The Chromebook Classroom Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Happy fall, friends! Sip on some cider or your favorite pumpkin flavored drink while we review Google updates, classroom ideas, and news stories for the month of October. 🍁🎃

***Episode Sponsor: @vizor-cloud for Chromebooks*** Track your devices, repairs, loaners, and more with VIZOR's best-in-class asset management system. It's not too late to get started: http://vizor.cloud/cbc

All of the resources mentioned in this episode are available here: https://www.chrmbook.com/s9e3/

Episode Topics:

• 0:00 Intro
• 2:00 Gemini for Teens 
• 3:28 Star rating for Google Forms 
• 4:55 Tabs for Google Docs 
• 6:10 Cover image for Google Docs 
• 8:00 Gemini for Google Classroom
• 11:26 Parents sue school over school discipline over AI usage 
• 15:00 Pumpkin carving with Google Slides
• 17:10 The museum of frights featuring  @googleartsculture 
• 18:30 Halloween Choice board 
• 19:30 Figurative language + AI images

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Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review!

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show!

Every month I try to summarize a few important updates and share some new tools and resources you can use in your classroom. Let's see what's happening for the month of September!

***Episode Sponsor: VIZOR for Chromebooks***

Track your devices, repairs, loaners, and more with VIZOR's best-in-class asset management system. It's not too late to get started: http://vizor.cloud/cbc

All of the resources mentioned in this episode are available here: https://www.chrmbook.com/s9e2/

Table of Contents:

• 0:00 Intro 
• 2:15 Manage your Chromebooks with VIZOR
• 4:15 Data protections for Google Gemini
• 7:00 AI training for teachers & students
• 8:40 Enhance your Gemini experience with Gems
• 13:17 NotbookLM adds audio summaries
• 19:50 Google Docs has tabs 
• 25:13 Google Classroom supports student groups
• 28:40 First impressions of Google Vids
• 33:30 Jamboard is going away
• 35:50 GenType (via Jeremy Badiner)
• 38:40 Gear Sketch (via Brad Dale)

Additional links and resources:

• Blog post with links to all of the above updates: https://www.chrmbook.com/s9e2/
• Get the EDU update delivered to your inbox each month: chrm.tech/update 

-----------------------------

Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review!

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show!

As part of my daily routine, I scan dozens of blogs, visit a handful of Facebook groups, and skim through Twitter.

The goal: find the most helpful resources, tools, and articles that I can share with my teacher friends (that’s you!).

***Episode Sponsor: VIZOR for Chromebooks***
Track your devices, repairs, loaners, and more with VIZOR's best-in-class asset management system. Schedule a demo TODAY and beat the summer rush! Use this exclusive link to save 20% off your first year: http://vizor.cloud/cbc

Here are my favorite links for February 2024:

1.  Bard is now Gemini​ ​
2. Beta Test Google’s AI for Education tools ​
3. New features announced at BETT
4. Sort, filter, and manage comments​ in Docs ​
5. New AI features for the Chrome browser
6. Improvements to Appointment Schedules​
7. Updates for Google Meet
8. Google Classroom Templates ​
9. New Book: EDU Protocols for Young Learners​
10. Art Remix powered by AI

Subscribe to the Google EDU Update and get these monthly updates delivered right to your inbox: chrm.tech/update

-----------------------------

Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review!

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show!

As part of my daily routine, I scan dozens of blogs, visit a handful of Facebook groups and skim through Twitter.

The goal: find the most helpful resources, tools, and articles that I can share with my teacher friends (that’s you!)

***Episode Sponsor: VIZOR for Chromebooks***
Save 20% off your first year with VIZOR and get a FREE Chromecast with Cast moderator when you schedule a demo before the end of January, 2024: http://vizor.cloud/cbc

January 2024 Updates:

1. Sowash family Euro venture!
2. Change your extension policy
3. Convert your form into a practice set
4. 2024 Google Innovator Academy dates
5. ChromeOS certification exam (still free!)
6. Tech management for teachers
7. Right click QR code reader (extension)
8. Inspect writing with Brisk teaching
9. 5 AI extensions for teachers 10.
10. 10 data privacy lessons

Visit the show notes to get all of the links and resources that were mentioned: http://chrmbook.com/s8e8

-----------------------------

Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review!

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show!

I read 21 books this last year. Most were pretty good, a few were pretty bad! 

I enjoy hearing what others are reading and frequently add their recommendations to my list, so I thought I would share some of my favorites with you to help jump start your 2024 reading list.

Additional Resources: 

• All 21 books on Amazon
• My blog post with a short summary of all 21 books
• WATCH this episode on YouTube

Episode Sponsor: VIZOR for Chromebooks: save 20% off your first year and get a FREE Chromecast with Cast moderator when you schedule a demo before the end of January, 2024: http://vizor.cloud/cbc

-----------------------------

Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review!

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show!

As part of my daily routine, I scan dozens of blogs, visit a handful of Facebook groups and skim through Twitter.

The goal: find the most helpful resources, tools, and articles that I can share with my teacher friends (that’s you!)

***Episode Sponsor*** VIZOR for Chromebooks: save 20% off your first year and get a FREE Chromecast with Cast moderator when you schedule a demo before the end of January, 2024: http://vizor.cloud/cbc

December 2023 Updates:

1. Excuse assignments in Google Classroom
2. Add questions to YouTube Videos
3. Google Vault adds support for Calendar
4. Record using Google Slides
5. Convert your Jamboard files to Figjam
6. Get Google Certified in 2024!
7. NotebookLM by Google
8. Sample AI policies
9. Holiday choice board for elementary students
10. Lock up the presents!

Visit the show notes to get all of the links and resources that were mentioned: http://chrmbook.com/s8e6

-----------------------------

Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review!

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show!

As part of my daily routine, I scan dozens of blogs, visit a handful of Facebook groups, and skim through Twitter.

The goal: find the most helpful resources, tools, and articles that I can share with my teacher friends (that’s you!).

*** Episode Sponsor: The Google Certification Academy. Become a Google Certified Educator in 2024. Join the waitlist so you don't miss out: gEducator.com ***

10 links for November 2023: 

1. Book an appointment from Gmail
2. Add GIFs and stickers to Google Slides
3. Google Classroom analytics
4. YouTube for Education is broken
5. New ratings smartchip for Google Sheets
6. Is this image real?
7. Pocket Chrome extension
8. Langage is the new paintbrush
9. Create your personal AI teacher's assistant
10. AI playbook for Google Sheets

Visit the show notes to get all of the links and resources that were mentioned: http://chrmbook.com/s8e5

----------------------------- 

Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review!

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show!

As part of my daily routine, I scan dozens of blogs, visit a handful of Facebook groups, and skim through Twitter.

The goal: find the most helpful resources, tools, and articles that I can share with my teacher friends (that’s you!).

** Episode Sponsor: VIZOR for Chromebooks **

VIZOR simplifies the process of asset management, device repairs, and financial reporting from a single system that integrates with the Google Admin console and your student information system. 👉 http://vizor.cloud/cbc

Here are my favorite links for October 2023: 

1. Google Champions Symposium recap
2. "Plus" Chromebooks for teachers?
3. So long, Jamboard
4. "Activity" panel for Google Drive
5. Building blocks on top in Docs
6. Improved appointment scheduling
7. Schedule a meeting with Gmail
8. Google Slides pumpkin carving
9. Live pointers in Google Slides
10. MagicSchool.ai

Visit the show notes to get all of the links and resources that were mentioned: http://chrmbook.com/s8e4

-----------------------------

Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review!

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show!

Today Google made a shocking announcement related to Google Jamboard. Listen to learn more and get my reaction to this surprising announcement.

Episode Sponsor: VIZOR Chromebook 1:1 Management Software for Schools. Get 20% off your first year when you schedule a no-obligation demo.

-----------------------------

Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review!

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show!

As part of my daily routine, I scan dozens of blogs, visit a handful of Facebook groups and skim through Twitter. The goal: find the most helpful resources, tools, and articles that I can share with my teacher friends (that’s you!) Visit the show notes to get all of the links and resources that were mentioned: http://chrmbook.com/s8e2

** Episode Sponsor: VIZOR for Chromebooks ** VIZOR simplifies the process of asset management, device repairs, and financial reporting from a single system the integrates with the Google Admin console and your student information system. 👉 http://vizor.cloud/cbc

-----------------------------

Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review!

You can connect with me, John Sowash, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show!