✨ 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...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
✨ Master Google Gemini! Join me for the Google Certification Academy! ✨ Hi Reader! Welcome to 2026! Google kicked off the new year with a flurry of updates to their certification exams and programs. There will be some more exciting updates later this month! 🤫 2026 is a GREAT year to become a Google Certified Educator! Here are some important updates you should know. 🎦 Don't feel like reading? Here's my YouTube summary of these updates! If you are using tools like Gemini, Drive, and Google...
3 months ago • 3 min read
✨ Registration for my winter Google Certification Academy + AI is open! ✨ Happy holidays and Merry Christmas, Reader! The holiday season kicked off for our family last weekend with our local production of the Nutcracker featuring four of my five kids in various roles. It's holiday parties, family gatherings, and festive celebrations from here on out! For the December EDU Update, we'll look BACK at what happened in the past year and FORWARD to some new tools you can expect to see in 2026. Here...
4 months ago • 3 min read
🔖 BLACK FRIDAY Sale: 50% off my Wednesday Webinar Subscription! 🔖 Happy Thanksgiving, Reader! It's been a while since my last EDU Update, primarily because I was busy organizing the 13th annual miGoogle conference for 400+ Michigan educators. The event went well and now I am back in the office tracking the latest Google and edTech updates. This month we have quite a few AI updates and two controversial research reports on the impact of technology in education that are sure to spark some...
5 months ago • 2 min read
✨ Ready to explore AI? Check out Wednesday Webinars with John! ✨ Hi Reader! Over the past month I’ve been able to visit a half-dozen different schools across the US sharing tips and ideas for using AI in the classroom. While there are a LOT of AI tools available, there’s one that I think is at the top of the list: Google Gemini. This month I’d like to share some neat and surprising things you can do with Gemini, AND help you earn your Gemini educator certification! 🎙️Listen to the podcast...
7 months ago • 3 min read
Hello Reader, Google’s AI integrations have been rapidly changing and evolving. Keeping up with these updates has been seriously difficult, even for me. In this quick email I’m going to try to clarify things for you as best I can. ✨ FREE AI Features Staff and students have access to two core AI tools through their school account: Gemini and NotebookLM. Both of these applications can be managed through the admin console and are FREE for all Workspace customers. Gemini for Google Workspace:...
7 months ago • 2 min read
✨ Overwhelmed by AI? Check out Wednesday Webinars with John! ✨ Hi Reader! As you set up your classroom and get ready for a new crew of students, you might be thinking, "What's something new I can try this year?" Each year I select five strategies, tools, or ideas you can use to engage your students and shake things up a bit. These five tools and strategies are all about making your life easier and your students' learning more engaging. Here's what I am recommending this year... 🎙️ Listen to...
8 months ago • 4 min read
🥇Registration for the fall Google Trainer Academy is open! 🏅 Hi Reader! As I write this I am on a train headed toward Chicago to attend the Google Champion Symposium at Google Chicago. I’m really excited to meet with and learn from other Google Certified Trainers, Innovators, and Coaches. Collectively, these three programs are known as the “Google Champions.” Google has been hosting multi-day events like this for the past few years. Fun events like this are one of the reasons that you should...
9 months ago • 3 min read
🏆 Interested in earning your Google certification? Join me May 21 for a FREE webinar! 🏆 Hi Reader! Congratulations, you made it to the end of the school year! Being a teacher is an intense profession. There are good days and hard days. I remember many days when I wondered if it was worth it. The impact you are making on your students IS worth the effort. You are awesome! 👏 As you wrap up your school year, here are a few quick suggestions for boxing up your digital files so that you can have a...
11 months ago • 2 min read