In 2016, three small Penn State University Commonwealth Campus libraries each obtained 20-30 Toshiba Chromebooks to enhance library instruction. These libraries have no dedicated IL instruction classroom, but light laptops allow librarians to bring hands-on instruction to the students and quickly get from power-up to research results during one-shot sessions. Use and assessment have been ongoing. Current survey results (n=185) indicate the vast majority of students found Chromebooks easy to use and approximately 1/3 of respondents had previous experience using them. When asked about their preferred technology for library instruction, students indicated a general preference for Chromebooks or other laptops over desktop computers and other devices. Open comments revealed that students found Chromebooks helpful tools for learning in their classroom. A few students expressed difficulty using the trackpad and scrolling, so it may be valuable to teach a few Chromebook gestures at the start of class. Chromebooks are “powerwashed,” a factory reset removing all local data, with a few keystrokes after each use.
Advantages of using Chromebooks for hands-on instruction include mobility and flexibility, sustained by long battery life. No laptop login and easy wi-fi connection decrease start-up time at the beginning of class. Additionally, the option to login with a personal Google account allows students to use familiar tools like Google Drive and Google Docs as part of their hands-on research activities.
Participants will learn about the procedures we use when introducing Chromebooks in the classroom, our successes and challenges overcome, and the results from our user experience survey.
