Chrome and Flash: getting finicky sites to run...

This post and tutorial originally appeared on my lab blog @HeathcoteTech: blogs.scarsdaleschools.org/heathcotetech

Flash is one of the first pieces of web-based software for running media. Originally Flash was how you got animations and video on the internet. YouTube dropped Flash as it's video format in 2015.

Flash is notoriously susceptible to virus and malware attacks. In addition, it is a technology that requires it to be continuously running, meaning it takes a lot of processing power from your computer and can slow down your browser's responsiveness. The limitations of Flash, from a power and processing consumption standpoint but also as a security risk, are why Steve Jobs refused to allow the iPhone and iPad to run Flash.

Adobe, who created and maintains Flash, has announced it will no longer support Flash as of 2020.

In the meantime there are still a few educational website that require Flash. Sites like Wixie and OneMoreStory. If you are having difficulty running Flash-enabled sites check out this tutorial for solving Flash issues in Chrome...

Update Flash - a NYCDOE centric tutorial

The below tutorial was created with the New York City Department of Education computers and network in mind. That said, however, the idea behind finding a way to easily batch-update Flash on student computers carries over to users and networks beyond the NYCDOE.

So, while the tutorial may be NYCDOE centric, if you are in a Mac environment you can most likely follow the steps to push out Flash updates in your lab setting as well.

Hope this helps folks out...

Flash is the Printed Worksheet of #edtech

I will preface this by saying what you are about to read is a bit of a rant...

... being concerned about using Flash is like worrying the photocopier wont print all your student worksheets...