Device Care & Use

Many students in Baltimore County Public Schools, Kindergarten through grade 12, use Chromebooks or Windows-based devices to access digital content and resources. All BCPS teachers and students have access to the Google Chrome browser regardless of the device they have been issued.   The links and resources below can be used to support the care and use of Chromebooks or Windows devices in the classroom.  Google also provides a variety of Chromebook support resources for users on the Chromebook Help site.  This site provides a search option to assist users with locating the appropriate support.  

These resources in addition to the Chromebook Simulator can useful for teachers and students to build knowledge and fluency with the Chromebook and the Chrome OS.  

To see a user comparison in basic functionality between Chromebooks and BCPS Windows Devices, you can view the Chromebook and Windows Device Quick Tips & Tricks resource. 

⭐ All resources on this page have been updated for the 22-23 school year. 

These Device Care and Use resources have been created to help teachers and students develop and implement routines and procedures when using the Chromebooks to support learning.  They are intended to be used in the first weeks of school as teachers and students begin to develop and practice classroom rules and routines.  Although suggested time frames are provided, teachers can choose how to use the lesson resources and accompanying activities to best meet the needs of their students. 

Lesson resources are shared below or you can explore the Device Care & Use Lesson Overview to learn more. 

These Device Care and Use resources have been created to help teachers and students in grades 6-12 develop and implement routines and procedures when using the Chromebooks to support learning.  They are intended to be used in the first weeks of school to support teachers and students as they familiarize themselves with using a Chromebook. School principals will determine how their school will showcase the videos to students. 

Each video explains how to perform a different task when using the Chromebook. Teachers should play the videos and pause when appropriate to allow students time to practice.  The Chromebook Task resource provides suggested student practice activities for each video. 

BCPS Device Care & Use Video Series

• Device Care and Respect (3:53)

• Chromebook Functionality- Keyboard, Touchpad, and Screenshots (5:52)

• Chromebook Functionality- Chrome Terminology, Finding Google Drive, and Bookmarking (3:26)

• Chromebook Functionality- Log on and Shut down, Shelf & App Launcher, and BCPS Apps Portal (5:59)

BCPS Google Drive Overview for Students Video Series

• Google Drive Overview for Students- Google Drive Overview, Access, and Dashboard (4:32)

• Google Drive Overview for Students- Creating, Uploading, and Managing  Folders & Files (3:56)

• Google Drive Overview for Students- Sharing Files and Force a Copy Linking  (5:37)

Additional videos are provided to explain how to open and manage Microsoft files when using a Chromebook.     

• Using Microsoft Files on a Chromebook with OneDrive (2:12)

• Using Microsoft Files on a Chromebook with Google Drive (2:38)               

Although all K-12 students in BCPS will be issued a Chromebook, some specific courses may require Windows based software. Students enrolled in these specialized courses may be accessing some course content on a Windows device. The resources below have been created to support teachers and students who may be using Windows 10 as the operating system on their BCPS issued device.