Using Chromebooks in Invention Bootcamp

Table of contents

  1. Initial Setup
  2. Check for Updates
  3. Install Zoom
  4. Install Codebender
  5. Running Codebender
  6. Creating screenshots
  7. Save a screenshot to your Google Drive

Initial Setup

  1. Click the power button on the top right hand of the keyboard to turn on.

  2. At the bottom of the initial screen there is a button that says “Add Person”.

  3. Once you click that, it brings up another window that prompts you to put in your username and password for your PSU gmail account. Do not use your personal google account (if you have one).

  4. When you have typed in your login and password it will bring up the desktop. Note: Be aware that the desktop is very minimalistic and does not have a lot of stuff on it.

In the bottom left hand corner are applications you can use. To get to the internet, click the Google Chrome logo. To see the battery, adjust the volume, or to connect to wifi , you will click the bottom right hand corner of the screen.

Check for Updates

Refer to this article at google.com

From that page:

  1. Turn on your Chromebook.
  2. Connect your Chromebook to Wi-Fi.
  3. At the bottom right, select the time.
  4. Select Settings (gear icon).
  5. At the bottom of the left panel, select About Chrome OS.
  6. Under “Google Chrome OS,” you’ll find which version of the Chrome operating system your Chromebook uses.
  7. Select Check for updates.

If your Chromebook finds a software update, it will start to download automatically. Note: If your Chromebook uses your phone’s internet connection or its own mobile data, you’ll get an alert about how much mobile data it needs to update. You can then stop or continue with the update.

Install Zoom

  1. Enter zoom app chrome in the Google search bar
  2. From the Chrome Web store, click on the Add to Chrome button
  3. Confirm the installation by clicking Add app

Install Codebender

  1. Enter codebender app chrome in the Google search bar
  2. From the Chrome Web store, click on the Add to Chrome button
  3. Confirm the installation by clicking Add app

Running Codebender

Ask the instructor or one of the mentors for the correct URL

Creating screenshots

Whole screen: ctrl + show windows

Selection: ctrl + shift + show windows

The show windows button is located at the center of the top row of keys. It looks like a box with two vertical lines to the right of the box.

Chromebook keyboard annotated

Save a screenshot to your Google Drive

Screenshots on a Chromebook are stored in the Local folder. To make the screenshot easier to find later, you can copy it to your Google Drive folder

  1. Open the Local directory
  2. Open another window with your Google Drive visible
    • Navigate to the correct folder on your Google Drive (the folder where you want to store the screenshot)
    • Make sure the Local directory (of the Chromebook) and the Google drive folder are visible on your Chromebook screen
  3. Drag the screenshot file from the Local directory to the Google Drive folder