Google Expands Free AI Teaching Tools with Gemini in Classroom

Google is expanding access to its AI-powered education tools with the global launch of Gemini in Classroom, now free to all educators using Google Workspace for Education accounts. The rollout includes more than 30 features designed to reduce time spent on repetitive tasks and to support personalized, data-driven instruction.

Previously available through limited pilots, Gemini in Classroom helps teachers generate lesson materials, customize feedback, and differentiate instruction more easily. The announcement also introduces teacher-led AI experiences for students, allowing educators to guide how AI supports learning through tools like NotebookLM and Gems—all embedded within Google Classroom.

“Gemini in Classroom saves me hours on planning and support, fostering a more inclusive and engaging classroom,” said Mariam Fan, a language and robotics teacher in the pilot program.

AI That Supports the Art of Teaching

Educators can now access Gemini directly from a central location in Google Classroom. From there, they can:

• Brainstorm lesson ideas

• Generate instructional content

• Create rubrics and feedback

• Adapt materials for different student needs

Teachers in the pilot program have praised its time-saving value and classroom impact. Chris Webb, a math teacher, said he uses the rubric generator to simplify planning, “bringing your rubric right into Classroom in a matter of seconds.”

To explore new features like AI-suggested feedback on writing assignments, educators can join the AI track of Google’s Education Pilot Program.

AI for Students, Guided by Teachers

In the coming months, Google will roll out teacher-led AI experiences for students, designed to give educators more control and flexibility in how students interact with AI.

• NotebookLM for Classroom lets teachers select class materials and turn them into interactive study guides and podcast-style audio overviews—grounded only in teacher-provided content.
  

• Gems for Classroom enables teachers to create custom Gemini-powered AI “experts” to help students go deeper into specific topics or get extra support.

These tools aim to promote student agency while keeping educators at the center of the experience.

Data Tools for Targeted Support

Google is also launching some of the most-requested features from educators to help track progress and tailor instruction:

• Tag coursework with learning standards: In the coming months, educators will be able to tag assignments in Google Classroom with relevant learning standards or skills. At launch, this will include U.S. K–12 national and state standards such as NGSS, ISTE, and ACT —sourced from the 1EdTech Consortium’s CASE® Network 2 (Competencies and Academic Standards Exchange®). Teachers will also be able to view new analytics that show how students are performing against specific standards. Support for additional countries is coming soon, and institutions can express interest in having their preferred standards included. Google is also partnering with 1EdTech and Common Good Learning Tools so that schools or education authorities can publish their own custom standards to the CASE Network for integration into Classroom.
  

• Analytics tab and class insights: A new “Analytics” tab on each class page will give teachers a centralized view of student performance and engagement. This includes insights into trends like which students are consistently missing assignments, whose grades are improving, or where students may need extra support. Teachers can take action directly from this data—for example, by sending quick reminders or adjusting their instruction. These insights are also embedded into the Classwork page, helping educators monitor assignment progress in real time.
  

• Expanded content and reading modes in Read Along: Educators now have more flexible options for using Read Along in the classroom. They can upload their own reading materials or soon generate original stories with help from Gemini, allowing students to receive real-time support from an AI-powered reading companion using content that’s directly relevant to them. New classroom features include a silent reading mode, with a listening mode coming soon—both designed to support varied learning styles while still giving teachers insights into student comprehension. Google is also expanding the library of decodable books from Heggerty to include more than 100 titles, with performance tracking built into the dashboard. Read Along will be available in additional languages in the coming months.

“Google Classroom's new feature allows teachers to tag assignments to CASE® standards, giving more purpose to the path of learning,” said Giovanni Benincasa of Chicago Public Schools.

You can explore the full Gemini in Classroom launch guide and sign up for Google for Education updates to stay informed as new features become available.

What This Means

By making Gemini in Classroom free for all Google Workspace for Education users, Google is signaling a long-term commitment to integrating AI into daily teaching. The tools are designed not to replace teachers but to free them from routine tasks—allowing more time for creative, personalized instruction.

Importantly, the new features prioritize teacher control and student agency, offering AI support that’s grounded in actual classroom content and goals. As schools face growing demands with limited resources, tools like these could help teachers better serve diverse student needs without added workload.

With 50+ new updates coming to Google Classroom, the platform is rapidly evolving from a digital workspace into a full-service hub for AI-supported learning—led by educators, and shaped by the needs of real classrooms.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.