Thursday, January 22, 2026

Tech Tips and News for January 2026

Image generated by Karen Szczytko using
Nano Banana (Gemini 3.0 Pro), 1/20/26
Another month, another phishing email attempt for us. To that end, I've listed several resources in the Safety & Security section to keep your scam sighting skills sharp for the next attempt. In addition, I tried another experiment with Google Gemini Canvas and ended up accidentally vibe coding (coding without having any actual programming skills) an app that saved me DAYS worth of work! I'm really excited about this. I have no formal coding skills, so believe me, you can do this too! Gemini does ALL the heavy lifting. I'm sure you have tedious tasks you do that you can automate with Gemini as well. The whole process took maybe 45 minutes to create the app, and now I have a tool I can use from now on that converts a week-long job to a task I can complete in less than a day! Check out the Accidentally Vibe Coding article under the Tips & Tutorials section below. I hope you are staying warm and safe inside now that Winter is in full force, along with it's friend the Polar Vortex. 

Safety & Security


Updates


Tips & Tutorials    





7 Cybersecurity Tips NOBODY Tells You (but are EASY to do)




Anatomy of Scam Emails - How To Recognise A Phishing Scam Message




10 Red Flags to Indicate a Scam



New Scams to Watch Out For in 2026



FBI Issues Urgent Warning over Quishing Scam

FBI Issues Urgent Warning over Quishing Scam, from Tom's Guide by Scott Younker
This is very timely considering many of our teachers received a quishing email in early January. So remember, in addition to not clicking on links or attachments in unsolicited emails also refrain from using QR codes in emails. 

One Simple Setting Can Block Most Scam Texts. Are You Using It?

This article includes instructions for both iPhones and Androids. This setting sorts text messages from unknown senders into a separate folder, which allows you to safely ignore them. 


Should You Stop Logging In Through Google and Facebook? Consider These SSO Risks vs. Benefits

Yes it's convenient to sign in to yet another online account with your Google or Facebook account, but what info are you handing over to them? 

People are the Password Problem:  How You're Creating Your Biggest Security Risks

Are you setting yourself up for identity theft? Please consider using a password manager. I use the free, personal version of BitWarden, but there are many other good options as well. 



Classroom:  Generate Podcast-Style Audio Lessons Using Gemini

This feature will be available in the Gemini tab within Google Classroom within the first couple weeks of January. Navigate to the Gemini tab in the navigation bar in Google Classroom. When using generated content, you should always review the outputs as AI can make mistakes and refine the output so that it fits your context and local policies before assigning to students. Visit the Help Center to learn more about Gemini in Classroom, and check out these resources for teachers, including this resource with tips and best practices for trying Gemini in Classroom.

Google Forms:  Automatically Stop Accepting Responses Based on Date and Time or Response Count


We no longer need to use an add-on to automatically turn off a form on a certain date/time, or once a certain number of responses have been submitted. Now Form owners and editors  can set a date/time to close the form, or set a number of responses to close it. This feature is off by default and can be enabled after the Form owner or editor publishes the form This feature will be available by tapping Published, then selecting the link below Accepting Responses. There you can choose On a Date or After a Number of Responses. Enter your criteria and tap Save. (See GIF above.) Learn more about automatically closing a form here. If you are not yet seeing this new feature, it should be available by the end of January. 

Gmail in the Gemini era: Explore the new features



Gmail:  Help me schedule in Gmail simplifies scheduling (video)



NotebookLM:  Transform Sources into Structured Data Tables


NotebookLM now allows you to organize your source files into data tables. Here are some ways to use them:  
  • Prepare for exams with study tables of historical events, organized by date, key figures, and consequences.
  • Turn meeting transcripts into a clean table of action items, categorized by owner and priority. Or build a competitor comparison table analyzing pricing and strategies.
  • Streamline curriculum mapping by aligning state standards, learning objectives, and assessment criteria across your semester plan.
  • Synthesize clinical trial outcomes across multiple papers to track study years, sample sizes and statistics.



Accidentally Vibe Coding to Automate Tedious Jobs with Gemini


During Christmas Break I decided to experiment with Gemini Canvas a little more to see if I could automate some of my more tedious chores and save myself some time. One of the most tedious things I do all year is creating and programming scheduling forms for conferences. I must create a form for each K-4 teacher, with two days full of appointment slots, then program them to eliminate choices as they're selected, and then send a confirmation message to parents. Previously, I've created a template, made copies of it and customised the form for each teacher. It can take the better part of a week to create and program each of these forms, and if I'm interrupted somehwere along the process, it will sometimes result in a missed step that causes the programming to malfunction. I must say, Gemini exceeded my expectations. My initial thought was to create a Gem that I could reuse each year to create the forms. I started with a prompt* asking Gemini Canvas to help me create a Gem to create the scheduling forms for each teacher. In my prompt I went on to describe the form I needed for each teacher. I also included each teacher's name, as well as the dates and times for February conferences. I even included how I wanted each file named and where in Google Drive the forms shouled be placed so I could find them again. It was a very detailed and lengthy prompt. Gemini's first response was to explain a Gem wasn't the right tool, but instead it would program a Google Apps Script. I had just accidentally vibe coded an app to create eight scheduling forms in a matter of minutes. If you aren't familiar with one of the latest AI buzzwords "Vibe Coding", it's when those of us who are not programmers use AI to create an app. AI writes the code for us. After tweaking my forms a little, Gemini fully explained to me how to save and actually run the app. The entire process of creating the app and running it to actually create the forms took about 30 minutes. I now have an app I can customize for each conferences season and create eight forms in about five minutes. That's a day or two of manual labor completed by a Google App in FIVE MINUTES! 🤯 All it cost me was 30 minutes of my time to create the script. I encourage you to find those time-consuming, tedious tasks you do and ask Gemini to automate them for you. Here are some key take-aways I learned during this process:

  • Use the Gemini tools:  Guided Learning, Deep Research, Create Images or Canvas. I used Canvas for this project with the Thinking option (not fast).
  • Be as detailed as possible with your prompt. There's no limit to how long it can be.
  • Use plain language - talk to Gemini as you would a human.
  • Remember, you're having an ongoing conversation with Gemini to get exactly the end result you want - it's not a one and done prompt. 
  • Make adjustments as necessary to your prompt by asking Gemini to make as many changes as you need.
  • If you don't understand what Gemini is asking you to do, ask for an explanation. It helps to tell Gemini your level of understanding:  "Explain it to me like I'm a child", or "I'm not a programmer". 
I can't wait to see what else I can automate. I'm thinking about automating those field trip forms next. If you find a task to automate using Gemini, please let me know!

*If you want to see my detailed prompt, please let me know and I'll send it to you. 

Making Graphic Novels with Gemini and NotebookLM

Making Graphic Novels with Gemini and NotebookLM, From Control Alt Achieve by Eric Curts
Just WOW is about all I can say about the variety of topics and art styles Eric used to create many graphic novels for students. Not only are the graphic novels impressive, but he also explains exactly how he created them - including the detailed prompts he used. If you want to get your students' attention while presenting new content, this is a terrific idea. Eric's templates make this truly doable even if you are not the least bit artistic.

Building a Second Brain with NotebookLM: From Blank Page to Full Research Report

In minutes, see how you can create quizzes, explainer videos, interactive podcast, slide presentation, mind maps, and more.



Organize Your Google Classroom in Ten Minutes

I recently received an email newsletter from Jeff Bradbury of teachercast.net, where he outlines a quick way to organize your Google Classroom in ten minutes using Topics. Unless you're organized from the beginning, it's way too easy for your Classroom to become a "jumbled mess" as the year moves along. His solution is to use the Topics feature using these steps:

Step 1: The "Chaos" Audit (2 minutes) Open your primary Google Classroom and look at the "Classwork" tab. If you feel a slight sense of "overwhelm," you’re ready for the system.

Step 2: Create Your Framework (3 minutes) Click "Create" → "Topic" and add categories that match your curriculum structure. My favorites for a clean "Impact" look:

📘 Unit 1: [Name]
📗 Unit 2: [Name]
📝 Daily Quick-Checks
📌 Important Resources

Step 3: Assign and Move (5 minutes) Edit your last 10 posts and assign them to a Topic. Then, use the "Move to Top" feature on your CURRENT unit so it’s the first thing students see when they log in.

Why This Matters for Your Impact
  • Student Autonomy: When your Classroom is organized by system, students stop asking "Where is the assignment?" and start working.
  • Professionalism: A structured Classwork tab shows parents and administrators that you are orchestrating a high-level learning environment.
  • Teacher Peace of Mind: You’ll walk into your building on Monday knowing exactly where everything is located.

How to Organize Google Classroom



New EduGems from Eric Curts

As a reminder, Gems are pre-made prompts in Google Gemini that you can use over and over. Eric Curts, of Control Alt Achieve, has curated a list of Gems specifically designed for educators on his EduGems website. His site full of Gems are not just for assignments or student activities, but also include tools for instructional support, making sub plans, and communications with parents. Feel free to use his Gems from the site or copy them into your own Gemini. Here are the latest Gems he's added:
  • 🔠 CYOA Story - Create an interactive "Choose Your Own Adventure" game based on topic, learning goals & grade level
  • 🗯️ Graphic Novel Maker - Turn any idea into a formatted script that can be used in NotebookLM to generate a completed graphic novel
  • ⌛ Historical "What If?" - Create an engaging "Alternative History" scenario with new narrative, primary sources, critical thinking activities and more
  • 🎭 Reader's Theater - Transform a topic, text, or concept into an engaging Reader's Theater script to build reading fluency and comprehension
  • 🖼️ Slideshow Maker - Generate a complete Google Slides presentation based on your topic, content, audience, style and tone
  • 🦸 Staff Superhero Image - Celebrate your school staff by transforming their photos into high-quality superhero portraits
  • 📦 Standards Unpacker - Translate complex academic standards into skills, knowledge, concepts, expectations, targets, strategies, and more
  • ✍️ Story Co-Writer - Have students collaboratively write a story with AI in "round robin" style on any topic
  • ✍️ Text Rewriter - Analyze and adapt any text to adjust reading levels, length, tone, style, format, and accessibility features
  • 🎬 Video Prompt Generator - Construct the perfect prompt for AI video generation tools for your Scene, Cinematography, Style, and Audio



7 Steps You Need To Become a Gmail Power User



Spam Calls are Out of Control. Here's How I Stopped Them

Spam Calls are Out of Control. Here's How I Stopped Them, from PC Magazine by Lance Whitney & Kim Key
Learn how to block those pesky spam calls. 

6 Ways to Prepare Students for an AI Future

6 Ways to Prepare Students for an AI Future, from Ditch That Textbook by Matt Miller
Whether or not students are using AI in class, we can, and should, still start to prepare them for an AI world. 


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Monday, December 22, 2025

Tech Tips and News for December 2025

Gemini Generated with Nano Banana
Did you know that most data breaches start with an employee falling for a phishing email? Have you fallen for a phishing attempt recently? Some of your recently received a phishing email that appeared to be from Fr. Christoper. Many of you were alert enough to realize it was not a legitimate message, but a few of you fell for it. I encourage you to review the safety and security articles below and participate in each of the Michigan Catholic Conference cyber trainings that come through your inbox. Accidentally interacting with a phishing message is exactly what they are intended to prevent. 

During our recent snow day, I had a chance to do some experimenting with Google Gemini. I used Canvas in Gemini (not to be confused with the LMS) to create two interactive lessons and an infographic all in an afternoon. Take a look at the last article below, or watch the short video linked in that article, to see how easy it was and how much time Gemini can save you. I learned so much in just one afternoon about how to better use Gemini just by playing around with it. I also linked the lessons and infographic Gemini and I produced so you can see exactly what it created. It's time to work smarter, not harder, and Gemini has made it so much easier to do. Since Gemini is part of Google Workspace for Education, it's secure to use, and I don't need to create a third party account. Since teachers are some of the most creative people I know, I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with this tool.  If you have a chance to experiment with Gemini, or have already been using it, please let me know what you've created and how your experience went.

Safety and Security

News

Updates

Tips and Tutorials




Before You Check Out, Read This: 10 Crucial Online Shopping Safety Tricks

Before You Check Out, Read This: 10 Crucial Online Shopping Safety Tricks, from PC Magazine by Eric Griffith and Kim Key

Is That Your Delivery Driver Calling or a Phone Scam? Don't Pick Up Until You Read This? 

Rule of thumb, If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail. If it's important they'll leave a message and you can call them back. This article also explains what the caller labels on your phone really mean and shows you how to block those scammy callers. 

How to Report Phishing in Gmail (Video)



Spot Phishing Emails (Video)


Email Scams are Getting Better, What Should We Do? (Video)


I Compared the Privacy of ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity - Here's the One You Should Trust Most with Your Personal Info


This comparison is when using these chat bots with your personal account. When using your school account, Gemini is the most secure. That being said I still wouldn't share any personal information with any of them. 




14 Things AI Can Do Faster Than You, But Never Better

While AI seems like it can think - it really can't, it just predicts what it thinks we want to hear. Find out how else being a human has its advantages over AI.

Pathways to AI - Earn up to 81 SCECHs for Free

Are you ready to master AI tools? KISD is offering an Asynchronous/Self-Paced course, February 1-April 30, 2026. Explore four tailored pathways: AI Foundations, Content Creation, Classroom Instruction, or Student Engagement at your own pace with hands-on tools and vendor-backed certifications. Earn digital badges that prove your expertise, streamline your workflows, and empower students with critical AI skills. Complete one pathway or all four; you decide your journey. No cost, maximum flexibility, maximum impact. Register for Pathways to AI here.

Updated AI Privacy and Safety Checks

Kent Intermediate School District has created and maintains a comprehensive list of educational AI tools and rates their privacy and safety. This is a great place to start when you are thinking about using an AI-enabled tool for your own use or especially with students. You can find it at iamed.tech/aiprivacysafety. 

Brand-New Classroom Game from Common Sense Education

What's AI, and what isn't? In today's media landscape, kids need to know! Two Truths & AI is a 
digital literacy game for grades K–12 that teaches students to spot AI-generated content and develop important media literacy skills.

Through an engaging 60-second challenge, students try to distinguish between real and AI-generated movie posters. It's a fun way for students to test their AI detective skills, while also building their critical thinking muscles.

 Use this new game to help your students:
🔎 Learn to spot AI-generated content by noticing visual clues
✋ Explain their reasoning through thoughtful analysis and discussion
🧠 Think critically about the digital images they see

Best of all, this new game is 100% free for educators everywhere! Learn more and try it here. 



Google Classroom:  Educators Can Now Assign Public Notebooks


Teachers can attach public notebooks to assignments, in addition to the notebooks they create or own. NotebookLM is a great way for students to interact with AI, because it limits the source documents to only those included in the Notebook. Students could then ask questions about the content, create a study guide, flash cards, listen to the content, watch a video containing all the info and more. We do not currently have NotebookLM turned on for students until staff can learn about NotebookLM and plan for its use. Learn more about creating assignments with NotebookLM here. This feature will be rolling out during the month of December.

Google EDU November Update

John demonstrates how to use the latest updates in Google. 

December Google EDU Update







What to Do When Your Computer Won't Start

What to Do When Your Computer Won't Start, from PC Magazine by Whitson Gordon
It's such a sinking feeling when your computer won't start. Don't panic, try these steps instead.

Is That an AI Image? 6 Telltale Signs It's a Fake - And My Favorite Free Detectors

I've noticed some AI images and videos are so obvious, but others aren't. I appreciate the AI detector suggestions. 

Is That an AI Video? 6 Telltale Signs It's a Fake

Is That an AI Video? 6 Telltale Signs It's a Fake, from ZDNet by Elyse Betters Picaro
Learn what to look for to spot those fake videos. This article also makes some suggestions for AI detection tools. (Tip:  watch this one from home, as most of the video examples are from TikTok and blocked on school WiFi.)

Your Google Drive is a Disaster - Here's How to Fix it in Just One Afternoon

Thank goodness Drive is easily searchable, but it's even easier when you can find your files because you've organized them!

From 45 Minutes to 8: How to Streamline Assignments with This Hidden Google Classroom Feature

Were you aware of the Reuse Post feature? I wasn't. Having a Google Classroom full of assignment templates is brilliant!

8 Googley Wintertime Activities

8 Googley Wintertime Activities, from Control Alt Achieve by Eric Curts
Help your students improve their tech skills with these free winter themed activities. All can be done in Google Slides, Drawing, Sheets or Docs. Templates are provided to get you started. 

I Spent a Snow Day Afternoon Experimenting with Gemini Canvas

My first Gemini Canvas project

Gemini can create just about anything you ask it to. I recently explored the Canvas tool (no, not Camvas the LMS) to create a couple of phishing lessons and an infographic (see the video here). First I used the Fast method- which took about 20 minutes to create from start to finish includeing all the adjustments I made to it. Then I tried the thinking method, which took closer to 45 minutes to create and refine due to its complexity. The Thinking option was definitely overkill for this exercise and made the assignment more of a course with modules than just a simple lesson. The thinking method would be better used when needed to incorporate images, such as when creating an infographic or if you are looking for something more complex. In hindsight, I could have shortened the time it took to refine the projects if I'd created a more detailed prompt in the first place. Your prompt can be as long and detailed as you need it to be. I've seen some that are pages long and include dot points. Neither of these lessons are ready for prime time, but are a good start considering they took less than an hour, were free, customizable, and I didn't have to know how to code to create them.  

Once the lessons were created, I then asked Gemini how I could share them. Sharing the infographic was easy, but the interactive lessons were a little more complicated, and this is where Gemini was less helpful. I had to spell out that I am not a programmer or coder, am new to Gemini Canvas, and needed specific instructions as to where to find the code file it was referring to. Turns out there's a tiny filing tray icon in the upper right corner that lists all of the files Gemini creates for a project. I also needed to switch between the preview and code views - another thing Gemini neglected to mention. (I point out the location for both of these in the video I linked above.)

You can see all three of these Gemini created projects here, including the prompts I used and what I learned. 

Here are my take-aways:
  • Start Simple - Start with a project you are familiar with, such as creating a worksheet in a Google Doc, a presentation, or an infographic and use the Fast method - unless you need Gemini to create graphics.
  • Detailed Prompt - be as detailed as possible when creating your initial prompt. Use natural language as if you were speaking to a human. Include your role, your intended audience, details about what content to include including any key terms it should use, and what kind of project you're creating (printable worksheet, interactive lesson, infographic, etc.). The more detailed your inital prompt is, the fewer adjustments you'll need to make and the faster the project will go.
  • Continue the Conversation - Usually the initial creation is just a start, and as you look through it you'll think of things you'd like Gemini to change. Consider the Gemini chat to be an ongoing collaboration. You tell Gemini what to change and it will do it. Ask Gemini for advice, and it will provide it. If you don't understand what it's telling you to do, ask questions. 
  • How to Share?  I spent the most time with the lesson projects trying to figure out how to share them. Because they were interactive lessons, it's more complicated than creating a doc or slide file to share as you normally would. Gemini was less detailed in it's instructions for where to find files it would refer me to. I eventually realized all the files Gemini creates based on your prompts are accessible via a very small filing tray icon in the upper right corner. I also didn't realize at first that there's a preview and code view, so if you need to copy and paste the code you need to switch to code view. 
  • Keep Trying! The more you work with Gemini, the faster you'll become at telling it what you want, and knowing what details to include in your prompt. 
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Wednesday, November 26, 2025

Tech Tips and News for November 2025

Now that we're well into the holiday season, make sure you know better than to fall for any holiday scams. Unfortunately any shopping season brings out lots of online shopping scams. When we're full of holiday cheer and goodwill it seems even more offensive when we encounter these cyber thieves. There are several articles listed below on this topic. Staysafeonline.org is a great organization to subscribe to for timely cybersecurity reminders and news of the latest online scams to watch out for. Just open any article on their site and hit the subscribe button. Arm yourself with knowledge to stay a step ahead of these threats. They also hold cybersecurity webinars periodically. If you have any older adults in your life who struggle with technology or online secrity, this is a great resource for them!

Safety and Security


News


Updates


Tips and Tutorials




Don’t use a single password for every site, here’s why

If hackers have your password for one site, will they have the password for all of them? Hopefully not, because they're going to try them on every possible site. 

Beware the 'Hi, how are you?' text. It's a scam - here's how it works

Don't be tempted to be friendly or helpful if someone you don't know texts you. 

This Windows Update Screen is Actually a Hacker's Trap

Beware of any screen that looks like a Windows update, but asks you to do anything other than restart your computer. True updates never need you to perform any keyboard commands to complete. The screen you are seeing in that case is usually just a website. Closing that tab in your browser can remove it. 

Is That Holiday Deal Too Good to Be True? Here's How to Tell If It's a Scam

Shopping scams are expecially prevalent during the holidays. Find out how not to fall for the new "fake seller" or any of the other scams they run.

Don't Get Tricked by Fake Amazon Reviews This Black Friday. Here's How to Spot the Real Ones

Now that Fakespot is going away, how can you spot those fake reviews? Here are some telltale signs.

Safe Online Holiday Shopping

Safe Online Holiday Shopping, from National Cybersecurity Alliance
Check out this quick list of things to watch out for when doing your holiday shopping online. Beware of those Grinch Bots!


10th Annual Ditch That Textbook Digital Summit

This annual series of webinars is a free online conference for educators, available on-demand from December 15, 2025 until January 11, 2026. You can get free certificates for professional development credits from the comfort of your couch. Register here and receive each webinar in your emailbox. This year there are eight new featured speaker sessions, which are 45-60 minutes long. There will also be 30-minute spotlight sponsor sessions. In addition to this year's offerings, you are usually able to access webinars from previous years as well. I learn something new every year from this summit.




Google Calendar:  Block Off Time to Work on a Task in Calendar


Do you use Google Tasks to keep track of your to-do list? If so, you can block out time in Google Calendar to work on those tasks. When you create a new appointment on your calendar, just select task, and choose the task from your task list. You should be seeing this new feature now. Learn more about reserving time for Tasks on Calendar in this help article. 

;">Google Drive:  AI-Powered Audio Overviews for PDFs

This update will allow you to convertlong, text-heavy PDFs—such as industry reports, contracts, or lengthy meeting transcripts—into a conversational, podcast-style audio summary. With just one click, a new audio file is saved directly to your Drive. Users can listen to the summaries from anywhere they can access their Drive files, whether they’re commuting, working out, or doing chores. Once the audio overview is generated on a desktop, the user receives an email notification that the file is ready. The audio file is automatically saved to a new "Audio overviews" folder in their Drive, which they can then access from any mobile or desktop device. Learn more about audio overviews for PDFs in Drive here. This update started rolling out on November 12, 2025. We should see it before the end of November.

;">Gemini:  Generate Presentations with a Text Prompt

This is now available to all Google users! Simply provide an idea with a simple text prompt or upload a source, and Gemini will generate a set of slides — complete with a theme and relevant images. Then, you'll export the presentation from the Gemini app directly to Google Slides to continue to refine or collaborate with others. You'll start by opening Gemini (it's available in the waffle-app switcher) and selecting Canvas in the toolbar. Then ask Gemini to “create a presentation.” You can specify a topic or upload your own source with the prompt. Learn more about using Canvas in Gemini here. This update is available now. 

Google Vids:  Create Short Videos from Images


Teachers and admins who have the Teaching and Learning Google license can now use Veo 3.1 in Google Vids to create eight second video clips from images. Provide a few images and write a prompt for the video you want to create and voila! Your video will automatically be created. Learn how to create your custom video from images from this help center article. You can also watch this video for instruction. This update may still be rolling out. Everyone should see it by mid-December. Read the update annoucement here. 



Unlock the Power of Google Drive Across All Your Devices

Take control of your Google files! This is a great tutorial for making the most of, and understanding Google Drive. 

Teachers:  Guided Learning for Gemini Won't Complete Homework for Students

We have not yet turned on Gemini for students yet, but this is a compelling reason to think about it!

Gemini for Teachers - Essential Classroom Guide


Using, Creating & Sharing Gems in Google Gemini

Using, Creating & Sharing Gems in Google Gemini, from Control Alt Achieve by Eric Curts
If you've spent much time using Gemini or Chat GPT, you know there's an art to creating a good prompt that gives you the results you're looking for. There's usually a lot of trial and error involved before you get what you want. Gems take all that guesswork out of the equation and provides you with a prompt to do a certain task - that you can usen over and over again. In addition, Eric Curts has curated quite a collection of Gems for teachers to use. 

7 Ways I Use NotebookLM to Make My Life Easier

7 Ways I Use NotebookLM to Make My Life Easier, from How To Geek by Jorge A. Aguilar
I've used NotebookLM so many times to teach me a new process or summarize a long article. I've even used it to compare two different products/services to work through a pros and cons list. Now you can completely interact with it and ask questions as it goes. This tool is quickly becoming the swiss army knife of my life. 

Getting Started w/NotebookLM Infographics and Slide Decks!



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Wednesday, October 29, 2025

Tech Tips & News for September-October 2025

This ended up being a combined September and October issue, since we were a little short-staffed during those months. Once again, I've done my best to catch us up with all Google updates - and there have been a lot! Most of the updates have revolved around AI enhancements to Classroom and Notebook LM. If you haven't explored the usefulness of Notebook LM, do yourself a favor and take a few minutes to see the new features. I've also posted a tutorial video in the Tips and Tutorials section. Need a video for some classroom content?  Notebook LM to the rescue. Need to quickly learn a new section you need to teach? Notebook LM is your friend. Need to create a study guide for your students? You guessed it - Notebook LM! This tool is now a core Google Workspace for Education app, and is also available for students as well, although we have not yet made it available to them at ASA. As we become more familiar with it, we can start that conversation. To find Notebook LM, in either Gmail or Drive, tap the app switcher and scroll down until you see Notebook LM. (see image at left.)

Safety and Security


Updates

News


Tips & Tutorials


Ditch Your Passwords: Why Passkeys Are the Future of Online Security

Have you noticed the prompts by many of your online accounts to set up a passkey? This article explains why, and how to start using them. Pro tip:  store your passkey in your password manager instead of on a device. Otherwise, when the device is lost, dies or is replaced, you lose your passkey. 

Text Messages Can Be One of the Best Ways for Scammers to Take Your Data

We've all received them. Learn what to do when you get one. 

Could Your Phone Have Malware? Here's What to Look For and How to Remove it

Sometimes it's hard to tell if your device has been compromised. Find out what to look for and how to fix it.

AI-driven scams are preying on Gen Z’s digital lives​

The elderly aren't the only ones at risk - Gen Z and Millenials are increasingly falling victims to mobile extortion. Find out how to protect yourself. 


Google Classroom Read Along:  Generate Stories Using Gemini

Generate a New Story in Read Along

Now, in addition to being able to upload your own content in Read Along, educators will also be able to create their own stories in Read Along using Gemini. This will allow you to create stories based on the student's interests, or using a specific vocabulary list. From the assignment creation screen, open Read Along, and select “Generate.” From there you select a target grade for the story, add in a topic or plot, list any additional details like length of the story or learning goals, and add any keywords you want in the story and click “Write with AI”. Gemini will create a story that can be reviewed and further edited by the educator, and then assigned to students. Learn how to use Read Along in Google Classroom here. 

Google Classroom:  Create and Assign Notebook LM and Gems

Now, educators can instantly create interactive AI learning experiences for students using NotebookLM and Gems right from Google Classroom – and using their class materials. They can then be assigned to students for extra practice, support, and learning opportunities. Once created, students will be able to access the teacher-created notebook or Gem on their Classwork page in Classroom, either as a “Class learning resource” at the top of the page, or as part of an assignment. 
  • Using NotebookLM, educators can select resources from their class to instantly create an interactive study guide and other learning aids like podcast-style audio overviews, mind maps, and more – grounded only in the materials educators upload. See examples. 
  • Educators can create a Gem, which is a custom version of Gemini, for their students to interact with. Teachers can select class materials to inform a new Gem, whether they create one from scratch or select one of the templates in Classroom (Study partner, Quiz me, Brainstorm partner, or Real-world connector). See examples.
Teachers can learn how to create assignments with Notebook LM and Gems in Google Classroom here. Student instructions can be found here. Currently students do not have access to Notebook LM or Gems at ASA. Interested in using these resources with your students? Let's start a discussion!

Google Classroom:  Convert Rubrics from Drive or Local Files


Eucators can now quickly adapt existing rubrics from Drive or local files for Google Classroom assignments with Gemini's assistance. From the Rubric menu in the assignment creation screen, educators can now select “Convert from file” to instantly turn existing rubrics from various files and use them in Google Classroom, without the need to enter the information manually. This feature is available now. Learn how to use Rubrics in Google Classroom here. 

Gemini:  New Study Tools for Adults and Students


In addition to the ability to create quizzes in Gemini, three new options are now available. 
  • Guided Learning:  The Guided Learning feature in Gemini is designed to be an interactive study partner that focuses on helping users achieve a deep understanding of a topic, rather than just providing quick answers. When Gemini is turned on for students, they could use the Guided Learning as an interactive study guide. Gemini will ask the student open ended questions to test their mastery of the topic.
  • Study Tools:  In addition to quizzes, you can now customize the number of questions as well as the question type - for example, multiple choice or short answer. You can also ask Gemini to instantly create flashcards and study guides based on your quiz results or other class materials, providing a simple and effective way to review key concepts and reinforce your learning.
  • Integrated Visuals and YouTube Videos:  To make learning more engaging and effective, Gemini will now automatically integrate relevant visuals, like high-quality diagrams, images, and YouTube videos, directly into its responses to help you learn. 
These features are available now, although Gemini is currently turned off for students at ASA. Learn how to use use the learning tools in Gemini here. 

Google Sheets:  Condensed Version History

When viewing the version history in a Sheet, by default it will now show only the rows with cells that had changes in each version. This should make it easier to tell what info was changed in each version. If you prefer to see the entire sheet, you can click the checkbox to show unmodified rows. You should start to see this updated by the end of September. Learn how to see earlier versions of a file here. 

Notebook LM:  Now Create Flashcards, Quizzes and New Reports

Notebook LM will now allow you to create flashcards, quizzess and customized reports based on the information you have loaded into it. This update is available to both students and teachers, however at ASA we have turned AI features off for students until we develop an AI implementation plan for students. You should begin to see this update by mid-September. Read the full details of this update here.  Learn how to create assignments with Notebook LM & Gems in Google Classroom here. 

Notebook LM:  Video Overviews


Users can now turn documents, slides, charts and more into engaging explainer videos that are narrated by an AI voice. Video Overviews are visual walkthroughs of the content you provide, pulling in images, diagrams, quotes, and numbers from your source material. Similar to Audio Overviews, you’ll also have the option to customize your Video Overview by specifying topics to focus on, indicating your learning goals, describing the target audience, and much more. At this time, Video Overviews are only available to users over the age of 18, however once the video is created you can share that video with your students. Can't find the instructional video you need? Load your content into Notebook LM and have it create one for you. Need to quickly learn the content you need to teach your students? Create an audio overview to listen to in the car, or a video overview to watch and learn. Learn how to generate video overviews in Notebook LM here or watch the video (above) I asked Notebook LM to create based on these instructions. The video did take about 30 minutes to generate, but I was able to do other things while Notebook LM was taking care of that for me. This update is available now.

Notebook LM:  Now Available to Users of All Ages

Notebook LM is now available to all users, not just to those over the age of 18. While we have not yet made this available to ASA students, we now can. NotebookLM is covered under the Google Workspace for Education Terms of Service for all Workspace for Education users. Those terms include enterprise-grade data protections, so your data is not reviewed by anyone or otherwise used to train AI models. NotebookLM also supports compliance with industry regulations like FERPA and COPPA. This update is already available. Get started with Notebook LM here. I've also included a video tutorial below.

Notebook LM:  Build a Deeper Understanding of a Topic with Learning Guide

Turn on Learning Guide mode in Notebook LM Chat

In addition to being able to ask Notebook LM about the sources you've curated in a notebook, you can now chat in Learning Guide mode. This encourages participation with probing, open-ended questions. Instead of just giving answers, it helps you break down problems step-by-step and adapts explanations to your needs, building a deeper understanding of the subject. Simply tap the settings button in the Notebook LM Chat window, and select Learning Guide. You'll enter into an interactive session to learn about the topic. Learn about 6 ways to use Notebook LM to master any subject here. 



How Schools Can Use AI While Protecting Student Equity, Privacy and Inclusion

Students need to learn about AI because it's their future. So how do we protect them at the same time? 

Book It! Starts in October

I was surprised to see in the latest Control Alt Achieve newsletter that Book It! is still around. Pizza Hut still rewards students in grades PreK - 6 for reading books. The program begins October 1st. Teachers can sign up here. After signing up, teachers will be able to access the dashboar, where they can manage their classes, students, goals and progress. As students read books and meet their goals, they receive digital reading award certificates, which they can redeem for a free, one-topping Personal Pan Pizza at Pizza Hut. 


Is That Video Real? 5 Tips for Spotting AI-Generated Content

With AI generated video services, it's getting so much more difficult to tell a genuine video from an AI-generated video. How well can you spot the AI video? 

These 7 Bad Habits Are Destroying Your PC

These 7 Bad Habits Are Destroying Your PC, from PC Magazine by Whitson Gordon
We're all guilty of at least one of these. 

How to Catch Sneaky Students on Their Chromebooks (Video)

This is a follow up on the podcast I posted last month. This video shows the specific student behavior discussed in the podcast. 

Starting Strong:  4 Google Classroom Organization Hacks Every Teacher Must Know


27 Free Gemini AI Tools for Educators

27 Free Gemini AI Tools for Educators, from Control Alt Achieve by Eric Curts
These are easy to use and available right in Classroom - and will save you lots of time. In this article, there is a detailed video tutorial to watch to learn how to use these resources. 

Google Gemini 101 for Teachers:  Getting Started with Google's AI Assistant

If you're not sure where to start with Gemini, here's a good place. If you've aleady dabbled with Gemini, you can pick up some new features. Gemini is available in the waffle with the rest of the Google apps or as a standalone app on your mobile device.

The Ultimate Guide to NotebookLM - All 2025 Features Explained



TechFlix:  Read Along in Google Classroom



20+ Sources of Free Digital Content for Your Class

20+ Sources of Free Digital Content for Your Class, from Ditch That Textbook by Matt Miller
These open educational resources are reliable, up-to-date lessons.

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