Key Specifications for Chromebook

• 11.6’’ (1366x768) display
• 1.3 inches - 3.9 lbs / 1.8 kg
• Up to 7.5 hours of battery 1
• Intel® Celeron™ processor
• Google Drive Cloud Storage with 16 GB Solid State Drive
• Dual band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n and Ethernet
• HD Camera
• 2x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0
• 1x HDMI Port, 1x VGA Port

The Chrome Operating System (OS) is based on the Google Chrome web browser. The Chrome OS is quite arguably the most secure operating system due to the inability to be hacked. The Chrome OS is an Internet based platform and therefore cannot run typical software files that are associated with malware or viruses.

The Chromebook and its corresponding OS have the ability to work in both online and offline modes. Students who do not have access to a wireless network outside of school do not need to panic. They will be able to continue working on their device and sync their newly added data to their accounts once they have accessibility to a wireless network.

When students are connected to a wireless network they will be able to fully utilize every aspect of Google Apps for Education along with the Chrome Web Store apps provided to them through the UCPS domain. In offline mode students can still create and edit Google Documents, Drawings and Presentations. Google Spreadsheets, Microsoft Office Files, images and PDFs will be available to students in view only mode. Some third party apps located within the domain, made available to students, do have offline capability. Nevertheless, as mentioned earlier, once students "hit" a wireless network, their work in offline mode will sync to their account and become available with the latest updates in their Google Drive.

The launch bar on a Chromebook looks slightly different than the taskbar on a Windows-based machine. Students will notice three icons on the bottom left of the screen that will navigate them to the following: A student's Files Folder can be launched from the Apps Launcher. All downloaded content and Google Drive items can be accessed from this location. If you would like to move the Files Folder, or any other App, to the Launch Bar simply right click the item you wish to move and select pin to launch bar. The battery life indicator, settings menu and wireless network availability menu are located on the bottom right of the screen. The streamlined taskbar and inability to place items on the desktop create a clean, simplified look for students.

Chromebooks come equipped with a 16GB hard drive. This allows users to download files and access them offline. The Files Folder is accessible through the Apps Launcher and can be pinned to the Launch Bar for easy access. The Chrome OS has folders for Downloads and Google Drive. Any file that is downloaded to a Chromebook will be stored in the Downloads section of the Files Folder. Users can create sub folders in Downloads to organize files.

The Google Drive folder will contain all files that have been created in a user's Google Apps Account. Users will be able to access these documents online or offline due to the fact that they are saved to the computer's internal storage as well as Google’s cloud-based storage.

In addition, any flash drive that is plugged into the Chromebook will be accessible through the same Files Folder.

The resources on this page are designed to help parents with the Uinta County School District #1 (UCSD #1) rollout of the Chromebook. Parents can refer to the Chromebook Policy to learn more about the use of Chromebooks in our elementary and secondary classrooms. The Chromebook Policy Agreement Form can be turned in at the student's home school. Additionally, parents can refer to the UCSD Technology & Acceptable for guidance on how students will use technology throughout the district.

Videos for Chromebook Use and Training

Chromebook Parental Training

Chromebook Care

Uinta County School District has safeguards in place to protect your child. UCSD #1 complies with the filtering requirements mandated by the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Parents can also refer to OnGuard Online.gov resources to learn more about keeping their kids safe online. OnGuardOnline.gov is the federal government’s website to help you be safe, secure and responsible online. These resources include two handbooks:

• Net Cetera: Chatting with Kids About Being Online
• HeadsUp! Stop, Think, Connect

Parents and/or guardians who wish to opt out of the 1:1 initiative need to contact their student's school. Teachers will prepare lessons that do not require the use of technology for those students. Most teachers offer the ability for students to work in the medium with which they are most comfortable.

For quick answers to frequently asked questions please consult the list below:

Q. I forgot my Google password. How can I have it reset?

A. See your building Tech

Q. Why am I having trouble viewing a Google Doc or Form that is shared with me?

A. Please ensure that you are signed into your UCPS Google account versus your personal Google account.

Q. What browser works best with Google Apps for Education?

A. The Chrome browser

Q. Which students will be issued Chromebooks?

A. Students in grades 6-12

Q. Where can I find policies and procedures related to this initiative?

A. Please consult the rollout resources given at the beginning of the year at your school.

Q. Can students save files to the device itself?

A. Yes they have 16GB of storage available to them on the device itself.

Q. Can students download apps of their choice?

A. No, students will only be able to use apps contained in the UCSD #1 Student Apps Locker.

Q. Can teachers download apps of their choice?

A. Yes.

Q. Who do I contact for assistance with technology issues?

A. Contact your school's IT Guru.

Uinta County School District #1 (UCSD #1) has chosen and approved Chromebooks for our 1:1 access model with our 4-12 graders. Chromebooks are designed to be used while connected to the Internet. Rather than use traditional software that resides on the device itself, Chromebooks utilize the web-based Google Chrome Operating System to quickly boot upon startup and for overall functionality, in  addition to utilizing cloud computing via the Google Apps for Education Suite. By using the cloud it allows for students to collaborate on assignments.

With this roll out one question that has risen to the top is how are students being protected from accessing inappropriate content?

UCSD #1 has incorporated safeguards through the use of Lightspeed which is the district content filter.   This complies with the filtering requirements mandated by the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).  Parents can also refer to OnGuard Online.gov to find resources to learn more about keeping their kids safe online. OnGuardOnline.gov is the federal government’s website to help you be safe, secure, and responsible online.

Parents also can access the  Net Cetera: Chatting with Kids About Being Online and HeadsUp! Stop, Think, Connect websites. Both of these sites are great resources for parents to help their children as they are on the web at home on a personal or school issued device.