Enhancing Classrooms with Chromebook Plus: New Features

Edmund_McGowan · 4:26AM

Today we’re going to enter the brave new world of Chromebook Plus enhanced classrooms. Beyond textbooks and blackboards, let’s think outside the box, as the definition of “classroom” in the traditional sense has changed greatly over the past few years. The contemporary classroom may be a physical space in a school, a virtual meeting place, or a hybrid of the two.

To make the most of the modern classroom, students require a laptop that combines performance with portability and all-day battery life. On top of this, to excel in a range of tasks from class to homework and beyond, you’ll require a device with a decent sized screen that’s primed for use with a variety of educational tools. The recipe sounds good so far, and if we throw in a pinch of Google AI enhancement, we’re onto a winner.

Chromebook Plus features a range of recent AI and general innovations that deliver enhanced performance throughout the device. Equipped with the best Chromebook Plus laptops, students will be perfectly prepared to excel in their classes, assignments and downtime. If this sounds appetizing, then read on to get the lowdown on Chromebook Plus as well as current and upcoming features that will help put students on the fast-track to successful studies!

What is a Chromebook Plus?

Before we delve into the finer details of Chromebook Plus laptops with Google AI, let’s start with the basics and learn about the Chromebook Plus. Heralding from their (perfectly decent) predecessors, Chromebook Plus laptops were first unveiled at the end of 2023. Running on the cloud-based ChromeOS, Chromebook Plus is an enhanced Chromebook, delivering high performance and storage, as well as File Sync for guaranteed access to your Google Drive files. On top of this, Chromebook Plus features 10-second start up, built-in virus protection, and automatic updates to guarantee speed, performance, and device health and longevity.

A defining characteristic of all Chromebook Plus laptops is the CPU. Intel® Core™ i3 Processor or AMD Ryzen™ 3 is the baseline requirement, delivering up to double the speed, memory, and storage of regular Chromebooks. Here’s an article outlining the differences between Chromebook Plus and regular Chromebooks.

Chromebook Plus devices also feature Full HD 1080p IPS displays and 1080p and higher webcams with temporal noise reduction as standard. Since their release, Chromebook Plus laptops have included on-device Google apps and AI capabilities. Designed to address a range of requirements, Google’s AI suite includes AI enhanced video call clarity and lighting, noise cancellation and background blur, and Magic Eraser’s AI-powered editing. Recent and upcoming updates to the Chromebook Plus further enhance productivity, creativity and personalization, but more on that later.

How can Chromebook Plus enhance learning for students?

At every step of the way, the Chromebook Plus provides a powerful, reliable and flexible computing platform that grows with the learner. Thanks to improved performance, Chromebook Plus effortlessly handles multitasking, educational programs and any other apps that students may require. Integrated with Google Workspace and Android apps, collaboration and cloud storage are a breeze, enabling students to work remotely and stay connected.

With full HD displays and touchscreen capabilities, long school days using Chromebook Plus devices needn’t be a drag. Finally, the lightweight, stylish design of Chromebook Plus laptops ensure that they can go anywhere, while 10-second boot time and day long battery life mean that there are no excuses for lulls in productivity!

Features, features, features!

We’ve covered the main existing features of the Chromebook Plus and how they can help students in the previous paragraphs. You there, at the back of the classroom! If you weren’t paying attention, or require a more in-depth description, here’s an article that covers essential and upcoming features of the Chromebook Plus. Recent updates on the Chromebook Plus series focus on integrating AI functionalities, for both software and hardware. Chromebook Plus provides real-world solutions to the challenges of student life. Here’s two of the several recent updates and the ways they can benefit learners:

Help me write. School policies on AI inside and outside the classroom may vary, so please don’t go breaking any rules with this one. “Help me write” is an experimental AI tool that uses Google AI to improve your writing across a range of platforms including PDF forms and websites. By understanding the content of websites, “Help me write” provides AI-powered suggestions to tune-up your writing. Using Gemini models, "Help me write” can also literally “Do your writing” or improve/rephrase your text to suit any school assignment.

Gemini. Not the star sign, Gemini is your personal study buddy, secretary, or assistant. Whether you want to discover more about the astrological signs of the zodiac for a school project, or plan a class trip to Timbuktu, Gemini is your go to AI chatbot. A veritable shot in the arm for school work productivity, new Chromebook Plus users can partake in a whole year of access to Gemini Advanced.

Featuring enhanced AI capabilities in Google Docs, Gmail, Sheets, Slides as well as 2TB of cloud storage, Gemini Advanced can take your productivity to new heights. This integration with Google One AI Premium means that next semester you’ll be equipped with the best AI tools available. Students can reap the benefits of this harmonious integration across the Google suite and enjoy increased productivity, efficiency and organization in all of their endeavors.

Upcoming Chromebook Plus features

Help me read. While we’ve covered the bane of many a student’s existence: writing in the previous section, now let’s deal with reading. “Help me read” promises to bring enhanced reading capabilities to Chromebook and Chromebook Plus users. Simply right-click and summarize PDFs, websites and more, then ask follow-up questions to get to the bottom of difficult to understand sources.

Focus. Yes, learners of all stripes require focus. In this day and age, the distractions are un-ending, and many of them may pop-up on your computer, just when you’re settling down to do your homework. Thankfully, Focus lets you minimize distractions and get down to work. Dedicated time blocks are carved out, based on your calendar and to-do-list so you stay on top of your studies. Finally, you can whistle while you work, as Focus integrates YouTube Music to help you concentrate.

Acer Chromebook Plus

Before we bid you farewell, let’s take a quick look at a couple of laptops in the Acer Chromebook Plus line. The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 and the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 are both devices that can enhance your studies. Currently priced at $399.99, the 514 and the 515 both feature Intel Core i3 processors and are also bursting with the AI and standard features we’ve covered in this article. They’re great, durable laptops for students, built to meet MIL-STD 810H standards, ensuring they can withstand the rough and tumble of school life. Here’s a few standout features:

For compact portability, the Chromebook Plus 514 can’t be beaten. With a 14” full HD touchscreen, up to 12 hours of battery life, and 8GB RAM and 128GB SSD storage, this is a supremely portable device for on the go productivity. Featuring a 16:10 aspect ratio and anti-glare coating, you can read in all light conditions, bright or dark!
If you’re in the market for a slightly larger display the Chromebook Plus 515 may be more suitable for your studies. For intensive multitasking, and maybe even a spot of after-school gaming, the 15.6” Widescreen display is where it’s at. The larger screen format also improves the online lecture experience, while providing the perfect canvas for photo and video editing, as well as design and other creative projects.

The takeaway

We hope that you’ve enjoyed learning about the existing, new and upcoming features of the Chromebook Plus line. Whether you’re a student, parent, educator, or administrator, the enhancements delivered by the Chromebook Plus series are an exciting development in education. With a focus on addressing real-life study issues through AI integration, Chromebook Plus laptops empower student productivity and creativity. Learn with the best, and check out the Acer Chromebook Plus range for the latest and greatest in the classroom.