Why you should consider using the Chrome browser

Coke or Pepsi, Puffs or Kleenex, and of course Internet Explorer (IE) or Chrome (no offense Firefox, Opera, or Safari) different names for basically the same product. In the case of IE or Chrome we are referring to web browsers. Hopefully we are familiar with that term but just to be sure web browsers are relatively small pieces of software that allow you to browse the World Wide Web.

Many of us use Internet Explorer because it is what we are used to or because it has been the only option but if you had another option, would you still use it? I want to present some hopefully compelling options as to why you should consider moving over to Chrome.

1. Google Web Store - Chrome is a Google product and as such is very customizable using Apps and Extensions that are found in the Google Web Store. The functionality of Chrome can extend far beyond simply browsing the web to include cloud based services such as photo editing, video creation, organizational tools, and so much more! 
2. Google Drive / Apps - Google Drive is your cloud based storage giving you 30 GB of space to store nearly any filetype you choose. The Google suite of Apps (Slides, Docs, Sheets, & Drawings) tie directly into Google Drive and facilitate collaboration and sharing in an extremely intuitive manner. While both Drive and the suite of Apps are accessible in other browsers the best and most stable experience is when used with the Chrome browser. Each member of the GCS community has a Google Drive / Apps account so if you are not using it contact a member of the Technology Team to find out how! 
3. Synchronization - Chrome is capable of keeping your browsing experience fully synchronized across multiple computers. As long as you sign into Chrome and link your data when prompted your browser pulls your settings from the cloud delivering your Chrome experience. What do I mean when I say settings? 

As you can see from the image you also have the ability to prevent the synchronization of specific aspects. 

As you might be able to guess by now, I am a Chrome person. I like the way it operates and generally it makes the things I do on the World Wide Web easier and more efficient but that doesn't mean it will for you and that's OK!

Regardless of your favorite browser it is a very good idea to have both installed and be comfortable working in each. By doing so you are modeling an important, yet often overlooked aspect of educational technology which is confident flexibility. Confidence in yourself that you know what both are and flexibility by understanding that sometimes a website or service might exhibit odd behaviors in Internet Explorer but work perfectly in Chrome (or vice versa), so trying both is critical.

In the middle of a lesson and things aren't going as you expect with a particular webpage? Don't let frustration derail the momentum, relax, breathe, and know that your first action should be to try the same webpage in a different browser. It might just solve the problem and your students can observe you dealing with a tech obstacle in a positive manner.