Extending a Chromebook past the Auto Update Expiration with ChromeOS Flex

A while back I wrote about an adventure I had installing BrunchOS on old Acer C720 Chromebooks to extend their life past the Auto Update policy expiration. Google's Auto Update policy is similar to Apple's iPadOS support policy that stops supporting older devices after a period of time. Thankfully, end of support doesn't mean the device is bricked and we can still use it, though it doesn't benefit from secutity and usability updates. We have a fleet of older Chromebooks that we use for loaners should a student forget their BYOD. Google has actually now promised at least 10 years of support which is amazing news and I've definitely enjoyed Apple's excellent efforts to support older iPads on new iPadOS releases.

I took a look at ChromeOS Flex today and got it up and running on two devices in minutes which is a significant time savings over BrunchOS. ChromeOS Flex follows Google's acquisition of Neveready Cloudready and is intended to revive older Macs and PCs. It's a great idea and reaffirms the simplicity that student BYOD can be. ChromeOS Flex requires modifying the bootloader and does not do a security chip check, and also does not support Google Play or Android apps.

The process for our Acer C720s was straightforward:

1. Download ChromeOS Flex onto USB using the Chromebook Recovery Utility
2. Remove the write-protect screw.
3. Reboot in developer mode (I had to deprovision in the Admin console first).
4. Open a CROSH shell (Ctrl + Alt + T) 
5. Run MrChromebox's firmware utility script:
   

   cd; curl -LOk mrchromebox.tech/firmware-util.sh && sudo bash firmware-util.sh

6. Reboot
7. ???
8. Profit! (I'm sure explicitly prohibited in the T&C)

Chipboard Cardboard Constructors

Chipboard Cardboard Constructors are laser-cut chipboard tile shapes with slots that allow for friction fitting. Fitting different shapes together can generate tactile 3D shapes quite quickly and I've found kindergarten students are able to manipulate them quite easily.

There are a few ready-made design files floating around the intertubes but most are made for corrugated cardboard. While corrugated cardboard is a wonderful material it's not plentiful enough for me to create hundreds of tiles in different shapes. I like to use chipboard which we get quite cheaply in bulk in large sheets.

Rather than modifying existing files I figured it would be easier to draw my own files. I went for a rectangle, triangle and circle and went for the simple angles at corners and mids. Skewer-sized holes allow for axles, spinners, poles, etc.

Here are the files, they're licensed as NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International so feel free to modify, change and share alike but do not use my files to make money. They are sized for 0.02" chipboard, on a 12"x18" artboard, so be careful resizing if you have different sizes since slot sizes may not fit.

I wanted to practice optimizing files for the laser cutter so I was trying to find shortcuts to eliminate overlapping lines or to speed up travel times. I didn't get very far and just deleted overlapping paths manually. It's very soothing to see sides of shapes line up so the laser cutter just has to make one cut for two different shapes.

Running Technology

Next weekend is the BMO Vancouver Marathon and all across the city runners are fitting in their last training runs. Today was a gorgeous day (sunny 22 degrees!) so I'm sure it's going to be busy on the streets. The marathon route is absolutely gorgeous and takes you through some amazing vistas, though it ends on the beautiful, but testing, seawall and a steady uphill on the last kilometer. The overall elevation gain is relatively minor, maybe even net downhill, but it's Vancouver so lots of Running Up That Hill.

Running technology is highly personal. Just look at how many flavours energy gels come in. I don't like to carry many things with me so I usually just have my phone and a stretchy running belt. Sometimes I'll bring bluetooth earbuds but most of the time they stay in my pockets and I only turn them on when I need a change of pace.

Strava is by far the most popular mileage tracker though I'm not a big fan. I run for me and it's my break from everything; screens, tech, people, distractions, work... so I'm not the target audience for Strava's leaderboard or segment challenges and comparisons. Social fitness tech does have incredible potential for encouragement and motivation though and Strava excels in that.

I used the Nike Run Club app to train for my first marathon and I loved it. It formulated a 13-week plan based on my current running regime and comfort level, was apparently adaptive as it processed how well I did during training runs (though I'm suspicious of how much tweaking it actually did for subsequent runs), and had great vocal encouragement and nuggets of wisdom from runners like Mo Farah and Nike's Coach Bennett. Unfortunately, about two years ago Nike removed the adaptive training program and the only way to get it back was to download older .APK versions. Even then, the app would have glitches because it would presumably call home to Nike and it wouldn't get the updates it needed.

I tried Runkeeper for a while and it seemed to be a killer app. It had a great web interface where you could export data and edit routes, like you forget to pause when you're passed out on the park bench for half an hour, or get distracted by the bakery counter when you have a washroom break. But there were little issues with the GPS locking, and huge issues like syncing with Rungap (more on that later).

I've been using Runtastic (now called Adidas Running) for a few years now and it does what I need it to do. It's GPS lock is good enough, it's great on batteries, I like the succinct vocal reminders of time or distance, and it's great on battery life. There's lots of features locked behind a subscription but I don't need that level of customization.

While I was trying out these different apps I used Rungap to synchronize all the data between accounts. It works well and offers lots of export features like GPX conversion. The neatest thing it does is extracting data from walled gardens like Nike. I'm not sure what magic it does but Nike didn't provide any export options when I was using it. Yet Rungap was able to not only pull data but make it readable by other apps.

Having an open, readable format like GPX makes it easy to manipulate data afterwards. It has XML fields  GPS coordinates, timings, waypoints and allows for any extras like notes. The proliferation of fitness technology like heartrate, wearable tech, or even fall detection makes open data even more important so your data can always belong to you. Unfortunately this often runs contrary to commercial interests, like show companies sponsoring running apps, or proprietary data logging to lock users into one ecosystem.

GPX files make it easy to view and manipulate GPS data

Communicating Student Learning

In 2016 British Columbia shifted to proficiency scale reporting alongside a redesigned curriculum. The new curriculum supports deeper learning through concept-based and competency-driven education. There is a greater integration of technology-enabled learning environments, inquiry-based questioning and weaving Indigenous perspectives and knowledge, such as the First Peoples Principles of Learning.

The proficiency scale is used to communicate student learning in all areas of learning, and descriptive feedback provides students with information about where they are at in their learning and strategies for how they can move forward in their learning. We've used rubrics in many areas but parents were largely unfamiliar with how they communicated student learning:

A pillar of our assessment strategy is providing continuous feedback to parents throughout the year. As a 1:1 device school we were in an advantageous position to provide continuous feedback throughout the year via Seesaw, our digital learning management system. Seesaw provides a student-friendly platform to “show what they know” using photos, videos, drawings, text, PDFs, and links. It works alongside our student information system from Blackbaud that compiles and distributes our official report cards.

Kindergarten to Grade 4 students have had 1:l access to iPads, empowering students and teachers to communicate learning in realtime. iPads allow instant access to sound and video recording, documentation, and teacher feedback in one simple platform.

We've been using Seesaw for seven years now and have noticed a tonal shift in parent connections. It's easy for parents to subscribe to notifications and be hyper-aware of everything that gets communicated through Seesaw. However, I like to suggest parents having weekly discussions with their child in front of their iPad as they scroll through the week together. The metrics over the years are astonishing to behold, not just the volume of content we're posting in just a few grades, but the number of parent engagements:

It's also interesting seeing the ebb and flow of engagement throughout a school year. In the charts below you can see how parent visits closely follows the timeline of when posts are published, with lulls during holidays and school breaks. Check out the first week of school too; we have nearly instantaneous parent signups as the year begins with a couple of weeks of troubleshooting as we get to around 98% family reach. Remember, we run Seesaw alongside our official school reporting system (Blackbaud) and does not replace any official forms of communication.

In essence, Seesaw (or any other LMS like Classdojo, Canvas, Moodle, Schoology, Freshgrade (RIP)) can make for a powerful parent engagement tool. When we strive to communicate student learning we want to do it consistently and continuously, not just three times a year. And if we're moving away from static percentages and grades to a proficiency rubric then presenting learning as an evolving, timely process can help students, teachers and parents understand the process in addition to the end result!

#healthytech days

Last week I challenged students and staff of the Junior School to explore healthy technology options for a few days. #healthytech days was an opportunity to step away from our devices for three days. The intent was to gather experiences and reflections on the respite from technology. We all knew devices would be coming back after #healthytech days were over so it was opportunity to re-develop our relationships with technology and aim for a more balanced digital wellness.

#healthytech days began last year when I launched a campaign for Grade 7s to experience two "tech free" days. Students and teachers were challenged to keep their BYODevices at home and/or limit their school technology use. What followed were wonderful conversations and reflections around mental health, appropriate technology use, assistive technology, and how to modify our tech relationship to include more positivity and productive use.

Tech free days coincided with the PE department beginning a healthy eating/food unit with the Grade 7s which made for a natural and mutually beneficial connection. Coincidentally, I had also taught nutrition and dietary science to these students for a cooking elective the year prior!

First, we looked at Canada's Food Guide and it's emphasis on variety of foods. The plate shows approximate ratios of healthy and nutritious food and offers suggestions on nutrition, such as protein, whole grains, and plenty of vegetables or fruit. 

The plate was a visual connector to Dr. Shimi Kang's Tech Solution strategy. Her plate visualizes a balanced tech diet that embraces positive, productive technology use while reducing or eliminating toxic and junk tech. I recommend reading her book for more insight into what constitutes toxic tech; the brain science and physiological effects are very convincing.

Once we had a baseline of understanding we connected the positive effects of healthy eating with healthy tech:

I also challenged families to continue the experience at home and offered the Canadian Pediatric Society's Four essential 'Ms' as expert medical advice:

1. healthy management
• Make and regularly review or revise a Family Media Plan including individualized time and content limits.
• Continue to be present and engaged when screens are used and, whenever possible, co-view and talk about content with children and teens.
• Discourage media multitasking, especially during homework.
• Learn about parental controls and privacy settings.
• Obtain their child’s or teen’s passwords and login information for devices and social media accounts, to help ensure safety online and to follow
• online profiles and activities if concerns arise.
• Speak proactively with children and teens about acceptable and unacceptable online behaviours.
  
  
2. meaningful screen use
• Prioritize daily routines, such as interacting face-to-face, sleep, and physical activity over screen use.
• Prioritize screen activities that are educational, active, or social over those that are passive or unsocial.
• Help children and teens to choose developmentally appropriate content and to recognize problematic content or behaviours.
• Be a part of their children’s media lives. For example, join in during video game play and ask about their experiences and encounters online.
• Advocate for schools, child care centres and after-school programs to consider developing their own plan for digital literacy and screen use.
  
  
3. positive modelling
• Encourage parents to review their own media habits, plan time for alternative hobbies, outdoor play and activities.
• Remind parents and adolescents of the dangers of texting or using headphones while driving, walking, jogging, or biking.
• Encourage daily “screen-free” times, especially for family meals and socializing.
• Ask whether screens are “off” when not in use, including background TVs.
• Remind parents and teens to avoid screens at least 1 hour before bedtime and discourage recreational screen use in bedrooms.
  
  
4. balanced, informed monitoring of screen time and behaviours.
• Complaints about being bored or unhappy without access to technology.
• Oppositional behaviour in response to screen time limits.
• Screen use that interferes with sleep, school or face-to-face interactions.
• Screen time that interferes with offline play, physical activities or socializing face-to-face.
• Negative emotions following online interactions or video games or while texting .

Indigenous formline shapes

An interesting design and materials selection process came up recently with Brittney Townrow, our school's formidable indigenous education coordinator. She proposed creating cutout shapes of Pacific Northwest Coast formline art, specifically her Heiltsuk community. She could then use these cutout shapes as physical building blocks or stencils for art.

The primary formline is typically continuous making it an ideal shape draw as vector lines. Other smooth undulating lines combine to make up a variety of shapes that can convey animal anatomy. Recreating these lines in Illustrator was quick and resulted in editable vectors:

Photoshop has basic .STL capabilities for 3D files but Illustrator does not. I opted to export as SVG and import into Tinkercad to allow for easy sharing and editing of individual files by others in future. Unfortunately, I don't have permission to share these files.

Of course, vector files allow for easy laser cutting since it's s standard file format. I like the feel and texture of the wood cutouts, but I think the 3D-printed ones will last much longer in younger student hands:

Brittney also had some great ideas of having students learn traditional techniques of indigenous paddle carving by making their own. What a wonderful idea to not only have children apply what they've learned but to also express their own creativity and influence on artwork. I have an ADST Woodworking class that sees every Grade 6 student so this was also a natural conveyance point.

We're purposefully limited to safer hand and power tools in the Makerspace so I explored ways to make a paddle safely that also had maximum student creativity. We typically use dimensional SPF lumber in woodworking due it's price point and relative softness but even thinner material would pose a problem for the curves and cutouts of paddles. Chisels were out the question due to their sharpness and longevity of the blades so I tried coping saws, rasps and files, and a jigsaw on basswood, a much softer wood.

I printed out a paddle image for a test and used a light coating of spray adhesive on a 3/16"x4"x24" plank of basswood. If you let it dry a bit the low tack should help the paper come off a bit easier. Our tech ed teacher just uses glue sticks but I think it's pretty fun using spray adhesive! Student projects can draw out their own paddle shape on a pre-determined paper size before gluing.

I first tried using the rasp and files since I figured it mimicked the traditional use of chisels. It worked, but required a lot of effort in consistent strokes. It also created a lot of dust and I split the wood a couple of times being a bit careless. This means students would undoubtedly split it and I quickly abandoned rasping. I then tried the jigsaw and coping saws. The jigsaw applied too much vibration and required constant re-clamping. The coping saw worked well. You can see the texture differences below, from left to right; jigsaw, coping saw, rasp:

I can see a lot of extensions and modifications possible for this project. If time is a factor then paddle blanks can be purchased and focus placed on the artwork. Coloured sharpie or other permanent markers worked great with wood and bypass the messiness of paint. Mineral oil is a safe finish to apply that also bypasses any fumes or fire hazards. The laser cutter could also be quick cutouts or engraving, especially if 3D carving is needed. Even simple wood burners would add a nice textural feel and look.