Google wants schools to offer Chromebook repair courses

Hey kids! Want to help your school and at the same time learn a little about electronics repair? Google launches Chromebook repair program for schools. Chromebooks are very popular in schools due to their simple OS and easy controls, but hardware really takes a beating in any educational environment. So why not learn how to repair them yourself?

Google’s new repair site has a guide to setting up Chromebook repair tools, which recommends that schools set up a dedicated repair space, a “customer”check-in counter to drop off broken devices and describe problems, and a skill-tracking board for students.

Acer and Lenovo are the only two OEMs participating in the repair program, and Google has disassembly instructions on the Chromebook repair site for some models. The repair guides are great, with lots of detailed pictures and drawings showing the location of each screw and cable, as well as instructions for making a recovery USB drive. The manuals also warn that you’ll void your warranty if you try to repair, but you probably won’t do a DIY repair if you’re still under warranty.

The site doesn’t offer specific guidance on where to buy parts or what tools you’ll need for repairs, but simply suggests that schools “visit your device manufacturer’s support sites”for help. The guides also all stop at working with a screwdriver and don’t cover things like replacing components with a soldering iron.

Google says the school’s repair program will not only provide cheap backups and work for school computers, but also provide valuable repair skills for students and could even be an introduction to IT careers.