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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