Getting students signed into their device can be one of the biggest barriers to using technology in the classroom. It can also waste a tremendous amount of class time. You need a simple way to get them logged in quickly.
It doesn’t matter if you teach kindergartners or high school students (or adults!). Remembering user names and passwords is no fun.
How do I help my students login quickly?
You just have to do it.
And practice it.
There are three different ways that students can sign in to their Chromebook:
I do not recommend Guest or generic login. While convenient, these two login solutions eliminate the opportunity to individualize instruction in your classroom. These methods will also eliminate the opportunity to use Google Classroom, Drive, and man other wonderful classroom tools that require individual accounts.
Your students NEED to login using their own account.
Here are four tips and strategies to help you streamline the login process in your classroom.
You are probably already doing this!
Here are some suggestions for making this time-consuming task a little easier!
? If you have never used AutoCrat before, watch this video.
This simple routine will help your students practice getting started.
Adopt the class “login challenge” to teach the basic skill of getting devices out and ready. Teach your expectations early in the school year to take full advantage of this time-saving habit for the entire school year!
Here’s a graphic you can save to remember the class login challenge! You can even download it as a PDF or a JPG.
?ON THE PODCAST: Elementary teacher Jolanda Nederveld shares some AWESOME tips on how to help young students use technology! You can listen to my conversation with her here.
There are some simple things that your IT department can do to simplify the login experience on student Chromebooks:
Chromebooks can be configured to automatically include the @myschool.org part of your email address.
This is super helpful for schools with super LOOOOONG domains.
To turn on this feature someone with Google administrative access will need to visit
Device management > Chrome > Device Settings > Sign In Settings
Chromebooks can save a list of past users. All that is required is a password
If you have a dedicate class-set of Chromebooks, this is a good feature to enable. Students should use the same device every day. Their login picture will be shown and all they need to do is enter their password to sign in.
This feature is NOT recommended if your Chromebooks are shared with the entire school. A Chromebook can only remember 8-10 previous users so this feature isn’t very helpful if dozens of different students use the same device.
To enable this setting
To turn on this feature someone with Google administrative access will need to visit
Device management > Chrome > Device Settings > Sign In Settings
This is what your students will see when they sign in to their Chromebook…
You aren’t the only teacher who is frustrated by the login process. Many teachers share your frustration.
A company called Clever has developed an elegant login solution that eliminates passwords and replaces them with unique QR codes assigned to each students.
The student scans the QR code to sign in.
It works like this
This service is free for schools, but will require that your school sign up for Clever and connect it to our G Suite domain.
To learn more about Clever badges or to sign up, click here.
The sign in process is a necessary barrier to individualized learning.
Yes, it can be annoying.
My advice – adopt as many (all?) of these strategies in your classroom.
Focus on the login process on a daily basis for 1-2 weeks. After this, the majority of your students will be able to login on their own, fairly quickly.
Have students who have mastered the process assist students who continue to struggle.
Which of these four strategies have you implemented in your classroom? How is it going?
Leave a comment with tips and advice for your fellow elementary teachers!
Download a free chapter of my book, The Chromebook Classroom!
John
Welcome to my world!
I’ll try to explain
I’m a part time computer teacher.
Combined classrooms of students
7 th and 8th and etc.
There once a week.
It is a nightmare! It’s a big barrier to my time on task with K 1st and 2 nd graders!
Besides I
get only a planning period and time before students.
Before it was easy to have older and younger
students sit next to each other to but with multiple users this makes seating a nightmare
for each class.
These changes for me have been very difficult!
The Clever scan looks somwhat hopefully for log in but doesn’t solve seating arrangement difficulty because I need the older students to help ! Trying to make transition!
1 comment. Leave new
John
Welcome to my world!
I’ll try to explain
I’m a part time computer teacher.
Combined classrooms of students
7 th and 8th and etc.
There once a week.
It is a nightmare! It’s a big barrier to my time on task with K 1st and 2 nd graders!
Besides I
get only a planning period and time before students.
Before it was easy to have older and younger
students sit next to each other to but with multiple users this makes seating a nightmare
for each class.
These changes for me have been very difficult!
The Clever scan looks somwhat hopefully for log in but doesn’t solve seating arrangement difficulty because I need the older students to help ! Trying to make transition!