What Are Google’s New ‘Class Tools’?

So, here’s something exciting that might just shake up the way we use Chromebooks in class. A few months back, Google gave us a sneak peek into a new suite of features they’re calling Class Tools—and yes, it could be a big deal.

But before we dive into what it can do, let’s get some fine print out of the way.

Who Gets It?

These tools are:

• 💻 Only available on managed Chromebooks (which means school-managed devices)
  
• 🏫 Only rolling out to schools on the Google Workspace for Education Plus plan
  
• 📆 Not available yet (as of May 2025)
  

So yeah, that Plus plan part is a pretty big limitation. If your school’s not on the Plus plan, you won’t see this in your classroom.

Still, if you are on a Plus plan—or you’re curious what Google’s cooking up for future rollouts—this is worth knowing about.

What Do These Class Tools Do?

While not live just yet (as of this writing), here’s what Google says the Class Tools will include:

1. Remote Content Sharing + Pinning

Teachers will be able to push content directly to student screens.
Think:

• Sending an important slide or doc instantly
  
• Pinning a tab that students can’t close (goodbye, students switching to their YouTube or Cookie Clicker tab)
  

No more “What slide are we on again?” moments.

2. Live Screen Viewing

You’ll be able to see student screens in real time, which gives you insight into:

• Who’s off-task
• Who’s working ahead
• Who’s stuck and needs help
  

Yup, very much giving GoGuardian, Hapara, or Securly vibes. It’s Google dipping a toe into the classroom management software pool.

3. Live Captioning + Translation

This might be the most impressive one.

Your voice—yep, the one speaking at the front of the room—can be:

• 🎤 Live captioned directly onto students’ screens
  
• 🌍 Automatically translated into their preferred language
  

This is huge for multilingual learners, students with hearing needs, or even those who just focus better with visual input. Accessibility FTW.

Note that you have to toggle this feature on, so when you’re talking to your colleague about what to order for lunch, it won’t show up on the students’ screens.

 

4. Workbooks + Content Sending

This one’s still a bit vague.

Google says teachers will be able to “create workbooks and send class content” to students’ devices. But what exactly is a Google workbook?

• Is it just a fancy term for a Google Doc or Slides deck?
  
• Or is there a new workbook feature on the way?
  

We’ll have to wait and see. Fingers crossed for something cool.

What’s the Big Picture?

Here’s the bottom line:
These tools are designed to offer:

• 👁️ More visibility for teachers
  
• 🧭 More control over classroom tech
  
• 📈 More support for accessibility and engagement
  

It’s not about being all “big brother”—it’s about supporting learning with real-time tools that make the use of tech in class more effective, less distracting, and more inclusive.

GoGuardian, Hapara, or Securly: Should They Be Worried?

If this sounds familiar—it should. These features overlap a lot with third-party tools that many schools already use.

But having them natively built into Google for Education could mean:

• Less toggling between platforms
  
• Lower costs (maybe?)
  
• Better integration across Google tools like Docs, Classroom, and Meet
  

It’s too early to say whether this will replace existing tools… but it feels like a strong competitor is entering the chat.

It has me wondering: if you’re a district that doesn’t have a Plus plan, but pays for a Chromebook-monitoring tool, is it time for a switch?

Why You Should Care

Whether you’re a tech coach, admin, or classroom teacher, this rollout matters.

🔍 What We Know:

• It’s coming soon, not live yet
  
• For managed Chromebooks only
  
• Available only with Google Workspace for Education Plus
  Includes:
  
  • Remote tab sharing/pinning
    
  • Live screen viewing
    
  • Teacher voice captioning & translation
    
  • Workbook and content sharing

🚦 What We Don’t Know Yet:

• How “workbooks” will work
  
• Whether there’s a free version down the line
  
• How deep will the analytics and reporting go
  
• How much of student activity can we see – just the current active tab?
  

Let’s Talk About It

Have you heard anything about Google’s Class Tools?
Do you have early access or a beta version in your school?

Let us know in the comments below:

• Are you excited about these tools?
  
• What features are you most looking forward to?
  
• Do you think this will change how you use Chromebooks in class?
  

👇 We’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, or classroom ideas!