Device Maintenance

Tech Tip Tuesday (May 27, 2025)

Squeaky clean, but not the good cheese curds

Last week of Ctrl + Alt + Declutter!

On average, 8 to 12 percent of school devices are damaged per year. Some schools report damage rates as high as 25%, while others are as low as 2%.

This week: taking care of your device and 4 tips to keep it running swell all year!

#1: Keep food and drinks away.

A man in a kitchen appears shocked as he pours coffee from a mug directly onto a laptop screen. Instead of spilling, the coffee seemingly flows into the screen, blending seamlessly with the desktop background, which is filled with numerous icons. The scene has a humorous and surreal vibe. The top-left corner displays the watermark "gifak.net."

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Establish a clear rule: no food or drinks near devices. This spills and sticky keys, which are common causes of device damage.

Because crumbs and spills turn your Chromebook into a Crumb-book... and no one wants that.

#2: Model how to carry your device publicly.

A security camera captures a FedEx delivery worker walking up to a gated property holding a computer monitor box. The worker throws the box over the tall gate, and it lands on the ground with a thud. A FedEx delivery van is parked nearby on the street. The overlay text at the top reads, "FedEx delivering a computer monitor. It broke." The bottom corner shows the watermark "4GIFS.com."

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Model how to handle, carry, and store devices safely daily when you're walking in the hallway with your device. Close lids gently, unplug chargers properly, and avoid stacking devices, then reinforce these habits by modeling them yourself.

When a device is dropped, the screen is the first thing to go, keeping you from that riveting email someone CC'd you on.

#3: Do that device update.

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Luckily, most of our teaching tools are web-based and don't require updates. However, your browser and device are a different story.

Regularly check for and install updates and actually do it. This helps keep devices running smoothly and secure from people who shouldn't be in your business.

#4: Empty your recycle bin and downloads.

A surreal and retro computer graphic showing a Windows-style "Recycle Bin" folder interface. The screen appears to stretch into an infinite tunnel of black and white striped walls. Various floating icons of folders, papers, and push pins are scattered throughout the tunnel, creating an abstract, dreamlike visual. The design evokes a nostalgic and digital aesthetic.

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Short answer? Your device will run faster and smoother.

More complex answer? Your performance slows with additional files being held onto, and your operating system needs the space to run better.

Trust me, if you haven't organized your downloads into a permanent space, it isn't that important.

A webpage titled "Time Portal" features a central image of an ancient scene with a figure dressed in white robes standing between tall stone structures. A red-bordered button in the center of the image reads "PLAY DAILY CHALLENGE." Above the image, text says, "Travel through time and figure out which events you landed in." Below the image, text says, "Download the app to play more challenges!" The background is dark, highlighting the glowing text and image.

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Find something in history that could have existed

Ready to test your history knowledge and explore the past? Eggnog AI's Time Portal drops you into a random moment in history. Can you figure out where (and when) you are?

Sharpen your guessing skills and see how well you know your history and geography.
Dive into the daily challenge or explore even more historical puzzles!

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Find what location you are in history with AI-generated videos.