’t sugar coat—transparency is key. Since high schoolers are older, this is a great time to share any unpleasant personal experiences you’ve had with the internet. This is not to paint the internet as a bad place, but to remind them that there are dangers.
It’s also important to remind high students that what they contribute to the internet, including what they share on social media, can stay with them a long time. Social media is often used a tool to screen candidates for jobs and college entrance. They should never post anything that is discriminatory to anyone, even in jest.
Teach the Art of Data Mining
Encourage older students to perform an exhaustive data mine on themselves once a quarter. For someone who has regularly Googled herself over the years, I was shocked what my latest results returned. An uncomfortable amount of personal information including current address, old phone numbers and addresses, family names—the works! Much of this information was on third party sites that I could contact to remove my information which was a huge relief.
Students should do just this, and when they find personal information that they do not want online, help them contact the sites to remove the information. Even if the information is outdated, it should still be removed. Old contact info can often be used for verification purposes in setting up bank accounts, applying for personal, auto, or student loans, etc., as well as security questions for important online accounts.
They should:
- Search names, usernames, and nicknames using quotation marks.
- Search on various search engines (Google, Bing, etc.).
- Sign out of any browser prior to searching as results can be filtered when signed in.
- Use various browsers to perform the search (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, Opera, etc.) as they will yield different results.
- Go past the first page of results until the name no longer appears (five pages deep at minimum).
Enable Privacy Settings on Social Media
With 27% of teenagers using social media hourly, don’t skip this tip! Encourage your students to restrict their privacy settings appropriately across all social media platforms.
Social media privacy settings have come a long way. Largely, they are much more granular which gives the user more control. However, this means there are more settings, and it’s easy to miss one or two that could be set to public when they should be restricted. Comb through privacy settings together to ensure none are missed.
Students on social media should also:
- Regularly review their friends or followers on social media and remove anyone that should not be there.
- Regularly review their posts and remove those they would not want a parent, teacher, employer, or college official to see.
- Regularly review posts, images, and videos in which they are tagged, and remove tags as appropriate.
Don’t Disclose Personal Info to Strangers
This seems like a no brainer, but it deserves its due and bears repeating. Never disclose sensitive information online, especially to strangers. Under no circumstances! This includes where they go to school, their address, their phone number, their various social media handles, etc.
Since teenagers have been around the internet for so long, they may start to feel like a veteran. They could start to feel like they could spot a fake. Most likely not true. It doesn’t matter how trustworthy the person may seem; you simply don’t know the real person on the other side of the screen. All it takes is one conversation to let sensitive information slip into the wrong hands.
Teach Digital Best Practices
Ideally, internet safety for high school students falls into a larger lesson on digital literacy, a core tenet of digital citizenship. Digital literacy is a broad topic, but it deals with how to interact responsibly online and evaluate information online effectively. Safety falls into digital literacy as well.
While this may take more time to teach, here are a few key best practices students can follow immediately:
- Use strong alphanumeric passwords: teach about password safety and password algorithms.
- Make sure parents or guardians have access to student passwords. Students can write passwords on a piece of paper, place it in a sealed security envelope, and store in a safe, but visible, place so their parents can access passwords in case of an emergency.
- Stress the importance of logging out of online accounts by physically signing out, not just closing the browser window. This is especially important if students are sharing devices.
- Encourage students to regularly back up their files including important emails and photos.
If You See Something, Say Something
Perhaps the most important and universal tip—if you see something, say something. As digital citizens, we are responsible for ourselves and others. The internet is not just a place where your identity can be stolen. It’s also the playground for cyberbullying. Give examples of cyberbullying. If a student sees suspicious, discriminatory, or uncouth behavior, encourage them to bring their concerns to a responsible adult.
In order for this tip to work, it’s crucial to create an honest and transparent environment where students feel comfortable to bring concerns to an adult, whether that be their teacher or parent.
Even if you create the most trusting environment in the world, teenagers can still be deterred from bringing their concerns to an adult. This is why it’s so important to check in with high school students regularly about their online and social media habits. Pay attention to what they’re interested in online and who they are talking to. Limit access to certain sites to avoid potentially harmful situations.
While teenagers may be complacent to technology, it’s always important to teach internet safety for high school students. Use these five tips to remind older students how to stay safe online.
AGParts Education partners with 6,000+ innovative 1:1 school districts nationwide in Chromebook parts procurement and buyback. For more info, contact us today!
by AGParts Education | Buyback, Chromebooks, Tech Ed
If your school has a 1:1 Chromebook program, chances are there will be a need to refresh your devices at some point. A great option when renewing your devices is to resell your old devices through Chromebook buyback. AGParts Education has a comprehensive technology buyback program that specializes in Chromebook buyback.
Today, we’ll discuss what Chromebook buyback is, the models with the highest resell value, and what to look for in a buyback company.
What is 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.
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.
Note that “disposed of” doesn’t mean thrown in the general waste stream. Many electronic parts and components are harmful to the environment. Sometimes, parts can be recycled, reused, or donated—one method of disposal. Even if the part has no useful value, there are certain protocols that must be followed to ensure safe disposal.
Best Models to Resell
Just as certain vehicles hold more value and garner more money when resold, the same is true of Chromebooks. So, which models have the best resell value, akin to the power of a Honda or Subaru?
Here are a dozen popular Chromebook models that carry high resell value:
- Acer C732
- Acer C733
- Dell 3100 models
- HP 11 G6 models
- HP 11 G7 models
- HP 11A G6 EE
- HP 11A G7 EE
- HP 14A G5
- HP 14 G5
- Lenovo 100E
- Lenovo 300E
- Lenovo 500E
Bear in mind that this is not a comprehensive list. If your school’s model is listed above, that doesn’t mean your school is guaranteed to recoup high value for your used devices. Likewise, if your school’s models aren’t listed, it doesn’t mean they’re worthless! Remember your used devices will be evaluated and assigned a monetary value based on condition. Even if your school has old models, buyback is always a worthwhile process to pursue as older models do hold value.
What to Look for in a Tech Buyback Company
Now that we’ve reviewed the most popular models, is your school ready to start the tech buyback process? If you answered “yes,” it’s crucial to do your research. Here are four things to look for in a buyback company.
#1: Experience
Since Chromebooks aren’t even ten years old, it can sometimes be difficult to find an experienced buyback company. Still, this should not be overlooked. Experience means peace of mind knowing that this isn’t the company’s first rodeo. Experience can also translate into more money for your used fleet.
AGParts Education has been in the classroom since devices were introduced. We even worked with Council Bluffs School District, one of the first schools to pilot a 1:1 program. Not to mention the fact that we’ve operated in the computer hardware industry since 2000. Plus, we process tens of thousands of used Chromebooks via buyback every year.
#2: Certifications & NIST Compliance
To ensure a company does recycle used devices safely and sustainably, they should hold certain national and international certifications. At the very minimum, they should hold ISO 14001 (environmental management) and R2 certifications (responsible electronics recycling). They also hold ISO 9001 (quality management) and 45001(occupational health and safety) certifications.
Additionally, they have to comply with National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Sensitive info lives on our devices. When we recycle those devices, that data doesn’t magically disappear. Your devices must be wiped clean according to NIST guidelines to ensure your student data is protected.
We hold all four ISO and R2 certifications. We fully comply with NIST guidelines and issue data privacy certificates upon completion.
#3: Simple Process & Flexibility
The last thing the buyback process should do is give you a headache. The process should be simple and smooth. At the same time, buyback companies should be flexible to work with you and accommodate the needs of your school.
Our three-step process is truly hassle free.
- Request a quote for your used devices.
- Upon quote approval, ship your devices to AGParts Education (we’ll provide free boxes).
- Redeem your cash or technology department credit.
We also have flexible options—you can even finalize all the details of your buyback deal in advance and send your devices later. Our payment options include cash or credit. When your district chooses credit, you earn 10% more and guarantee those funds stay in your technology budget.
#4: Partnership
When looking for a Chromebook buyback company, you really want to look at a company that will be with you from start to finish. This can mean many things, but really it comes down to the company viewing you as a valuable partner and not just a number.
We view our customers as partners. You’ll have a dedicated account executive by your side every step of the way. To top it off, we send you all the materials to ship your devices and cover all freight costs.
In short, AGParts Education offers a Chromebook buyback process that is designed to make your life easier. When your district is ready to recycle devices, contact us or request a quote today.
by AGParts Education | Chromebooks, Tips and Tricks
Whether you’re a student, parent, or teacher, knowing the ins and outs of your Chromebook are essential to success. Chromebooks are lean, low-maintenance laptops that rely heavily on the internet. They don’t store software like a traditional laptop does as “software,” aka apps, are used online.
What happens when you toggle Wi-Fi off or don’t have internet access? Does your Chromebook simply become an oversize paperweight or makeshift clipboard? We’ll answer all that and more as we explore how to use a Chromebook offline.
Can I Use a Chromebook Offline?
First, let’s clear up any confusion—yes, you can use your Chromebook offline. It does have limited functionality while offline, but it is functional.
How to Use a Chromebook Offline
Let’s look at how to use a Chromebook offline and all the things you can do without an internet connection.
Quick tip: Most of these apps will require you to enable offline mode while online, which is in each app’s settings. Don’t skip this step!
Manage Your Email
Boost your productivity by managing your email while offline. You can read and respond to emails as well as search your inbox. Once you reconnect to the internet, your inbox will sync and any outgoing messages will be sent.
Enable offline mode under Gmail offline settings.
Edit Google Workspace Documents
One of the biggest differences between a traditional laptop and Chromebook is the default office suite. Chromebooks use Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite), which includes Docs, Sheets, and Slides (similar to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
All of these apps can be used offline, and most compatible files in Google Drive are editable offline. So, you can draft a new doc, edit a spreadsheet, or put the finishing touches on a presentation all sans Wi-Fi. Once you connect to the internet, your edits or changes you’ve made to a file will be synced.
Enable offline mode under each Google Workspace app in settings.
Take Notes
We’re a big fan of note-taking apps. They’re extremely convenient and less cumbersome than a traditional word-processing doc. Fortunately, you can also take notes offline using Google Keep. Be sure to save any notes you may want to edit offline while you are still connected to the internet. Any new notes created or changes made will be synced when you reconnect to the internet.
Catch Up on Your Reading
Whether you want to read the latest news or ebook, you can do both of those things while offline on your Chromebook.
- Using an app like Pocket, you can save various types of content, like articles and stories, from any publication, page, or app, and read that content while offline. Note: this does not apply to saved videos as an internet connection is required to stream videos.
- If you need to finish the last couple pages of a book distraction free, turn off your Wi-Fi and read eBooks offline with various apps like Google Play Books and OverDrive. Be sure to download the books while online first in order to read offline.
Play Multimedia
Now that we’ve looked at the more productive side of offline Chromebook use, it’s time for the fun stuff. You can play various multimedia offline on your Chromebook. Keep in mind that in order to download any type of media to consume offline, you must first download while online.
- Play Movies: Download movies or TV shows you want to watch offline in Google Play Movies app.
- Play Music: Just as you did with movies, download songs in Google Play Music online to listen to offline.
- Play Games: In order to play games offline, you have to download apps that can run offline. To do view these apps, enable the Runs Offline filter in the Chrome Web Store or Google Play Store.
Use Offline Apps
If an app has a setting for offline use, you can do just that. Check this comprehensive list of offline-enabled apps for the latest apps that don’t need an internet connection.
AGParts Education partners with 6,000+ innovative 1:1 school districts nationwide in Chromebook parts procurement and buyback. For more info, contact us today!
by AGParts Education | Chromebooks, Internet Safety, Laptops, Tips and Tricks
With more than 175,000 children going online for the first time every day, internet safety for students is more important than ever.
While there are many safeguards in place, the internet is not inherently safe. A seemingly friendly sea of information and connections can quickly turn into a barren wasteland when personal information falls into the wrong hands or students are victims of cyberbullying.
As 94% of children have access to the internet, it’s crucial to equip your students with the skills they need to stay safe online. When you think of internet safety for students, think SMART.
What is SMART?
SMART is an effective pneumonic for students to remind them of internet safety best practices. While SMART can be used for kids of all ages (and adults for that matter too!), it’s especially helpful for younger students to practice, remember, and apply, and lays a great foundation. Older students can find more advanced safety tips in our guide to internet safety for high school students.
Stay Safe
The first key to staying safe online is keeping your personal information private. Students should never disclose personal information to strangers, especially unchaperoned. No exceptions. This includes name, address, phone number, social media handles, photos, and school name.
It’s crucial to remind students that it doesn’t matter how trustworthy the person may seem—a stranger is a stranger. As much as a student may think they know someone they met online, the reality is, they don’t.
Don’t Meet Up
Akin to keeping personal information private, is the importance of teaching students that meeting an online stranger in person can be extremely dangers. Students should always check with a parent or guardian about meeting an online stranger, and the parent or guardian should be present during all meetings. No matter what!
Again, this comes down to reminding students that you never really know who is on the other side of the screen. All it takes is one meeting alone for things to turn disastrous.
Accepting
This may be a difficult one for students to follow, but they should never accept friend or connection requests from people they don’t know. They should ask a parent or guardian first.
Likewise, they shouldn’t accept files (emails, texts, documents, and photos) from strangers either. Opening files from strangers can take damage their devices if the files are corrupted with a virus.
Remind students to block users they don’t know after receiving an unwanted file. This can be easily be done by blocking users under settings in both email and cellular services.
Reliable
This next key to internet safety for students is two pronged. As digital students, student need to do their part in stopping the spread of misinformation by verifying information with reliable sources prior to sharing it. Even if information isn’t shared, it’s always a good habit to compare the source to another to confirm its veracity. If something seems too good to be true, unusual, or extraordinary, chances are it is.
Reliability also extends to those students meet online. They should rely on those they already know and trust, like family and friends.
Tell Someone
Perhaps the most important key: if you see something, say something! Internet safety for students goes beyond the perils of stolen information. The internet is the virtual playground for cyberbullying. Create an honest and transparent environment where students feel comfortable to bring concerns to an adult, whether that be their teacher or parent.
Even if you create the most trusting environment in the world, students can still be deterred from bringing their concerns to an adult. This is why it’s so important to check in with students regularly about their online and social media habits. Pay attention to what they’re interested in online and who they are talking to. Limit access to certain sites to avoid potentially harmful situations.
Other Tips
In general, it’s so important for students to understand:
- The risks and rewards of the internets. It’s a great tool when used appropriately and safely.
- It’s very easy to lie online, and it happens more often than they might think. Someone they meet online is a stranger, period! It doesn’t make them good or bad, but someone the student simply does not know and should not easily trust.
- They should always check with an adult they trust if something doesn’t feel right.
Internet safety for students isn’t rocket science. It just requires education, diligence, and transparency. When used appropriately and safely, the internet is a great tool for research and social connection. For more advanced tips, check out our blog on internet safety for high school students.
From Chromebook parts to tech buyback, AGParts Education supports over 6,000+ school districts in their 1:1 device initiatives. For more info, contact us today!
by AGParts Education | Chromebooks, Tips and Tricks
Ready to take your Chromebook use to the next level? After you’ve mastered Chromebooks basics, leverage your Chromebook’s performance with these advanced Chromebook tips.
Chromebook Tips & Tricks
Here are ten advanced Chromebook tips to boost your Chromebook’s performance and your productivity.
1. Use Overview for a Bird’s Eye View
To quickly see all your open windows, use Overview on your Chromebook. This function is a multi-tasker’s dream. It’s a great way to switch between apps as well as close apps you’re no longer using.
To activate Overview, swipe down with three fingers on your touchpad. You can also access Overview by pressing the []]] key.
2. Pair Your Chromebook to Your Phone
Entering your Google password every time you log into your Chromebook can be tiresome to say the least. Skip this step by pairing your smartphone to your Chromebook using Smart Lock. This feature will allow you to automatically sign in when your trusted smartphone is detected.
This feature requires Bluetooth to be enabled on both devices. When successfully paired, you’ll only need to click on your account avatar to unlock your Chromebook when your phone is in range.
Find it at: Settings > Show Advanced Settings > Smart Lock > Set Up
3. Save Files Straight to Google Drive
Although you can save files locally on your Chromebook, it’s not recommended due to its limited local storage. Instead save your files to Google Drive directly without being prompted for a location each time. To do this, you’ll select the destination folder within Google Drive to save files to as well as disable a feature within advanced settings.
Find it at: In Chrome OS: Settings > Show Advanced Settings > Downloads > Change > Select destination folder within Google Drive > Open. On the settings screen, disable the setting Ask Where to Save Each File Before Downloading.
4. Use Google Suite Offline
Think Chromebook can only be used while online? Think again. One of the things that makes a Chromebook a Chromebook is its dependence on the internet. However, Google has been consistently working to make these devices more efficient offline. One way they’ve done this is by unlocking the power of Google Suite when offline. You can create docs, edit sheets, and generate slides without an internet connection.
To do so enable Offline option under Sync Google Docs, Sheets, Slides & Drawing files. Find the setting in Google Drive’s settings. Changes made to any documents will sync when an internet connection is restored or detected.
5. Use Task Manager to Troubleshoot Issues and View Performance
This next Chromebook tip is perfect when you’re in a jam. Chromebooks inherently come with less headaches than a traditional Windows or Apple laptop because they’re leaner devices. However, any device is bound to run into problems from time to time. Easily fire up Task Manager by pressing Shift + Esc. From there you can see each app’s usage and end any troublesome apps.
6. Increase Local Storage with an SD Card
Ae we’ve state above, Chromebooks have limited local storage. Most have around 32GB of internal storage. Expanding your local storage is quick and easy. Simply pop in an SD card and use like you would any other folder on your Chromebook. The card can be found under the Files app.
7. Edit Chrome OS Version
Get the newest features first on Chrome OS by switching to beta or developer channels. Google will give you an overview of each option. Beware: switching to beta and developer channels means you may run into more bugs as the features are still in devlopment.
Find it at: Settings > About Chrome OS > More Info… > Change Channel…
8. View System Diagnostic Data
Are you itching to pull back the outside skin of your Chromebook and see what is inside? To check what’s under the hood, enter chrome://system in the Chrome omnibox, i.e. Chrome’s browser bar. From there, you’ll see everything that makes your device click from CPU to your current session in an easy-to-read layout.
9. Show Hidden Files
If you’re really ready to dig deep into your Chromebook, you can unhide files in File Manager with the Ctrl + period keyboard shortcut. File Manager automatically hides any files that start with a dot, e.g. .system. With this Chromebook tip comes a word of caution: in most cases these files should not be edited unless you know what you are doing.
10. Deep Clean with Powerwash
Are you ready to recycle your Chromebook? Or do you just want to start from square one? To reset your Chromebook to like new status, use the Powerwash feature. Once your device reboots, it’ll have you convinced you mastered time travel with your Chromebook looking as it did day one.
Find it at: Settings > Show Advanced Settings > Powerwash
AGParts Education is your complete partner for your 1:1 Chromebook initiative. Supporting over 6,000+ U.S. school districts, find out how we can help your district. Contact us today!
by AGParts Education | Chromebooks, Tips and Tricks
There is no other device that is more mysterious or more misunderstood than the Chromebook. After all, what is a Chromebook exactly? Why are Chromebooks so weird? Why don’t they have a caps lock key? Today, we’re breaking down the Chromebook basics that every user needs to know.
What is a Chromebook?
First things first, let’s put the mystery to an end. A Chromebook is a type of laptop that is run on the Chrome OS. Chromebooks are unique in that they are internet-heavy machines. They’re a favorite for ed tech programs across the nation because of their affordability and ease of use.
Chromebook Basics
Here are seven Chromebook basics to help you navigate your device like a pro.
1. Right Click
The most elementary of Chromebook basics, the right click. If you aren’t using a mouse, how on earth do you right click? Similar to other laptops, you can right click on a Chromebook by tapping two fingers at the same time on the touchpad.
Note: This will only work if tap-to-click is enabled, which is most likely enabled. If disabled, toggle the setting on under Mouse and Touchpad Device settings (Settings > Advanced > Manage Accessibility Features > Mouse and Touchpad > Open Mouse and Touchpad Settings).
You can also right click by pressing Alt while you click with one finger.
2. View all Keyboard Shortcuts
Chromebooks pride themselves on a streamlined approach, so it’s no surprise that they’re full of handy keyboard shortcuts. And, even less surprising, there’s a keyboard command to see all keyboard shortcuts. Press Ctrl + Alt + ? to view a keyboard overlay with keyboard shortcuts.
You can also check our handy guide to Chromebook keyboard shortcuts.
3. Customize Your Shelf
Customize your desktop by editing your shelf and its position. The shelf, aka taskbar or dock, is located at the bottom of your screen by default. It displays which apps are running and holds app shortcuts for easy launch.
Customize your shelf to reflect the apps you use most frequently. Here is how you add and remove apps to your shelf:
- Add an app: Use the launcher key to find the app you wish to pin to your shelf. Right click on the app icon and select Pin to Shelf.
- Add a webpage: Open the site you wish to add to your shelf. Click the snowman menu (three vertical dots), then select Create Shortcut. For a desktop experience, select open as window.
- Remove an app: Right click on the app icon in your shelf that you wish to remove and select Unpin.
Don’t like your shelf at the bottom of your screen? No sweat. Change its position by right clicking on the shelf and selecting Shelf Position. You can also hide the shelf by selecting Autohide.
4. Use Guest Mode to Share Your Chromebook
Since Chromebooks are so internet-centric, they rely heavily on the primary user’s Google account. You are always logged into your Google account for ease of access to Gmail and Google Drive. This can make sharing your Chromebook a bit unsettling.
Have no fear, Chromebooks do have a Guest mode that allow for someone to use your Chromebook without disturbing your settings or files. Simply select Guest Mode from the lock screen.
5. Turn Caps Lock On/Off
You may notice that your caps lock key has been replaced with another key which is clearly not caps lock. While we don’t imagine you’ll be using shouty caps that frequently, it’s handy to know how to use caps lock when you need it.
There are actually two ways to do this. Caps lock has been replaced with the launcher or search key which shows all your apps and launches Google assistant. You can change the functionality of this key under Keyboard settings by selecting caps lock under the Search field (account > settings > keyboard settings).
Or, if you like the functionality of the launcher/search key, just toggle caps lock on and off by using the keyboard shortcut Alt + search key.
6. Split Your Screen
This is a Chromebook basic to make you feel and look like the productive beast that you truly are. It’s especially handy for students that need to watch their teacher and take notes or complete assignments concurrently. There are a couple ways to do this. Pressing Alt + [ ] (both bracket keys) splits your screen into two tabs. Or press Alt + [ (left bracket) or Alt + ] (right bracket) to send a tab to the left or right side of your screen respectively.
7. Parental Controls
This is a great tip for anyone monitoring a student’s progress on their Chromebook. You can create a supervised user and then edit permissions, which allows you to block certain websites. If your device is managed by your school, there is a chance that your student is already using a supervised account.
Here’s how:
- Create supervised user: From the sign-in screen, click Add User then Create Supervised User. Enter child’s Google account info.
- Edit/manage permissions: Sign into your account and edit user permissions under Supervised Users Dashboard. Select Manage to edit which websites the user is allowed to view. To block a website, insert an asterisk in place of www in the web address, e.g. *.google.com.
This also works if you are sharing your Chromebook is your family computer. You can easily set up supervised accounts for your children, or anyone else in the household.
AGParts Education supports 6,000+ school districts across the nation as their complete 1:1 Chromebook initiative partner. Find out how we can help your district. Contact us today!
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