Is there a way to install the AI2 Companion program on a Chromebook without access to the Play Store? My students have Chromebooks through our district but they restrict access to the Play Store for me to install the App Inventor app. Is there a way to make the program accessible on the Chrome Web Store? Thank you!
I don't know for sure if it is on there, but you can check the chrome web store.
That requires access to the Andriod/Google Play Store. Thank you though.
I've looked into it, but the option I saw required me to use a file manager that needs to be installed. This means I have to side load a program to side load a program. I also want to limit the workarounds I teach the students because that could lead to a whole other set of issues.
The main issue I have is the district restrictions put on us. They have to approve apps to be pushed out. They have approved apps from the Chrome Web Store and have denied ones from the Play Store.
I also want to thank those that have provided suggestions. I don't want to seem unappreciative. I have been trying to work with my district and have looked up so many things online. I am open to look into and try anything.
It is not currently on the Chrome Web Store. I have only seen it on the Google Play Store. I was hoping it could be an easy fix to the issue, as I assume the programs on both stores are just .apk files. I could be incorrect, but was hoping there was a solution so students could work on their projects on devices provided for them.
Developer Mode has been disabled on student Chromebooks.
The MIT developers have been requested to comment. If anything can be done to ameliorate your school situation w.r.t. Companion on Chromebooks; they will be aware.
Unfortunately there is nothing we can do here. The App Inventor companion is provided as an app via the Google Play Store (for Android and ChromeOS) and the Apple App Store (for iOS). If your school district is blocking access to these services, we cannot solve this problem for you.
Edit: Slight correction here. Even if your school administrator blocks access to the Play Store for the students, it is possible for the administrator to push-install the MIT App Inventor Companion app to the Chromebooks through the Google Apps for Education portal, typically accessed at admin.google.com.
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Hello,
Any way that the USB option could be leveraged?