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Khan Academy Partners with Google to Integrate Gemini into Writing and Reading Tools

Key Takeaways

  • Google and Khan Academy are integrating Gemini into literacy tools: The partnership starts with Writing Coach and will add a new Reading Coach tool later this year.
  • Writing Coach supports grades 5–12 writing instruction: The tool breaks down assignments and provides personalized feedback for multiple essay types, with broader availability for grades 7–12 and U.S. beta access for grades 5–6.
  • Gemini will also be used in reading and tutoring tools: Reading Coach will guide students through texts and provide teacher insights, while Schoolhouse.world will use Gemini for tutor feedback and an AI session simulator.

Google and Khan Academy recently announced a partnership that will integrate Gemini into the latter's suite of writing and literacy tools. The collaboration is beginning with Khan Academy's existing Writing Coach tool, which uses AI to guide students through the writing process, and a new Reading Coach tool, expected to launch later this year.

First launched in July 2024, Writing Coach is designed to help break down writing assignments, offering explanations, motivations, and personalized feedback as students progress from outlining and drafting ideas to revising and refining a finished product. It's currently available for grades 7-12 and in beta for grades 5-6 in the United States, and supports persuasive, expository and literary analysis essays.

Reading Coach will offer interactive learning experiences with a variety of texts designed for grades 5-12. The tool will utilize Gemini to "guide students through the text, asking them questions to ensure comprehension then providing teachers with individual and class-level insights and recommendations," Google explained in a blog post.

"School district leaders are telling us that one of the biggest challenges they face right now is helping middle and high school students who are behind academically, especially in reading and language arts," commented Khan Academy founder and CEO Sal Khan, in a statement. "We're proud to partner with Google to provide AI tools designed to improve reading and writing, enabling teachers to spend more time directly supporting the students who need their help the most."

In addition, Gemini will be incorporated into Schoolhouse.world, a nonprofit peer-to-peer tutoring platform co-founded by Khan. The platform uses AI feedback to provide coaching to tutors after every session, and will soon feature a new AI session simulator "that allows tutors to practice with a range of virtual student profiles before they ever meet a real learner," Google reported. "By using AI in the background, tutors are able to increase their confidence and empathy, improving the quality of their session without replacing the interaction of a teacher."

For more information, visit the Google blog here.

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

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