The Visual Language of Chrome

This post is an excerpt from my new book, The Chromebook Classroom. You can download a free excerpt here! If you like it, you can purchase from chrmbook.com or on Amazon! 

Teachers who use Chromebooks should adopt a common language to help their students quickly navigate ChromeOS. There are four key symbols that are found throughout the operating system that students should know and understand. Here's how I describe them when I train others on how to effectively navigate ChromeOS.

The "Google Waffle"

This symbol typically appears in the top right corner of Google services such as Gmail, Drive, and Calendar. Click to access your favorite Google applications.

The "Hamburger"

Also referred to as the "pancakes", this symbol represents settings, or options. In some versions of ChromeOS this symbol is in the top right corner of the Chrome browser. Clicking on it give you access to the Chrome menu.

The "Snowman" 

This symbol is also an indication for settings or options. It is frequently found in Chrome Apps. Some versions of ChromeOS have this symbol in the top right corner of the screen instead of the "hamburger."

The "Shish-kabob"

This rare symbol signifies application settings and is usually found within various Chrome Apps.