Having dual operating systems (OSes) of Linux and search engine giant Google Chrome OS on Google Chromebooks can provide tertiary students with many technical functionalities in addition to the educational applications and functionality of the Chrome OS.

Chromebooks automatically have access to Google’s Applications for Education and cloud storage services. The devices can be used to distribute and control educational videos, applications, textbooks and tutorials.

However, the addition of a Linux OS enables students to use many open-source programs, such as design, rendering and modelling programs, which are not available on the Chrome OS, according to Wits human-computer interaction doctoral student and Unisa senior lecturer Ted White and software development company Vas-X chief architect and innovator Dr Grant O'Reilly.

Both OSes can be run simultaneously on the Chromebook and a user can switch between the two without having to reboot. Documents can be stored and accessed in either OS, which means that results from computer modelling or technical engineering programs run in Linux can be used in the Chrome OS and submitted as part of formal course requirements.

O’Reilly ran an engineering model on the open-source Open GL rendering program on the Linux OS on his Chromebook and highlights that the technical capabilities of the Linux OS significantly augment the Chromebook’s benefits for use in technical tertiary courses.

“The monitoring and control of applications and materials that students can view on the Chrome OS are important for educational institutions, as they ensure that all students have the requisite materials and applications,” White notes.

However, complex technical disciplines will benefit significantly from the functionality and potential technical uses of the Linux OS.

O’Reilly notes that the Chrome OS functionality is useful during the computer programming honours courses that he presents, as he can access and contribute to the documents while students are working on them.

He can view what students are doing and ana-lyse their work processes, and prompt them, if necessary and without spoon-feeding them, on specific themes using the on-screen marking functionality.

“I can save any documents or interactions with students and publish them for other students to use. Recorded interactions with students can also be posted on YouTube, through a combination of Google Hangout and Google Hangouts on Air. I can also use the high-definition multimedia interface output port to play videos in class.

“However, the Linux OS enables tertiary students to use many additional open-source pro-grams, which do not run on or are not supported by the Chrome OS, and to do research and explore industry concepts such as agile programming,” O’Reilly adds.

White and O’Reilly used the K-Ubuntu version of Linux during their trials of the Chromebook’s capabilities for tertiary education. Google has launched the Chromebook in South Africa, but only electronics manufacturer Acer is currently allowed to distribute them in South Africa.