Let’s be real, fonts are usually background noise in EdTech. But Playwrite? That one’s a game-changer. It’s not just a font; it’s a full-on superfamily built to teach handwriting.

Created by Typetogether and backed by Google, Playwrite aims to bring handwriting instruction into the digital age, complete with tracing guides and regional styles matching over 40 countries.

 

What Is Playwrite?

At first glance, Playwrite looks like a stylish cursive font. But dig deeper:

• Superfamily: Multiple font styles tailored to different handwriting methods.
• Regional Variants: Versions built for 40+ countries—so your French learners get upright cursive, Finns get slanted print, and so on.
• Workspace Integration: Available right in Google Docs or Classroom. No downloads needed.

 

Playwrite Guides: Tracing Made Easy 

One of the coolest features? Playwrite Guides. These fonts include those classic handwriting lines:

• Top line
• Dotted mid‑line
• Baseline

Teachers can type anything—student names, favorite quotes, whatever—and turn it into a printable tracing sheet. Choose your content, select the font, and boom: ready for students to trace and learn. 

How to Use Playwrite in Class

Teachers are already sharing creative ways to bring Playwrite into lessons:

• Personalized practice sheets: Type student names or vocabulary words in Playwrite Guides.
• Interest-based repetition: Create AI‑generated text about kid interests (dinosaurs, Taylor Swift, soccer, video games) and make handwriting sheets around them.
• Station rotation: Add tracing sheets to writing centers for low-prep, engaged practice.
• Print-outs for lefties or righties: Fine-tune motor skills by tweaking tracing spacing or slants.

 

Why It Matters

• Handwriting boosts learning: Writing by hand supports memory, motor development, and creativity.

 

• Bridges teaching gaps: Primarium found wide variation in handwriting instruction. Playwrite plugs that hole with research-based, region-appropriate fonts.

 

• Free and inclusive: Playwrite supports 50+ Latin-based languages and is open-source and free via Google Fonts.

Quick Setup Guide

1. Open Google Docs and go to Font > More fonts.
2. Search for Playwrite.
3. Select the regional variant you need (USA, UK, France, etc.).
4. Select one that says Playwrite Guides if you’d like tracing lines.
5. Type your text, format it, and print.
6. Let kids trace—it’s low-prep, high-impact!

 

Teachers Are Saying…

A recent Google for Education post said:

“With new fonts and Playwrite Guides, teaching confident handwriting skills has never been easier.”

Over on LinkedIn, Typetogether highlights that Playwrite is “a free font superfamily for handwriting education,” and was launched after worldwide Primarium research. 

Final Thoughts

Playwrite is simple, research-backed, and classroom-ready. It:

• Adapts to different handwriting styles worldwide
• Boosts writing skills and memory
• Provides fun, contextual tracing practice
• Is free and accessible via Google tools

 

Ready to Add Handwriting Practice to Your Class?

Grab Playwrite in Google Docs today. Try it out, print a sheet, and watch kids trace out vocabulary or their names.

Tell us in the comments: What will you type first in Playwrite? A favorite quote? Student names? Let’s share ideas and get handwriting back in session!

 

If you’ve seen pink piñatas all over social media recently, from yours truly included, here’s why: Quizizz just rebranded as Wayground. Over the years, Quizizz evolved from “gamified quiz” to an all-in-one learning platform jam-packed with AI, accessibility, and differentiation tools. So, the name change? Totally makes sense.

In short, this shift signals a move from “just quizzes” to a super capable platform aiming to help every student find their way to learning success.

1. From Quizzes to Learning Hub: What Wayground Offers Now

Here’s a snapshot of what’s new or upcoming:

• Curriculum alignment so educators can quickly find standards-based content.
• Lesson bundles that package slides, assessments, videos, and more into ready-to-go modules.
• Flexible AI Hub to spin a single file into multiple interactive formats.
• Expanded Accommodations—dyslexia fonts, translations, read-aloud, and more, for videos, slides, quizzes.
• VoyageMath, an adaptive tool for middle school math practice.

All of this is powered by AI that quietly works behind the scenes, leaving teachers free to focus on the human side of teaching.

2. Why the Name “Wayground” Actually Makes Sense

The old name, Quizizz, was goofy and fun, but may have pigeonholed the tool as just “quizzes.” With Wayground, the brand now signals two things:

• Way: Guiding each student on their own learning path.
• Ground: A shared, playful space (like a playground) where everyone can learn together. It fits.

3. VoyageMath: Adaptive Math With a Purpose

VoyageMath is the new middle school math experience inside Wayground. Picture this:

• Curriculum-aligned questions vetted by experts
• A StepGuide tutor that walks students through multi-step problems
• Gamified progression (climb the mountain—earn points!)
• Real-time reports so you know who needs help and why

It’s not just math practice, it’s learning guided by individual student data.

4. Wayground AI: Your Secret Teacher’s Assistant

Wayground rolled out new AI tools to help save time and make learning more equitable:

1. Create quizzes instantly—from docs, images, websites, and YouTube videos.
2. Import questions—easily convert existing worksheets or Google Forms.
3. Enhance content—translate questions, simplify language, or swap formats.
4. Analyze results—AI digs into class data to suggest next steps.

It’s like having a planning and grading buddy who never sleeps.

5. Accessibility & Differentiation—Built In

Wayground doubles down on inclusion:

• Dyslexia-friendly fonts, read-aloud, translations
• Accommodations—reduced answer choices, more time—can be applied by group
• Differentiated slides or assessments under the hood, but invisible to students

Practicing what they preach: finding a way for each learner to succeed.

6. Retaining What Teachers Already Love

Don’t worry: Wayground keeps all the features you already use:

• Live games, student-paced practice, paper mode, mastery modes
• Rich reporting dashboards for students, classes, and parents
• LMS integration (Google Classroom, Teams, Moodle, Blackboard…)

So, it’s the same award-winning experience—just with a fresh coat of paint (and a whole bunch of new toys in the toolbox).

7. How Teachers Are Reacting

According to the CEO, 90% of U.S. schools—and over 150 countries—use the platform. One educator said it’s “like a Swiss Army Knife… The first time I used the AI, I said ‘there’s no way it could be that easy’ to use AI” for differentiation.

With Wayground, teachers feel empowered, not overwhelmed. And that’s the whole point.

8. Quick Recap: What to Expect 2025–26

Feature	Description
Curriculum Alignment	Standards‑aligned resources at your fingertips
Lesson Bundles	Pre‑built sequences of slides, quizzes, videos, etc.
AI Hub	Convert single files into quizzes, flashcards, videos, and assessments
Expanded Accommodations	Accessibility across all content types
VoyageMath	Adaptive math practice with guided support
Wayground AI Tools	Instant quiz creation, import, enhancement, and analysis

 

Join the Conversation 

We want your voice: how are you using Wayground (née Quizizz)? VoyageMath? AI-Assisted features? Drop a comment below and let’s chat.

Teachers who’ve already tested the new features, what’s your favorite?

Curious about that Swiss Army Knife take on AI? Ask us anything!

The more we share, the more we grow, so over to you. 🎤

Let’s be real, teachers pour time and creativity into Padlet boards. Whether it’s a choice board, a discussion hub, or a curated resource dump, it’s great to make it. But wouldn’t it be awesome to actually know your students are using it?

That’s where Padlet Analytics comes in. A fresh update for both web and mobile, it gives you quick, privacy-safe data on how your boards are performing. Here’s what’s new.

What You Can See

Click the three dots → Details on any Padlet board (or Sandbox), and scroll down. You’ll find:

• Total views – How many times people loaded the board
  
• Unique visitors – How many different individuals stopped by
  
• Engagement time – Total time everyone spent on the board
  

These stats update in real time, roughly every minute.

Why It’s Actually Useful

• Pulse check: Did everyone click in—or did some students ghost the board?
  
• Engagement snapshot: A high view count doesn’t tell you if they stayed. Engagement time fills that gap.
  
• Privacy-first: No tracking of individual students—just anonymized stats aggregated.
  

So yeah, you know somebody spent 10 minutes exploring—but you don’t know exactly who. Still super helpful for gauging reach without compromising privacy.

Want More Details?

• Export as a spreadsheet (CSV or PDF)—you get stats like post counts, reactions, and who contributed.
  
• But for daily classroom use? That simple analytics panel is all you need.

Quick Recap

• Access: Three dots → Details on web or mobile
  
• Stats shown: Total views, unique visitors, and total engagement time
  
• Updated: Every minute—live and fresh
  
• Export option: CSV/PDF for deeper insights
  

This isn’t a full-blown LMS-gradebook dashboard. It’s more like your Padlet board’s health monitor—fast, real, and easy.

Who’s It For?

• Teachers hosting choice boards, discussion spaces, or resource hubs
  
• Educators who want to tweak or adjust the use of boards mid-lesson
  
• Anyone curious if links are being used, or just ignored
  

Your Turn: Try It & Share

Padlet analytics is live now on your boards. Open one, click Details, and check those stats. Then, come back here and drop a comment:

• Did the stats surprise you?
  
• Was your board seeing attention—or crickets?
  
• Is the analytics panel helpful, or just digital clutter?
  

Let’s get real. Your experience matters, and your insights could help others use Padlet better, too.

Fully Shareable Features

• Analytics are available on the web and mobile
  
• Simple, user-friendly panel—no training needed
  
• Export is available when you want deeper data

Final Thought

Teachers, celebrating your effort is one thing, but seeing your board’s stats in action? That’s next-level. So go ahead, click those details, and judge for yourself.

 

Here’s something that was hiding right under my nose: Google Lens is now built into the Chrome desktop browser. You probably know Lens from your phone—identifying that bug, translating that sign—but now you can do it instantly on your computer. And honestly? This thing is awesome for the classroom.

What It Does in Chrome

When you open Chrome and click the little camera icon in the address bar (you might need to click in the address bar first), you can:

• Click, drag, or draw around an image, diagram, frame from a video—even text on a slide.
  
• Right-click any image and select Search with Google Lens

Then a side panel pops open with search results, related images, translations, and more—all without leaving your page.

Why Teachers Should Care

1. Stay in the moment
   Show a slide, get asked “what’s that?”—boom, Lens has the answer right then and there.
2. Model curiosity
   Click, search, and learn—live. It’s lateral reading in action and shows students you don’t have all the answers either.
3. Fact-check fast
   Spot a weird symbol or claim on a site? Use Lens to validate before moving on. It’s digital citizenship in practice.
4. Translate or copy the text
   Perfect for multilingual learners or grabbing quotes from embedded images.

Handy Uses in Class

• Identify diagrams or specimens—biology, geology, art history?
  
• Translate foreign text while scrolling through textbook PDFs.
  
• Check facts in real time during research or presentations.
  
• Showcase critical thinking—”Let’s Google Lens that phrase and compare sources.”
  

 

Heads Up: It’s Not Perfect

• Selection tool can misfire sometimes—blurry images? Hard cut-outs? Better luck next click.
  
• Image quality matters—crisp visuals = better results.

Quick How-To

1. Update Chrome so you have the latest version.
   
2. Click the camera icon in the address bar or right-click an image.
   
3. Select part of the page.
   
4. Read results in the side panel—no new tab needed.
   
5. Ask follow-up questions or refine queries in that same panel
   

Why It Matters

Feature	Why It’s Useful
In‑browser search	Stay focused—no tab-switching
Visual & text support	Great for diagrams, slides, and foreign text
Real-time curiosity	Model how to ask, search, and learn
Fast fact-checking	Teach lateral reading live

If your classroom uses slides, videos, research, or multilingual text, Lens in Chrome is a tool you and your students need to know about.

Your Turn: Try Lens & React

Give it a go during your next lesson. Click the camera, highlight something curious, and search on the fly. Then drop a comment below:

• What surprised you?
  
• Did Lens nail it—or miss it?
  
• How could you see it fitting into your daily workflow?
  

Let’s start a thread—share your wins, laughs, or even the misses. Your ideas can help the whole community use Chrome better.

NotebookLM just got a serious glow­up, and not the fluff kind. I’m talking about features that matter: easy sharing, multilingual audio, and go-anywhere access. If you want to share curated resources with students and help them access them in their language and on the go, this one’s for you.

1. Public Link Sharing – No More Access Headache

NotebookLM now lets some users generate a public link for any notebook—just click Share, toggle to “Anyone with link,” and boom — anyone with the link can view it.

Why this rules:

• Share audio overviews (podcast), study guides, or summaries without manual access invites
  
• Viewers can interact (ask questions, hear audio overviews), but can’t edit
  
• It’s basically a smart, searchable binder made simple

A few key things to be aware of:

• This is NOT available on education accounts. As this help article indicates (as of 7.10.2025) “Public sharing is only enabled for consumer accounts. It’s currently disabled for Workspace Enterprise or Education accounts.
• The recipient (the person clicking the link) must have a NotebookLM account in order to view it. This is probably why it’s not available on Education accounts: users need to be 18+ to create NotebookLM accounts. Subscribe to my podcast or newsletter though: news is forthcoming about a way to share NotebookLM notebooks with students!

2. Audio Overviews in 50+ Languages

Remember how NotebookLM turns resources into AI‑hosted podcasts? Now, those podcasts speak 50+ languages—from Afrikaans to Filipino to Turkish. (see the list here)

• Tap Settings → Output Language before generating your podcast
  
• AI voices read your notes in whatever language you choose
• Works with multilingual content
  

Want a Spanish podcast for English sources? Done. Need French explanations for French learners? Got it.

Note: Once you create a notebook, you can’t change the language it is in (as far as I can tell), but you can start a new notebook in a different language with the same set of sources.

3. Mobile App – Notebook in Your Pocket

Yep, NotebookLM is now a standalone app for iOS and Android.

What’s awesome:

• Listen to audio overviews offline (subway‑tunnel friendly)
  
• Background playback—podcasts don’t pause when you switch apps
  
• Share from anywhere—websites, YouTube, PDFs—straight into NotebookLM
  
• Ask questions on the go—no laptop needed

This isn’t future talk—it launched in May 2025, ready for your commute.

Why These Matter

• Public sharing makes sharing with a class easy without risking edit chaos
  
• Multilingual audio opens up learning for non‑English speakers and language learners
  
• Mobile-first design means learning isn’t stuck behind your desk (or your learners’ desks)

If you juggle sources in different languages, love podcast-style learning, or want students to use NotebookLM anywhere, this is a major win.

Try It & Share Your Thoughts

Which feature will you try first? Drop a comment below. I want all the real‑talk: Does the link share tool streamline your workflow? Are your students vibing with the multilingual audio? Hit the comments, let’s discuss.

Ever Need to Share a Quick How-To?

This post was co-authored with Courtney Watson

You know that moment when a colleague or student says, “How do I do this thing again?”
And you think, I could show you in one minute if you were sitting next to me.

But… you’re not. So now what?

Enter three tools we love for making quick, visual how-tos:

• ✅ Scribe
  
• ✅ iorad
  
• ✅ Screencast + Voiceover method using Adobe Express or Canva

Let’s break ’em down.

1. Scribe – The Step-by-Step Screenshot Genius

If you’re creating tutorials for teachers or students and want something fast and simple, Scribe might be your new best friend.

Here’s how it works:

• Install the Chrome or Microsoft Edge extension
  
• Click record, then walk through the steps on your screen (no talking needed)
  
• Scribe automatically captures screenshots and turns them into a shareable guide with:
• • Click-by-click instructions
    
  • Highlighted visuals showing exactly what you clicked
    
  • Time stamps and total steps

You can:

• ✏️ Edit text instructions
  
• 🔎 Crop and recenter the images
  
• 👓 Add ALT text to images
  
• ❌ Delete extra steps
  
• 🔗 Get a share link to send or embed in your LMS
  
• 💸 Use it for free (just note: image editing beyond what’s listed above requires a paid plan)
  

Best part? It all takes under a minute or two.

📌 Heads up: It lives on a Scribe web page—not in Google Docs—but the vibe is very similar. Clean. Organized. Easy to follow.

2. iorad – The Interactive Tutorial You Click Through

Now if you want to go a bit deeper—or add interactivity—iorad is another solid option.

Like Scribe, iorad captures your on-screen actions, but it also offers a “learn by doing” feature. That means students (or teachers) don’t just watch the tutorial… they actually click through each step themselves.

✔️ They:

• See what to do
  
• Click the correct area
  
• Hit “Next” to progress

It’s basically a self-paced interactive experience.

Other viewing options include:

• Scroll It: View the steps as a scrollable list.
  
• Slide It: Click through the steps like a slideshow.
  
• Watch It: View the steps in video form.
  
• Do It: Complete the steps yourself with the tutorial shown on the right side of the screen.
  

⚠️ Small Catch:

The free version makes all your tutorials public. So if you’re using sensitive content (like an LMS that shows student names), that could be a dealbreaker. You’ll need the paid plan to make tutorials private.

Still, if you’re just walking through general processes or tool navigation, iorad is a powerhouse.

3. Screencasting + Voiceover with Adobe Express

Last but not least, this one’s a bit more DIY—but super versatile.

This method is great if you don’t mind recording screencasts, but find that you’re never efficient enough when you do it. In this format, you record your screen clicks first, and then add your voice after for a cleaner, edited experience.

Here’s how it works:

1. Record your screen using:
   • Screencastify
   • Loom
   • Or another favorite screen recorder
2. Export your video
3. Open Adobe Express (or Canva Video Editor)
4. Import the screen recording
5. Record your voiceover inside the editor
6. Trim, cut, and polish as needed
   

📌 Pro tip: If you click something wrong while recording your screen, a page loads slowly, or an error message pops up, no big deal—you can just trim it out in post-production.

This method gives you:

• Total control over pacing
  
• Voice personalization
  
• Clean edits without needing to re-record everything
  

You can also add music, subtitles, or even your webcam feed if you want to be on screen.

Which One Should You Use?

Honestly, it depends on what you’re trying to do.

Tool	Best For	Standout Features
Scribe	Super quick, click-by-click guides	Screenshot-based, shareable, fast
iorad	Interactive tutorials	Students “click through” the steps
Screencast + Adobe Express	Full control + voiceover polish	Record now, edit later, highly customizable

No matter which you choose, you’re giving your learners (and your future self) something better than a long-winded explanation or a confusing email thread.

Over to You!

Have you used Scribe, iorad, or a screencasting method for tutorials?
Which one’s your favorite? Got any pro tips to share?

👇 Drop your thoughts in the comments:

• Which tool works best for your audience?
  
• Have you had success embedding these in your LMS?
  
• Any cool hacks we should know about?
  

Let’s crowdsource some brilliance. ⬇️

What Is NotebookLM?

I bet you’re not using NotebookLM to its full potential.

I’m sure you’ve heard of NotebookLM—Google’s AI-powered tool that lets you upload your own content and turn it into a podcast

But what most people don’t realize is that NotebookLM does a whole lot more than just generate podcasts.

 

More Than Just a Podcast Machine

Yes, the podcast feature is awesome: it creates eerily realistic, topic-specific, citation-backed audio you can actually listen to on your commute. We’ll totally give you that. But once you’re inside NotebookLM, there are so many other tools waiting to be explored.

Here’s what else it can do:

📌 1. Ask Questions (Yes, Like a Real Conversation)

Upload your sources—whatever they are—and ask NotebookLM questions about them. Want to know what the main argument of that article was? Need a refresher on chapter three? Confused about that graph in your slide deck?

Just ask.

And here’s the kicker: you’re not guessing whether the AI is just making stuff up. Because…

📎 Every answer comes with inline citations.
That means it tells you exactly where in your materials the information came from. No more AI gaslighting. No more guessing. Just good, grounded answers.

📝 2. Generate Study Guides, Summaries, and More

This one might be flying under the radar, but it’s a game-changer.

Need:

• A study guide for next week’s quiz?
• A summary of that dense 20-page PDF?
• Discussion questions for your lit circle?

NotebookLM’s got you.

Just upload your resources, click a few buttons, and suddenly you’re the most prepared teacher in the building—or your students are the most prepared learners.

And remember, it’s your content. NotebookLM pulls from the materials you curated and uploaded, not the whole internet. Which is both helpful and way more accurate.

 

Talking to the Podcast Host? Yup, That’s a Thing.

Now for the slightly weird but surprisingly cool feature: you can actually talk to the podcast host. Okay, “talk” in air quotes.

Once your podcast is generated, there’s now an interactive option that lets you jump into the conversation. Ask questions. Get clarification. Follow up on something the AI host said.

Sure, you’re not chatting with a real human…
But it feels close enough. And sometimes, that’s all you need.

This is especially useful if:

• You’re multitasking and want clarification mid-episode
• A student needs a deeper explanation without switching tools
• You want to pause, reflect, and dive deeper—all in one space

A Real-Life Use Case: Passive PD in the Car

If you’re like many of us and your prep materials are long, dry, and maybe even a little soul-sucking, NotebookLM can help.

Here’s how I’ve used it:

• Took a folder of dry planning docs I needed to prep for a presentation
• Uploaded them to NotebookLM
• Generated a podcast
• Saved the audio to my Google Drive
• Hit play during my commute

Boom. A self-made PD session while I was driving to work. Built around exactly what I needed to know. Delivered in a pair of voices that—honestly—are pretty dang listenable for AI.

This is the kind of tech that turns “dead time” into learning time without feeling overwhelmed.

 

NotebookLM Isn’t Just for Podcasts

What It Does:

• 🎧 Creates podcast episodes from your materials
  
• 💬 Answers questions with inline citations
  
• 📝 Generates study guides, summaries, and discussion questions
  
• 🗣️ Offers interactive podcast chats
  
• 📁 Works with docs, slides, links, YouTube videos, and more
  

Why It Matters:

• Uses your uploaded materials
  
• Unlikely to hallucinate answers—it backs everything up
  
• Helps you and your students make sense of messy content
  
• Works for lesson prep, self-paced learning, flipped classrooms, and PD
  

Your Turn: What Do You Think?

Have you tried NotebookLM yet?
Did you know it could do more than make podcasts?
What’s your favorite way to use it—classroom prep, student learning, self-PD?

👇 Drop your thoughts, questions, and classroom use cases in the comments below.

We’d love to know:

• How are you using it?
  
• What’s surprised you?
  
• What would you change or request from Google?
  

Let’s learn from each other. ⬇️

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!

A Brisk New Way to Teach? Yes, Please.

Ever had a colleague say, “You know you can do that with this tech tool?”

And you’re like, “Wait… no you can’t.”

But then it turns out—yep, you totally can.

That just happened to me with Brisk.

Already a strong tool for AI feedback and differentiation, Brisk just dropped a Podcast Generator. And yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like. You can now take a Google Doc, PDF, website, or even a YouTube video and turn it into a podcast episode—short, sweet, and student-ready.

And I’ve gotta say… It’s almost as satisfying as a good BRISKet sandwich. Almost.

 

How the Podcast Generator Works

The workflow is as easy as it gets:

1. 🔗 Choose your source: Google Doc, PDF, URL, or video
2. 🎯 Specify what to focus on—topics, standards, or sections
3. 🎙️ Click “Brisk It” (now you see why I was thinking about that BBQ sandwich…)
4. 🧠 Brisk generates a podcast based on your guidance

It’s not just a one-size-fits-all summary either. You can guide it to focus on key concepts or standards, and it sticks to them.

 

Podcast Lengths Based on Your Plan

Of course, there’s a catch. The podcast length depends on which Brisk plan you’re on:

• 🔓 Free plan: Up to 2 minutes
• 💼 Pro plan: Up to 5 minutes
• 🏫 Schools & Districts: Up to 10 minutes

Now, 10 minutes might not sound like a full lesson, but it doesn’t need to be. These are perfect for:

• 🧠 Quick content recaps
• 📚 Pre-learning previews
• 💬 Extra accessibility for multilingual learners
• ⏱️ Making use of those last 5-10 minutes of class

And if your content runs long? Just chunk it. Shorter episodes = better for student attention spans anyway.

 

How It Compares to NotebookLM

Now, if you’re thinking, “Doesn’t NotebookLM already do this?” You’re not wrong. But Brisk brings a few unique flavors to the podcast party.

Brisk vs. NotebookLM — Quick Breakdown:

Feature	Brisk	NotebookLM
Podcast length	Up to 10 mins (based on plan)	Longer episodes allowed
Source support	1 input at a time	Multiple sources
Audio style	Slightly robotic	More human-like
Shareability	Generates a link instantly	Must download + share manually
Transcript included	✅ Yes	❌ No
Language options	40+ languages	❌ Not available
Interactive podcast host	❌	✅ Yes
Add-on tools (like activities)	✅ Boost It button	❌

 

Boost It = Instant Interactivity

The Boost It button has been around in Brisk, but now you can apply it to your AI-generated podcasts, too.

This turns your podcast into:

• ✅ Exit tickets
  
• ✅ Pulse checks
  
• ✅ Tutor-style chatbot conversations
  
• ✅ A bunch of other options

So not only can students listen and learn, but they also get instant feedback based on how they respond or interact. And yep, Brisk tracks all of it, giving you insight into who’s engaging, who’s understanding, and who might need a follow-up.

That’s a powerful blend of accessibility, engagement, and assessment with a side of oversight.

Bonus: Language Support

Need to support English Language Learners or families who speak a different language at home?
Brisk lets you translate the podcast into over 40 languages.
That’s a huge win for accessibility and multilingual family engagement. NotebookLM? Doesn’t do that.

 

Worth Noting: Limitations

To keep it real, here are a couple of things to keep in mind:

• The AI voice isn’t bad, but NotebookLM sounds more human
  
• You can only use one source file with Brisk
  
• It’s not built to replace full lessons—use it for micro-learning moments
  

But for quick, shareable, focused audio summaries? Brisk is crushing it.

Should You Try Brisk’s Podcast Generator?

Absolutely. Especially if you:

• Want to make content more digestible
  
• Need fast ways to support different learning styles
  
• Love tools that do more than one thing

What You Get:

• Short, AI-generated podcast episodes
• Transcripts, shareable links, and translations
• Follow-up tools to check understanding
• An easy, student-friendly experience
  

 

Let’s Hear From You!

Have you tried Brisk’s Podcast Generator? How are you using it in your classroom?

• What kind of content has you clicking “Brisk It”?
  
• Did your students enjoy the format?
  
• Have you tried the Boost It feature?
  

Drop your experiences and tips in the comments below!
👇 We’d love to learn from how you’re using it in the wild.

 

SchoolAI just launched a new tool called Video Explorer, and it’s one that a lot of us are probably going to want to play around with.

Here’s the concept:

You paste in a YouTube link.

Then you tell SchoolAI what your learning goals are.

That’s it—then the magic happens.

From there, SchoolAI creates an interactive video experience for students. The video pauses at key moments, and a chatbot pops up to ask students questions tied directly to those learning goals. It’s like:

🎬 Guided notes

🤖 Meets chatbot review

💡 Meets formative check-in

Pretty rad, right?

 

Why It’s More Than Just Edpuzzle 2.0

You might be thinking, “Wait… isn’t that what Edpuzzle does?”

Kinda, yeah. But also, no.

Edpuzzle and Screencastify Interactive Questions are great, and they’ve been go-to tools for formative assessment during video instruction. But Video Explorer adds an AI twist—because it’s not just about pre-planned questions.

Instead:

• You define the learning outcomes
• SchoolAI builds questions around those outcomes
• Students interact via a chatbot, not static quiz questions
• The chatbot asks additional questions and provides cues to support comprehension

This makes the experience feel more dynamic and responsive. It’s not the AI guessing what matters in the video—it’s you telling the AI, “Hey, this is what I want students to focus on.”

It’s not just telling the students if they’re right or wrong, it’s helping them make sure they understand. If they get answers incorrect, the chatbot attempts to clarify it for them. Learners can also express confusion or ask questions to get additional support.

 

How It Works

Let’s break down the flow:

1. 🎥 You drop in a YouTube link.
2. 🎯 You type your learning goals.
3. 🎚️ You select the grade level and number of questions.
4. 🤖 The AI generates pause points and question prompts.
5. 🗣️ Students interact with a chatbot at each key moment.
6. 📈 You get formative data (though more on that in a sec).

It’s a really neat new spin on using video in the classroom. Especially for asynchronous learning or blended setups where you want students actively engaging—not just passively watching.

 

The Data Caveat

Now for the fine print. This is where things may not meet your needs.

If you’re used to Edpuzzle’s structured dashboards and quiz data, you might be disappointed by the formative data available here in SchoolAI. While it does group students by level of understanding and let you see individual learners’ chats, you might not have the level of formative analytics that you’re hoping for.

That said, the engagement layer it adds—and the alignment with your goals—still makes it a really exciting tool worth exploring. And since the chatbot helps the students understand the content, the formative data may not be essential.

 

What I’m Curious About (And You Might Be Too)

I haven’t tried it myself yet. So here’s what I’m wondering:

• 🤔 Do the pause points match your instructional goals?
• 📊 Is the data useful for formative feedback?
• 👩‍🎓 Do students engage more than they do with tools like Edpuzzle?
• ❤️ Do they like it better?

If you’ve tried it, I’d genuinely love to hear how it went. This feels like a tool with major potential, but we need to hear from the classroom trenches.

 

TL;DR — Why Try Video Explorer?

If you’re looking for a new way to make YouTube videos more meaningful for students, Video Explorer from SchoolAI is worth a test drive.

Here’s what makes it exciting:

• AI-driven, chat-based engagement during videos
• You define the learning goals
• Real-time interaction keeps students focused
• Great for blended, flipped, or asynchronous learning
• A fresh alternative to static quizzes in Edpuzzle or Screencastify

 

Join the Conversation

Tried it? Want to try it? Curious about how others are using it?

Let’s hear your thoughts, below!

I want to know what content you’re using, how students are reacting, and whether the chatbot feature is helping them think or just click.

 

Final Thought

We’re always looking for tools that take good pedagogy and make it a little more accessible, a little more engaging, and—let’s be honest—a little more fun.

Video Explorer might just be that tool for your video-based instruction.

So the next time you’re assigning a YouTube video in class, maybe skip the worksheet and try giving your students a chatbot instead.

Let me know how it goes. 🎥🤖

Sometimes it’s better shown than told. Click the image below to see it in action.