During ISTE, Google for Education revealed 12 product launches that are designed to make teachers’ lives easier, and the classroom more creative, The Keyword reports.
The launches include:
- Google Forms
Available on managed Chromebooks, this solution prevents students from wandering away during Quizzes until all of their answers are submitted. Teachers can opt to put students in locked mode with a simple checkbox, keeping the class focused on finishing an assessment.
- Classwork
A part of Classroom, Google has incorporated Classwork as a solution to “give teachers more control over how they organize assignments by grouping them into modules and units.” Teachers will now be able to manage assignments from the Classwork page, and students will have their own space to work.
- Forms Quiz
Teachers will now be able to streamline the assignment process with Forms Quiz, another new aspect of Classroom. Quizzes enables teachers to craft questions, conduct grading by question or by student, and include feedback for a personalized experience. Once completed, Quizzes can be imported right back into Classroom.
- Chromebooks in tablet form
Acer Chromebook 10 has a similar “reliable operating system” as Chromebooks, a common ask among teachers. The solution includes the “same speed, ease of use, manageability, shareability, security and affordability” as Chromebooks, as well as a built-in stylus, cameras on both sides, fast charging and more.
- Chromebook stylus by STAEDTLER
According to The Keyword, Chromebook has partnered with STAEDTLER to create an affordable, useable stylus for students and teachers alike. The solution enables teachers to provide visual feedback, and students to annotate notes by hand. The stylus will be available later this summer.
- Jamboard
An interactive whiteboard, Jamboard will appear in classrooms with new educational pricing and the free companion app. “The app works with or without a Jamboard unit, and runs on all touch and mobile devices, including convertible Chromebooks supporting Android Apps and the Acer Chromebook Tab 10,” The Keyword says.
- Tour Creator
Tapping into virtual reality, Tour Creator lets teachers and students create VR footage from 360 degree cameras, or existing Street View content. Users can also customize tour templates to cater to specific teaching and learning needs.
- Google Earth
While many users are already familiar with Google Earth, the solution is now being used as a way to spruce up math lessons. Google Earth can be used to measure distances between two destinations with the Measure Tool.
- Teacher Center
Formerly called the Training Center, this solution is a “one-stop-shop for training materials, resources, certifications and communities of educators,” The Keyword reports, helping teachers find the resources they need, when they need it.
- CS First curriculum updates
Free and aligned with ISTE and CSTA standards, this solution is for computer science curricula for the upcoming school year. CS First contains video lesson guides for elementary and middle school-aged students, and can be used in the classroom to practice basic computer science principles.
- Applied Digital Skills
This solution is “a free, project-based curriculum that includes video lessons designed to teach students the digital skills they’ll need for the future.” Applied Digital Skills also includes new units for middle school and high school-aged students so they know how to research colleges or create a resume in Google Docs. Teachers can also send out assignments using Classroom.
- Be Internet Awesome – updates
Based on teachers’ feedback, this solution has been revamped to offer two new languages for Spanish and Portuguese speaking users, improved lessons for students, and resources to teachers and parents. The goal of the new and improved solution is the same as the original, though: helping “kids learn how to be safe, confident explorers of the online world.”
If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our digital newsletters!
Leave a Reply