There are a multitude of new Gemini-enhanced features on the way to Google Classroom for both educators and students.
What you should be aware of
– Google has outlined a substantial Gemini-centric update for Classroom, providing educators access to NotebookLM for creating study guides for students.
– Gems (customized Gemini adaptations) will enable educators to develop an AI “authority” in a specific subject area to assist students with their needs.
– The update also introduces more than 30 fresh AI features, including the ability to create quizzes and rubrics, as well as the capacity for Gemini to craft lesson plans for teachers.
Educators aiming to enhance their teaching through Google’s AI are about to receive a significant upgrade in Classroom.
Likely in anticipation of the upcoming school year, Google has detailed a significant AI-centered update for educators in Classroom through a Keyword blog post. Approximately 30 new features are set to launch today (June 30) at no additional cost. Gemini and NotebookLM are central to several features that educators can look forward to “in the coming months.” Regarding the former, Google mentions that educators will soon be able to utilize Gems (custom versions of Gemini) for their students.
Teachers can customize a specific variant of Gemini aligned with their instructional materials. This will produce a Gemini that acts as an “expert” in that specific field, offering personalized help to students who may require additional support or wish to explore their learning further.
NotebookLM is here to generate “interactive study guides and podcast-style Audio Overviews.” Students can navigate these guides to grasp concepts more effectively in a streamlined manner, while the Audio Overviews create opportunities for questions.
Advancing Education with a Gemini Assistant
What educators can anticipate as of today (June 30), Google showcases Gemini’s capability to “produce content from a central hub in Classroom.” The announcement states that early users have been testing Gemini’s features in Classrooms, including options like “outline lesson plan” or “create a quiz.”
The AI will derive its information directly from your available materials, which some users describe as “quick and efficient,” particularly when developing a rubric for students. When it comes to lesson plan creation with Gemini, Google indicates educators must specify a “target grade and subject” for the AI to generate a preliminary draft. Teachers can further refine the lesson plan with Gemini as it recommends potentially valuable videos and more.
These features are beginning to roll out worldwide for English-speaking educators “in the upcoming weeks.” If you are interested in participating in Google’s pilot program, you can enroll in the AI track within Classroom.
To conclude, Google has emphasized several features planned for Classroom for educators. These include a more “versatile” Read Along mode. Teachers can now upload their own materials, with future plans to deliver Gemini-created stories for “real-time support” for books that students might find engaging. Educators will also soon have access to a “silent reading mode” and a “listening mode” for insights into comprehension.
Shortly, Classroom will incorporate support for the educational standards of learning institutions. Google acknowledges that not every institution follows the same standards, thus partnering with 1EdTech and Common Good Learning Tools to allow such institutions to publish their standards via CASE Network 2. Moreover, “in the coming months,” educators will be enabled to “tag coursework with appropriate learning standards or skills and view new analytics on student performance.”
Google reiterates a previous Classroom rollout in June that introduced new analytics and insights for educators regarding their students.
