Google Announces Classroom Updates, New Tools for Chromebooks -- THE Journal

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Google Announces Classroom Updates, New Tools for Chromebooks

By Rhea Kelly
01/23/25

Google has introduced a variety of features across its products for education, announced recently at the 2025 BETT ed tech event in London. Among the additions are enhancements to Google Classroom and new tools for Chromebooks, "designed to help address the diverse needs of students around the world," Google said in a blog post.

New features for Google Classroom include:

The ability to generate tailored vocabulary lists using Google's Gemini AI chatbot. Educators can use the tool to create custom word lists for defined grade levels and topics, complete with definitions, parts of speech, and examples.
Four new add-ons accessible within Classroom: FigJam (collaborative online whiteboards for discussions, brainstorming, or group work), Education Perfect (curriculum-aligned activities), Discovery Education (real-world content and multi-modal instruction), and Autodesk Tinkercad (3D design, electronics, and coding).
The ability to define student groups, allowing educators to differentiate assignments and assign grades based on each group's needs.
A shareable Classwork link to keep students' guardians informed on assignments.

And for Chromebooks:

New "Class tools" provide real-time control and student engagement features for managed Chromebooks. Educators can connect with students' individual Chromebooks in order to share content directly to students' screens, check their progress, turn on live captions or translations, and more.
A new "Face Control" feature enables users to control their cursor through head movements and perform various actions using facial gestures.
Forthcoming Chromebook and Chromebook Plus devices include the Acer Chromebook Spin 511 and Lenovo Chromebook Duet EDU G2, built for younger learners, the Asus CR1204CTA and HP Fortis G1i 14 Chromebook, designed for older grades, and the new Lenovo Chromebook Plus 2-in-1, for educators.

For a full overview of these and other updates, visit the Google blog.

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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