Tired of missing out on the coolest Google updates and new features? Join thousands of other teachers who rely on my monthly newsletter to stay ahead of the curve. Get the top 10 updates, teaching inspiration, and time-saving links delivered straight to your inbox.
This new Chrome tab trick is sweet! (Feb. EDU Updates)
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✨ Host the Gemini Academy for Teachers at your school this summer ✨ Hi Reader! I know you’ve been busy in the classroom, so I’ve been scouring the web for the latest updates, new tools, and tech tips for YOU Reader! Here are my top 10 updates for February 2026! 💡 Don't feel like reading? Watch on YouTube or Listen to the Podcast! 💡 1. Record audio and video in Google Classroom - the new “AVS” (audio, video, screencapture) button is now LIVE in Google Classroom for EDU Plus domains. This new feature lets teachers and students record and share video without the need of an extension. Teachers can control access to this feature by enabling/disabling commenting on the stream page. 2. AI suggested feedback in Google classroom - This feature was announced in January at BETT and is rolling out now to EDU Plus domains. If your district doesn’t have EDU plus, you can re-create this feature by creating a custom grading Gem. 3. Premium Vids features for everyone! - The Vids teleprompter, transcript trimming, and styled captions are now available to everyone. These three features make Vids a very compelling tool for student video projects. 4. Listen to your Document - The popular “audio summary” feature available for NotebookLM and Gemini is now available inside of Google Docs for AI pro customers. This is a slick feature that will most likely roll down to free accounts in the future. 4. Get musical with Gemini - The Gemini app now includes access to “Lyria,” Google’s AI music generator. Just describe what you want and jam out to a 30 second custom soundtrack. This feature is available to everyone 18 and older. 6. What version do I have? - a lot of the updates listed above are only available for certain editions of Google Workspace. I created a simple flow-chart to help you figure out which version you have! 7. Split view tabs are awesome - this quietly announced feature is a game-change for multi-taskers! You can now view TWO tabs together in Chrome. No need for a second monitor or wrangling tabs across your screen! Right click on a tab and select “add to new split view” to get started! 8. Overleaf (the Google Docs of Equations) - If you struggle to properly format graphs, formulas, and equations, check out Overleaf! This free tool is designed to work with Latex, the language of math. Pro tip: Gemini is great at writing in the latex language! 9. Apply to the Google Innovator Academy - Way back in 2009 I attended an event that changed my career! The Google Innovator Academy is BACK in 2026 with 7 locations around the world. Submit your application today! Checkout the Innovator UnscriptED podcast to learn more about this program! 10. Something big is happening in AI - this is an opinion article by Matt Shumer, CEO of a development company called OtherSide AI. Matt makes a passionate case for how AI is poised to change everything and implores professionals (including teachers) to devote time to understand how AI can enhance your daily work That's all the updates for February. Thanks for giving me a spot in your inbox! I'll be back in March with more tips, updates, and ideas you can use in your classroom! John R. Sowash 📨 Did someone forward this email to you? Click here to add your name to my monthly email list!
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The Google EDU Update
Tired of missing out on the coolest Google updates and new features? Join thousands of other teachers who rely on my monthly newsletter to stay ahead of the curve. Get the top 10 updates, teaching inspiration, and time-saving links delivered straight to your inbox.
Hello Reader, For over two decades, our job as IT admins has focused on managing human users—provisioning their accounts, assigning their licenses, and locking down what they can and cannot do. We are now crossing into an entirely new era of domain administration: managing AI agents that act autonomously across Google Workspace. Google recently rolled out a new Agent Control section in the Admin Console. Here is a plain-English breakdown of what these policies do and how to use them. 🍁...
✨ Earn your Gemini Certification...Join me for Wednesday webinars! ✨ Hi Reader! After a busy back-to-school travel season, I'm taking a vacation with my family to explore Disney World in Orlando! I was able to type up this month's EDU Update right before we left. As you return to your schools and start the new school year, you might have noticed a few changes in Google Classroom. I decided to share a summary of some of the big updates and features that you can use this year. Everything listed...
✨ Join me for Wednesday Webinars with John! ✨ Hi Reader! As July wraps up, the start of the school year is right around the corner. This week I am in Honolulu, Hawaii to provide some back-to-school training for a school (rough assignment, I know 🌸). This trip kicks off my 2026 back-to-school tour! I’ll be heading to schools all across the US helping teachers just like you get ready for the 2026-27 school year! This month’s EDU update is full of FREE resources to help you prepare for the new...