{"id":1402,"date":"2021-12-26T19:24:03","date_gmt":"2021-12-26T19:24:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gatlabs.com\/education\/?p=1402"},"modified":"2026-03-24T10:22:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T10:22:52","slug":"6-chromebook-management-essentials-every-k-12-it-admin-needs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gatlabs.com\/education\/blog\/6-chromebook-management-essentials-every-k-12-it-admin-needs\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Chromebook Management Essentials Every K-12 IT Admin Needs"},"content":{"rendered":"

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According to Techradar, 2021 was \u2018the year of the Chromebook\u2019<\/a>. After all, Chromebooks have been taking the EdTech scene by storm amid an unprecedented shift to eLearning<\/a>\u00a0globally.<\/p>\r\n

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While Chrome OS offers schools better control over IT and security needs, Chromebook management isn\u2019t exactly “a stroll in the park” for K-12 admins.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

Deploying a full-on\u00a0Chromebook management workflow<\/a> requires enforcing granular monitoring and security<\/strong> for multiple areas.<\/p>\r\n

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In this post, we\u2019ll share with you six essentials we believe every K-12 admin needs to improve their overall Chromebook management game<\/p>\r\n

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6 Chromebook Management Essentials Every K-12 IT Admin Needs<\/h2>\r\n

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1. Chromebook Asset Management<\/h3>\r\n

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How many Chromebooks do we have?
Who has which device?
Which devices are insured, need repairs, or have been broken or lost?<\/em><\/p>\r\n

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These are just a few Chromebook management questions a well-kept Chromebook asset management system should answer.<\/p>\r\n

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By better tracking the devices you provide, you can easily generate reports for usage, acquisition, repairs, and more.<\/p>\r\n

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Remember, your device asset system needs to be accurate, up-to-date and cover all the important information of your device asset.<\/p>\r\n

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How to create a basic Chromebook asset management system?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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  1. Create a Spreadsheet<\/strong> that includes the details of all Chromebook and Chrome OS devices on your network.<\/li>\r\n
  2. Sort them<\/strong> by district (or school) asset ID,\u00a0serial number<\/a>, model,\u00a0 group, IP, user, device location, and OS version.<\/li>\r\n
  3. Enter your district (or school) ID<\/strong> into the Google Admin console with the corresponding student account added to the info section.<\/li>\r\n
  4. Update<\/strong> this Sheet as you go.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

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    Alternatively, you can use an asset management tool. Check out Asset Tiger<\/a>, it\u2019s FREE and perfect for larger Chromebook deployments.<\/p>\r\n

    2. Chromebook Geo-location Tracking<\/h3>\r\n

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    Track and manage the location of your Chromebooks and Chrome OS devices at all times.<\/p>\r\n

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    This prepares you for any Chromebook device loss and\/or theft incidents<\/strong>\u00a0and allows you to take prompt action to protect your domain and student data.<\/p>\r\n

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    Geolocation alerting also helps you spot and respond to unusual logins on time before incidents are even reported or cause further damage.<\/p>\r\n

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    Unfortunately, this information is not available in the admin console, so you\u2019ll need an accurate and reliable 3rd party tool to cover this area.<\/p>\r\n

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    \"Chromebook<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\r\n

    3. Chromebook Content Filtering Tool<\/h3>\r\n

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    Now on to the trickier part of the nut, \u2018content filtering\u2019.<\/p>\r\n

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    Most schools today need to abide by laws that ensure students are protected from harmful online content and\/or practices.<\/p>\r\n

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    In the US, for instance, K12 schools and libraries need to stay\u00a0CIPA Compliant<\/a> (Children\u2019s Internet Protection Act). Learn more about becoming CIPA Compliant\u00a0with GAT Shield\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

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    Many schools also choose to expand their internet safety and filtering efforts beyond CIPA to keep students focused on academic activities online.<\/p>\r\n

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    This all presents admins with a dilemma as Chromebooks\u00a0do not\u00a0offer the ability to filter internet traffic<\/u>.<\/p>\r\n

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    To that, K-12 schools need a third-party monitoring tool to filter content on student Chromebooks.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

    This helps you set more granular policies and alerts, whether students are on or off of school property.<\/p>\r\n

    Chrome Browser Monitoring: How to Keep K-12 Students Safe and Focused?<\/a><\/blockquote>