Premium Google Tools Now Available for Students

new, premium Google tools available for students

In recent months, teachers have gained access to some new, premium Google tools. In these posts we mentioned that students do not have access to them, yet. We are glad to say that students should now be able to access these tools, notably:

  • Google Vids This tool is a powerful and easy video creation tool. Students can easily collaborate and share in the platform. It can be found in the “waffle.”
  • Screen Record in Slides: Google has an easy interface to record a screencast directly within Slides.
  • Students have access to smart chips and building blocks in Google Docs which may be helpful for project management.

Please reach out if you want to learn more.

Upcoming Changes to Google Products: CS First and Applied Digital Skills

Here are some updates regarding the future of two Google for Education resources many of you may be familiar with: CS First and Applied Digital Skills. Please read carefully to understand how these changes might affect you.

CS First is Being Turned Down

After many years of supporting computer science education, Google’s CS First will no longer be available after June 30, 2025.

  • Access to the website will end after June 30, 2025.
  • All data on the CS First website will be permanently deleted after this date. This includes account information and project data.
  • To preserve your work, you can save CS First projects by moving them to a personal Scratch account. Instructions on how to do this can be found in the CS First Help Center.
  • You can also download your course data as a JSON file via your CS First Profile before June 30, 2025.

Looking ahead, Google is supporting the Raspberry Pi Foundation in the development of a new curriculum called Experience CS.

  • Experience CS will be available to teachers in time for the 2025/2026 school year.
  • It will offer Scratch-based learning units in a safe and scaffolded environment for students aged 8-14 and will always be freely available.
  • The Raspberry Pi Foundation is committed to creating 18 new project-based learning units covering various topics and skills, aligned with national and state standards.
  • They will also provide professional development and support for teachers using Experience CS.

Link to FAQs

Applied Digital Skills Lessons Are Moving to a New Platform

Google’s Applied Digital Skills, which has provided valuable technology skills since 2017, is transitioning to a new Google for Education learning platform on June 30, 2025.

  • The existing Applied Digital Skills website will no longer be available after June 30, 2025. It will automatically redirect to the new Google for Education Learning Center.
  • No Applied Digital Skills accounts or data will be transferred to the new platform.
  • All account and data on the current site will be deleted after June 30th.
  • If you wish to retain any account information, you must download your data in JSON format before the transition date. You can do this by signing into your Applied Digital Skills account, selecting the “Profile” tab, scrolling down, and selecting “Download”.
  • Data being deleted includes teacher, student, and learner profiles, quiz and survey responses, created classes, class membership, certificates, and Google Classroom rosters synced with Applied Digital Skills.
  • Importantly, any projects students created using Google tools (Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc.) will not be deleted.
  • While most popular lessons will be available on the new platform, some will be discontinued for quality purposes. A list of migrated lessons will be shared in the coming months.
  • You may want to download materials like lesson videos, starter projects, lesson plans, rubrics, or certificates from your favorite lessons on the current site before June 30, 2025.
  • The current teacher and student dashboard will not be available on the new website. Users are encouraged to use Google Classroom or their preferred Learning Management System (LMS) to share lesson links.
  • After June 30, 2025, you will be encouraged to create a new account on the new platform.
  • More details about the transition and getting started on the new platform will be shared in the coming months.

Link to FAQs

Please take the necessary steps to save your data and prepare for these changes before June 30, 2025.

Canvas New Quizzes Update: Multiple Selections in Hot Spot Questions

creating multiple hot spots

Summary

Instructors can enable multiple selections in Hot Spot quiz questions:

  • Instructors can define multiple correct hot spot areas.
  • Students can select multiple areas on an image in response to the quiz.
  • Autograding will evaluate the student’s selections based on the defined correct answers.
  • The feature supports regrading functionality.
  • User response attempts are limited to the number of hotspots set by the instructor.

Note: Questions made before this change support editing to accept multiple hotspots.

This update will be deployed on March 26, 2025.

Alternative to Bitly

preview of edushare.ing

If you are someone who uses URL shorteners to easily share links out, you may have used Bitly to shorten them for free. Recently, Bitly announced that users will see advertisements along with the link. You probably don’t want students or parents to experience these ads. If you want an alternative, Edushare.ing may be for you.

The platform was created by Brent Warner, an educator himself, who understands the needs of teachers firsthand. Warner’s philosophy in developing Edushare.ing reflects a strong commitment to supporting the teaching community. The platform operates on a non-profit, ad-free model, ensuring that educators can use it without distractions or financial burden. Additionally, Edushare.ing promises link longevity and reliability, meaning that shared resources will remain accessible over time.

Of course, you can easily share links with students through Canvas, Classwize, or Clever, but if you find yourself needing a shortened URL Edushare.ing might be a good option.

Teaching in the Age of AI: Demystifying AI

demystifying ai, teaching in the age of AI

Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept; it’s a present reality. As educators, we have a responsibility to equip our students with the knowledge and critical thinking skills needed to navigate this AI-driven world. Google’s Gemini (available in the Waffle and tied to your work account) can be a powerful tool in this endeavor, offering unique opportunities for hands-on, engaging learning experiences.

Here’s how you can leverage Gemini as a teacher to teach your students about AI, its capabilities, and its limitations:

1. The “FrankenBot” Activity: Understanding AI Composition & Human Refinement

  • Concept: Explore how AI generates text and how human editing and selection can improve it.
  • Activity:
    • Use Gemini to generate multiple variations of a writing assignment.
    • Provide students with a “Frankenbot” template, with each version copied into the document.
    • Students analyze each Gemini-generated example, selecting the strongest sentences or phrases from each to piece together their “perfect” piece.
    • Use Matt Miller’s template for this activity. Frankenbot Template – Ditch That Textbook
  • Learning Outcome: Students learn that AI can generate content, but human critical thinking is essential for quality and coherence. They also understand that AI can produce useful components, but not always a perfect finished product.

2. AI Rating & Ranking: Critical Evaluation & Understanding AI Variability

  • Concept: Develop critical evaluation skills and recognize the variability of AI-generated content.
  • Activity:
    • Use Gemini to generate multiple examples of a specific type of content (e.g., poems, short stories, summaries). You can even prompt it to create “good, better, best” examples.
    • Create a rubric with clear criteria (e.g., creativity, accuracy, clarity).
    • Have students individually rate and rank the AI-generated examples based on the rubric.
    • Facilitate a class discussion about their ratings, highlighting the differences in AI output and the subjective nature of evaluation.
  • Learning Outcome: Students learn to critically assess AI-generated content, recognizing its strengths and weaknesses. They understand that AI output can vary significantly, and that human judgment plays a crucial role in evaluation.

3. “Beat Gemini”: Creative Problem Solving & Human Enhancement

—See some more specific ideas for each grade level and multiple subject areas from Blue Apple Teacher.

  • Concept: Encourage creative thinking and explore how humans can improve on AI-generated work.
  • Activity:
    • Use Gemini to generate a piece of content (e.g., a story, a musical phrase, a visual description).
    • Challenge students to “Beat Gemini” by improving upon the AI’s work. This could involve:
      • Adding more detail or emotional depth to a story.
      • Expanding on a musical phrase with their own composition.
      • Creating a visual representation of a descriptive passage.
    • Have open discussions about what methods the students used to improve the AI work.
  • Learning Outcome: Students discover that AI can be a starting point for creative exploration, but human creativity and ingenuity are essential for pushing boundaries and adding unique perspectives. They will learn to identify the limitations of AI generated work, and how they can improve it.

Key Takeaways:

  • Demystifying AI: These activities help students understand that AI is a tool with capabilities and limitations, not a magical entity.
  • Critical Thinking: Students develop essential critical thinking skills by analyzing, evaluating, and refining AI-generated content.
  • Human Creativity: By “beating” AI, students recognize the unique value of human creativity and problem-solving.
  • Ethical Considerations: Discussions surrounding AI-generated work should always include ethical considerations, such as bias, plagiarism, and responsible use.

By incorporating Gemini into your lessons, you can empower your students to become informed and critical thinkers about the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence.

Quiz Whiz: Boost Learning with Online Platforms & Fast Feedback

EduTip: give lots of quizzes

Are you looking for ways to make learning more effective and engaging for your K-12 students? Frequent quizzing is a powerful learning strategy. Research indicates that regular testing enhances information retention compared to other review methods like re-reading or note-taking. Recently, Jennifer Gonzalez from the Cult of Pedagogy podcast highlighted these findings in her EduTips series. Find it here.

The Power of Quizzing. Regular quizzes can significantly improve student performance and long-term memory. One study showed that students scored 10% higher on material they were tested on versus material they only re-read. Quizzes encourage retrieval practice, which strengthens memory connections, even if students answer incorrectly.

Low-Stakes Quizzes. Aim for low-stakes or ungraded quizzes to reduce student anxiety. Use the results to inform your teaching and adjust your lessons accordingly, focusing on learning rather than penalizing.

The Fast and the Curious EduProtocol.  This method, detailed in “The EduProtocol Field Guide” by Marlena Hebern and Jon Corippo, provides timely feedback and encourages repetition for better results. This strategy recommends quizzing students on new material, giving a mini-lesson on the questions most missed, and have them take the quiz again for immediate growth and retrieval practice. Continue offering at least one rep of the quiz throughout the week until you get most of the class at mastery.

recipe for fast & curious eduprotocol

Online Quizzing Platforms. Integrate platforms like Gimkit, Blooket, and Quizizz with the Fast and the Curious EduProtocol. There are many platforms out there, reach out to a TIS to see which one may be the best fit for your goals. Here’s how it works:

  • Administer a quick game and review the results.
  • Offer a brief re-teach or mini-lesson focusing on areas where students struggled.
  • Immediately replay the game.
  • Repeat this process over a few days.

Emphasize Repetition. Repetition is crucial. The goal is to achieve 95% proficiency, adjusting the timeline based on the difficulty of the material. As Jon Corippo notes, repeated practice, like shooting a three-point shot in basketball, is essential for mastery.

Communicate with Students. Share the benefits of quizzing with your students. By understanding how quizzes help their brains learn, they’ll be more receptive to this learning method.

By incorporating frequent, low-stakes quizzes and innovative methods like the Fast and the Curious EduProtocol, you can transform your classroom into a more engaging and effective learning environment.

Did You Know? Focus Mode in Chromebooks

Chromebook focus mode

Distractions are a major challenge for students. Chromebook’s built-in Focus mode can help. This simple tool minimizes interruptions, creating a dedicated work environment.

What Focus Mode Does:

  • Sets a timer for focused work.
  • Silences notifications.
  • Integrates with Google Tasks (optional).
  • Offers calming sounds (optional).

How Students Can Use It:

  • Study Sessions: Block out distractions during homework or test prep.
  • Writing Time: Concentrate on essays or creative writing.
  • Project Work: Deep dive into research or project development.
  • Reading: Focus on comprehension without interruptions.

Tips for Teachers:

  • Demonstrate: Show students how to access and use Focus mode.
  • Encourage Regular Use: Suggest incorporating Focus mode into daily routines.
  • Discuss Benefits: Talk about the positive impact of focused work on learning.

Focus mode is a simple yet powerful tool to help students develop concentration skills and improve their academic performance. Encourage your students to give it a try! Here’s a guide from Google on how to activate it. https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/15642977?hl=en 

focus mode

Unleash Student Creativity with Adobe Express

adobe express blog

Are you looking for a dynamic tool to empower your students’ creative expression? Adobe Express (formerly Adobe Spark) is available within our district, offering a powerful platform for visual storytelling and project-based learning.

While you might be familiar with similar design tools like Canva, Adobe Express stands out with its simple and intuitive video creation capabilities. Students can easily craft engaging video projects, incorporating multimedia elements and fostering digital literacy skills using the robust stock library. Beyond video, the integrated AI image generator opens up exciting new avenues for visual exploration. Students can use text prompts to generate unique images, sparking imagination and adding a distinctive touch to their work. The AI image generator is safe to use with students in all grades.

Adobe Express offers more than just design templates. It’s a platform that allows students to amplify their voices and showcase their unique perspectives. From presentations and infographics to digital storytelling and social media campaigns, this tool empowers students to communicate effectively and creatively. Integrate Adobe Express into your curriculum to:

  • Boost student engagement: Transform learning into interactive and visually compelling experiences.
  • Develop essential skills: Foster digital literacy, communication, and critical thinking.
  • Encourage creative expression: Provide a platform for students to share their ideas and perspectives.

Explore the possibilities of Adobe Express and witness the incredible work your students can create.

Students can access Adobe Express through Clever or it can be found and accessed through the waffle.

Reach out to a Technology Integration Specialist (submit a tech ticket) if you’d like assistance using this platform with students.

Is That Copy/Paste…or Voice Typing?

As we continue to explore ways to support student learning and address concerns about AI use in assignments, I wanted to bring a key point to your attention regarding Google Doc version history and tools used to track it that specifically call out large copy/pastes (Revision History, Brisk Teaching).

If you’re using version history to examine student contributions and potentially identify instances of AI-generated text (copy/pasting), please be aware that students who use voice typing will often appear to have made numerous copy-paste actions. This is because voice typing software often inserts text in chunks, which can be misinterpreted by the version history tool. It will generally show up as 100+ large copy/pastes (depending on the length of the writing).

It’s crucial to remember that there are many legitimate reasons why a student might use voice typing:

  • Accessibility needs: Students with physical limitations may rely on voice typing to complete written assignments.
  • Learning differences: Students with dyslexia or other learning differences may find voice typing a more effective way to express their ideas.
  • Personal preference: Some students simply find voice typing to be a faster and more comfortable way to write.

Therefore, banning voice typing is not a practical or equitable solution. Instead, we should focus on assessing student understanding and authorship in meaningful ways. Let’s work together to find solutions that support all learners while maintaining academic integrity. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or ideas. Keep your eye out for a new blog series coming soon: Teaching in the Age of AI.

Khanmigo Teacher Tools Introduces Blooket Question Generator

Two great educational tools have teamed up to save you time. Khanmigo Teacher Tools (branch of Khan Academy) recently added a tool of a Blooket Generator.

What’s Blooket?

Blooket is a gamified learning platform designed to make learning fun through games.

blooket screen

Here’s a breakdown:

  • How it works:

    • Teachers create or use pre-made quizzes (called “sets”) with questions related to a specific topic. Now made easier with Khamigo’s new tool.
    • Students join a game hosted by the teacher using their own devices (phones, tablets, computers).
    • Students answer questions in a variety of game modes (e.g., Tower Defense, Gold Quest, Battle Royale).
    • Correct answers earn points, which students use to “buy” and “sell” virtual items called “Blooks” (cute avatars).

In essence, Blooket aims to transform traditional quizzes into interactive and enjoyable learning experiences, making it a popular tool in many classrooms.

What’s Khanmigo Teacher Tools?

Khanmigo for Teachers is an AI-powered teaching assistant (like MagicSchool and many others) developed by Khan Academy. It’s designed to help educators with various tasks, making their work more efficient and effective.

Here’s a summary:

  • Key Features:

    • Lesson Planning: Generate lesson plans, create clear directions, create lesson hooks or make the topic more relevant to students
    • Content Creation: Create exit tickets, multiple choice quizzes, and generate informational texts
    • Communication: Generate newsletter content

preview of khanmgio's teacher tools

In essence, Khanmigo for Teachers aims to empower educators by providing them with an intelligent assistant that supports their teaching practice in a variety of ways.

Interested in accessing Khanmigo Teacher Tools directly in Canvas? Add it by following the steps here.

Want to learn more about this new tool integrating Blooket and Khanmigo? Check out this video.