Tag Archives: Google Classroom

Generate vocabulary lists using Gemini in Google Classroom

What’s changing 

Since May of last year, education institutions have been leveraging new and powerful ways of working, teaching and learning with Gemini for Google Workspace. This includes products and features such as the Gemini app, Gemini Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI™), Gemini in Google Vids and Gemini in Classroom.

In continuing our efforts to ensure AI helps educators save time, create captivating learning experiences, and inspire creativity, we’re introducing a new way to generate vocabulary lists with the help of Gemini. 

Starting today, educators can generate custom word lists that are tailored to specific grade levels and topics identified by the educator. Specifically, the list will provide the word’s grammatical category, a clear definition, and a relevant example sentence to help students understand and use the vocabulary effectively. This functionality is accessible via the “Gemini Education” tab in Google Classroom. 

creating a vocab list using gemini in classroom


Who’s impacted 

Admins and end users 


Why it’s important 

This update helps educators create vocabulary lists tailored to specific grade levels and topics while simultaneously empowering students to master vocabulary and deepen their understanding of language – all right within Google Classroom. 


Getting started 


Rollout pace 


Availability 

Available for Google Workspace customers with these add-ons: 
  • Gemini Education and Education Premium 

Resources 

Create and manage rubrics using the Google Classroom API

What’s changing 

The Google Classroom API enables third-party developers to manage classes, rosters, invitations and more in Google Classroom. Since 2019, teachers have been able to create or reuse a rubric for an assignment, however this capability did not previously exist in the Classroom API. To improve upon this experience, we’re excited to announce that developers can now manage assignment rubrics via the Classroom API. 

More specifically, developers can read and write rubrics using the API, and also see student submission scores broken down by the corresponding rubric criteria, rather than just accessing the total score, enabling deeper insights into student performance. 

Create and manage rubrics using the Google Classroom API

Who’s impacted

Admins and developers 


Why it’s important 

This update enables developers to create and manage rubrics on behalf of teachers at scale, and retrieve rubric-based grades to support more holistic student performance insights. 


Getting started

  • Admins: The Classroom API provides a RESTful interface for you to manage courses and rosters in Google Classroom. Learn more about the Classroom API overview. 
  • Developers:

Rollout pace 

  • Available now. 

Availability 

Available for Google Workspace: 
  • Education Plus 

Resources

Google Classroom now supports exporting missing and excused grades to select Student Information Systems (SIS)

What’s changing

Last year, we introduced the ability for teachers to mark an assignment for a particular student as “excused” instead of giving it a 0-100 score. We also added the ability to manually mark an assignment as “missing” or “complete” and automatically add a default draft score. 

These updates give teachers even more flexibility when it comes to grading for assignments and classwork, and today we’re excited to announce that teachers can include missing and excused grades when exporting grades to their Student Information Systems (SIS). 


Getting started 

Rollout pace 

Availability 

Available for Google Workspace:
  • Education Plus and the Teaching & Learning Upgrade 

Resources 

Kickstart ideas, brainstorm activities, and differentiate content with the help of Gemini in Google Classroom

What’s changing

Earlier this year, we introduced the Gemini Education and Gemini Education Premium add-ons to give education customers ​​new and powerful ways of working, teaching and learning with Gemini for Google Workspace. We also piloted Gemini in Google Classroom with new lesson planning features that are informed by LearnLM, our new family of models fine-tuned for learning, based on Gemini and grounded in educational research. 


Today, we’re excited to officially introduce a new Gemini Education tab in Classroom that grants quick access to the following AI tools: 

  • Outline a lesson plan: Use a scaffolded experience to generate lesson plan ideas based on what you’d like students to be able to demonstrate 
  • Craft a compelling hook: Spark curiosity and engage your students with a compelling start for your class 
  • Generate a quiz: Generate a quiz and export to Forms based on target grade level, length, and the types of questions you want to include 
  • Re-level text: Generate a new version of your text based on target grade level 
We are working closely with schools and educators globally to develop additional helpful tools. If you’re interested in joining the pilot program, learn more here. 

Gemini in Google Classroom



Who’s impacted 

Admins and end users 


Why it’s important 

Gemini in Google Classroom provides educators with a suite of generative AI tools that can generate new and unique content and make learning more personal and engaging for students. 


Additional details 

Gemini in Classroom is only available in English for education users over the age of 18. 


Getting started 

Rollout pace 

Availability 

Available for Google Workspace customers with these add-ons: 
  • Gemini Education and Education Premium 

Resources 

Introducing Student Groups in Google Classroom

What’s changing 

We’re excited to introduce a new feature in Google Classroom that enables teachers to create groups of students to make assigning differentiated content easier. This update will allow them to quickly assign classwork to pre-defined sets of students without having to tediously select individual students. 


Now, teachers can differentiate content across sub-sections of their class based on their students' needs. For example, teachers can create groups based on reading levels and as their class adapts, they can edit members of a group or delete groups within their class. 

Student groups in Classroom
Who’s impacted 

End users 


Why you’d use it 

Groups in Classroom will help teachers organize, manage and understand performance in their class. 


Additional details 

Group names and members are only visible to teachers or co-teachers, not students. 


Getting started 

Rollout pace 

Availability 

Available for Google Workspace: 
  • Education Plus and the Teaching & Learning Upgrade 

Resources


Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – August 9, 2024

3 New updates

Unless otherwise indicated, the features below are available to all Google Workspace customers, and are fully launched or in the process of rolling out. Rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete if launching to both Rapid and Scheduled Release at the same time. If not, each stage of rollout should take no more than 15 business days to complete.


Appointment slots booking pages are no longer available in Google Calendar 
Earlier this year, we announced that the appointment slots feature will be replaced by appointment schedules in Google Calendar. Starting this week, appointment slots booking pages will no longer be available and all new appointments will need to be booked through appointment schedules. | Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is scheduled to complete by the end of August 2024. |  Appointment schedules are available to Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Education Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Nonprofits, Google Workspace Individual, Google One Premium users and users with personal Google accounts. | Visit the Help Center for detailed information about appointment schedules. 

Dark mode now available in Google Classroom on mobile 
Similar to the recent announcement of dark mode in Google Drive, users will now be able to change the color theme of Google Classroom on their mobile device. This new setting aims to provide users with a more comfortable, customizable viewing experience and also reduces battery usage. | Available to Google Workspace Education Fundamentals, Standard, Plus, the Teaching & Learning Upgrade customers. | Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Dark Mode in Classroom.
Dark mode in Classroom

New automation event for AppSheet databases is now generally available 
We’re excited to announce the general availability of AppSheet database automation events, allowing users to kick off automation workflows based on changes made directly in their AppSheet database. | Available to AppSheet Free, AppSheet Core and AppSheet Enterprise Plus. Google Workspace editions that include AppSheet Core can be viewed here. |  Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Visit the AppSheet community to learn more about this feature and check out the Help Center to get instructions for building your first automation using an AppSheet database.

New automation event for AppSheet databases

Previous announcements

The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.


Available in open beta: configure third-party apps by select API scopes 
We’re giving admins another layer of granular control for third-party apps. Specifically, you can now configure apps to be limited by selected OAuth 2.0 Scopes for Google APIs, such as Drive or Gmail scopes. | Learn more about the beta to configure third-party apps by select API scopes. 

Providing student engagement signals for Google Drive file attachments in Google Classroom 
We’re introducing a new feature that surfaces richer student engagement data on assignments with Google Drive attachments in Google Classroom. With this update, teachers will have easily accessible visibility into whether students have made progress on assignments with Drive attachments through pre-existing workflows in Classroom. | Learn more about Drive file attachments in Classroom.

“Take notes for me” in Google Meet is rolling out soon; pre-configure access with a new admin setting
“Take notes for me,” an AI-powered feature in Google Meet that automatically takes notes during your meetings, will be rolling out soon. Prior to end user availability, admins can now configure whether their users can use this Google AI note-taking feature with a new Admin console setting. | Learn more about the admin setting for “Take notes for me.”

Completed rollouts

The features below completed their rollouts to Rapid Release domains, Scheduled Release domains, or both. Please refer to the original blog posts for additional details.



Rapid Release Domains: 
Scheduled Release Domains: 
Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains: 


    For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).  



    Providing student engagement signals for Google Drive file attachments in Google Classroom

    What’s changing

    We’re introducing a new feature that surfaces richer student engagement data on assignments with Google Drive attachments in Google Classroom. 

    With this update, teachers will have easily accessible visibility into whether students have made progress on assignments with Drive attachments through pre-existing workflows in Classroom. This can help to identify students who may need additional support and make more informed decisions about how to assist their students. 

    Specifically, teachers can see: 
    • From the Classwork page: The number of students who haven’t edited attachments for assignments. 
    • From the student work page on individual assignments: When the attachments were last edited by each student. 

    With this information, teachers can: 
    • Quickly see whether students have started on their assigned work 
    • Provide timely interventions like sending reminders to the class or individual students 
    • Adjust instruction based on class progress Metrics for Drive attachments in Classroom

    Who’s impacted 

    End users 


    Why you’d use it 

    This feature gives teachers visibility into student progress on academic work and helps them provide effective interventions to best support students. 


    Additional details

    The feature is currently only available on assignments with Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Drawings attachments. 


    Getting started 

    • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
    • End users: 

    Rollout pace 

    Availability 

    Resources 

    Admins can now centrally set default grading settings for teachers in their district

    What’s changing

    Classroom admins can now centrally set default grading settings for teachers in their district using the Admin console. When a teacher creates a new class in Classroom, these default settings are automatically populated for the class. 

    Starting today, admins can set default settings for grading periods and later this month, they will be able to set default settings for grading categories and grading scales.

    With this new capability, admins can make it easier for teachers to set up and maintain their classrooms, saving them time since they won’t have to input grading settings for new classes they create. This will also ensure more consistency in grading settings for classes in a district. 

    Getting started 

    • Admins: 
      • This feature will be OFF by default and can be enabled at the OU level by going to the Admin console > Apps > Google Workspace > Classroom > Default grade settings. 
        • Note: If any of the central settings need to be changed or deleted, you can do so in the Admin console as outlined above. However, any changes made to default settings will only apply to new classes going forward and not existing ones. 
      • Visit the Help Center to learn more about setting default grading settings for teachers in your districts.
    • End users: 
      • When a teacher creates a new class in Google Classroom, the settings defined by admins are automatically populated for the class. Teachers can still edit or delete these settings for their classes if they choose. 
        • Note: Any changes made by teachers will be specific to that class only and will not propagate back to the Admin console. 

    Rollout pace 

    Grading Periods 
    Grading Categories 
    Grading Scales 

    Availability 

    Available for Google Workspace: 
    • Education Plus 

    Resources 

    Enable guardians to preview assigned classwork within Google Classroom

    What’s changing 

    Currently, a teacher or school administrator can invite a guardian, typically a parent, to receive email summaries about their student’s work in class. These email summaries include a rundown of missing work, upcoming work and class activities, such as recently posted announcements or assignments in Google Classroom. 

    Going forward, guardian email summaries will now include links that let guardians preview their student's Classwork pages, including assigned work and attachments provided by the teacher. With this update, guardians can stay up-to-date with what their students are learning. Guardians will not be able to see their student’s grades or submissions, class communication, or other students’ work. Guardians can easily access this page directly from the Classroom email summaries or from the link shared by teachers. 

    Enable guardians to preview assigned classwork within Google Classroom


    Who’s impacted 

    Admins and end users 


    Why it matters 

    This feature keeps guardians informed about their student’s assignments in class. 


    Additional details 

    Teachers with the Google Workspace Education Plus edition who already send guardian email summaries will notice those emails automatically start including guardian previewing links. No action is needed to get started. 


    Getting started 

    • Admins: Admins can turn Guardian Access ON or OFF for their domain and determine whether only admins, or admins and verified teachers, can control guardians accounts and per-class access. If admins choose the latter, verified teachers are able to add or remove guardian accounts for students in their class and determine whether each class will be available for guardian access. Visit the Help Center to learn more about managing guardians in your domain. 
    • End users: In classes where you have guardian summaries turned ON, guardians can now preview your classwork page and any classwork assigned to their student(s). You can turn this setting OFF at any time in your Class Settings page.
    • Guardians: You have guardian preview capabilities to your student’s Classwork page through direct links in the email summary. Visit the Help Cenet to learn more about guardian email summaries. 

    Rollout pace 

    Availability 

    Available for Google Workspace: 
    • Education Plus 

    Resources 

    Teachers will soon be able to create a new class in Google Classroom using Student Information System (SIS) data

    What’s changing

    We recently introduced the ability to import data, such as student rosters, co-teachers and grading categories, from your Student Information System (SIS) to Google Classroom. 


    In the coming weeks, we will be introducing a new feature that allows teachers to set up a Google Classroom class using information directly imported from an SIS, including co-teachers, student rosters and class lists, grading categories and grading periods. Please note this feature is only available with our current SIS partners. 


    In preparation for the “full class” import feature, we advise admins to connect Classroom to their Student Information System (SIS) as soon as possible. Once the admin establishes a connection between their district SIS and Google Classroom, teachers will be able to use the connection to import data from their SIS to set up new classes or update existing classes when the feature launches later this quarter. 

    Getting started 

    Rollout pace 

    • Full class import will be available in the coming weeks. We will provide an update on the Workspace Updates Blog when this feature becomes generally available. 

    Availability

    Available for Google Workspace: