#35. Gemini Now Inside Google Classroom - Free for All


As of July 3rd 2025 (in my location of HK at least), Google has integrated Gemini into Google Classroom, making its advanced AI tools available free of charge to all Google Workspace for Education accounts. This development, observed firsthand with Gemini appearing in my classrooms today as I was busy working away, transforms how educators and students can now engage with AI.

Unleashing New Possibilities

With Gemini embedded in Classroom, teachers will now be able to generate lesson plans by inputting a topic and grade level, receiving drafts with suggested videos and quizzes. For example, a 7th-grade science teacher might create an ecosystem unit, adjusting texts and exporting quizzes to Google Forms. Content differentiation is another benefit, allowing tailored materials for diverse learners. Gemini also produces vocabulary lists with examples and rubrics, streamlining assessment design. Students aged 18+ can auto-generate quizzes, with this feature soon extending to younger users.

In the video here you can see me marking my first attempt at using Gemini inside Classroom, utilizing it to help me create a lesson plan with several clear activities and differentiation:


Real-Time Support and Creativity

Educators can do more than create lesson plans though!

We can brainstorm with Gemini, finding real-world examples—like linking math to local data—to engage students. Administrative tasks, such as drafting grant proposals or summarizing emails, are simplified, giving teachers more time for instruction. What about some Gamification of activities? Gemini inside classroom will help create that, along with a host of other tools, including re-leveling texts for reading activities, quiz creation and rubrics. All this leads me to a question.

Will this Cripple the Competition?

This free integration could challenge EdTech competitors like Twee, Brisk, and Diffit, which offer AI-driven lesson planning and content adaptation. As Gemini will likely intergrate and expand further within Classroom and expand across Docs, Slides, and Forms with a plethora of tools and features, those standalone apps and platforms may struggle to compete. Schools might favor Google’s comprehensive, cost-free solution, potentially pushing smaller players out of business unless they innovate swiftly.

Is this a corner re-turned?

Over the past 18 months or so, as a Google for Education Certified Trainer, I have been at times a little frustrated at the lack of new AI tools and other features Google for Education was rolling out to its non-paying educational organizations (such as my school, which doesn't have cash lying about for subscriptions to Plus-tiered paying plans). Google’s AI push with Gemini inside Classroom for free could once more consolidate its growing dominance in the education space, and pull educators like myself away from ChatGPT, Grok, Co-pilot, DeepSeek etc, and towards Google's AI suite of tools.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

#30. Writing Tools: Three Simple Ways Educators Can Use Apple Intelligence in Notes

Image
As educational technology continues to evolve, Apple has introduced powerful tools that can support educators in a wide range of tasks. Among these, Apple Intelligence Writing Tools in Notes stands out for its practical, time-saving applications. Here are three ways all educators can harness these tools to help themselves and their students. (Note: If you don't use any Apple devices within your role as a educator no need to continue reading.) 1. Record and Summarize Apple Notes’ new capabilities make it easy for educators to record and summarize both meetings and classroom interactions. Imagine you’re in a lengthy teacher meeting filled with important information—taking detailed notes can be challenging. With Apple Intelligence, you can audio record the meeting directly in Notes, and a summary can be quickly generated using Writing Tools. This feature pulls out key points and saves time on post-meeting documentation. For students, another great application is recording student int...
Read more

#29. Harnessing Text-to-Speech Technology in the EFL/ESL Classroom

Image
Harnessing Text-to-Speech Technology  in the EFL/ESL Classroom In today’s tech-savvy educational landscape, finding innovative tools to enhance learning is crucial, especially in the EFL/ESL classroom. One such tool that has gained popularity among teachers is the Natural Reader (NR) app. This powerful text-to-speech application allows teachers to create engaging reading and listening passages by converting text into speech. Let’s explore creative uses of the NR app in EFL/ESL lessons and compare it to the built-in text-to-speech features on MacOS and iPad. Teachers can use the NR app to prepare reading passages , which the app reads aloud. Students follow along, improving their pronunciation, intonation, and fluency. This method provides a natural flow of English, helping students grasp the rhythm and nuances of the language. Students can also listen to passages read by NR and answer comprehension questions tailored to current lesson themes, vocabulary, or grammar points, making ...
Read more

#31. Reinventing Reading: Using AI and Digital Tools to Create New Formats of Educational Storytelling

Image
In today’s classrooms, educators face a growing challenge: Students, especially ESL and EFL learners, are reading less. For a growing number of students, traditional books struggle to compete with the fast-paced, visually stimulating world of digital media. Instead of lamenting this shift, I decided to embrace it—by using AI and digital tools to reimagine what reading material can be. The Experiment: Turning a 'Text Story' into a 'Mini-Series' For this project, I wanted to see how far I could push my own understanding of current AI and tech tools to create an engaging reading experience for my Grade 5 and 6 ESL students. The result? A five-part YouTube mini-series based on an original story, crafted with the help of Chat GPT, called "Birthday Boy." This faux-horror comedy follows the misadventures of the ever-ridiculous Ranterino character (whom my students have known and interacted with for many years) as he disastrously attempts to become a children’s birthd...
Read more