Control Alt Achieve: 15 Updates to Make Google BETTer

This last week Google was in London at BETT, the world’s biggest educational technology exhibition. At the event, companies from all around the world showed off their latest and greatest innovations for educational technology.

Google used this opportunity to showcase new updates for Google Workspace for Education. These updates include new features for Gemini, Google Classroom, Chromebooks, Google Drive tools and more!

Although I have never been to BETT yet (definitely a goal for the future!) I wanted to share these new updates with you. See below for my rundown of my 15 favorite new updates that Google announced.

✨ Gemini Updates

Google has always offered Gemini for free to schools with an incredibly robust set of no-cost features. However, there have also been additional Gemini features that were only available by purchasing an additional license called "Google AI Pro for Education". While that will always be the way to get full access to all the extra Gemini features, thankfully Google has decided to move several of these premium features into the regular Google Workspace for Education core editions at no additional cost.

Here are some of those changes:

📄 Gemini in Docs

Use Gemini in the side panel of Google Docs to:
Use Help Me Write to create content in seconds such as a grant proposal, newsletter, agenda, and more.
Create content based on your files from Drive.
Learn more: Google help page
Editions Availability: Education Plus and the Teaching and Learning add-on

🖼️ Gemini in Slides

Use Gemini in the side panel of Google Slides to:
Generate slides based on text prompts, including the option to use files from your Drive.
Create original images and designs that perfectly capture what you’re trying to illustrate.
Learn more: Google help page
Editions Availability: Education Plus and the Teaching and Learning add-on

✅ Gemini in Forms

Use Gemini in Forms to:
Generate a form based on a Google Docs file or a Slides presentation from your Drive storage
See AI summaries of responses.
Learn more: Google help page
Editions Availability: Education Plus and the Teaching and Learning add-on

📊 Gemini in Sheets

Use Gemini in the side panel of Google Sheets to:
Organize and analyze data with AI custom functions
Ask Gemini to answer questions about trends, correlations, and other insights within your data
Learn more: Google help page
Editions Availability: Education Plus and the Teaching and Learning add-on

🎞️ Gemini in Vids

Use Gemini in Google Vids to:
Create polished videos, complete with suggested scenes, a script, stock videos, background music, and more, with just a simple prompt or from your existing Google Slides
Generate more realistic avatars, now powered by Veo 3.1. Generate expressive, natural-looking presenters faster, with smoother lip-syncing and steadier framing.
Create 8-second videos, powered by Veo 3.1. Upload 3 photos with a prompt to create a video with consistent subjects and objects to tell a cohesive story for lesson hooks or projects. Even make vertical layouts for social media.

Google help page

Blog post

Editions Availability: Education Plus and the Teaching and Learning add-on

📧 Gemini in Gmail

Use Gemini in Gmail to:
Quickly draft emails and summarize long threads with Help Me Write, Suggested Replies, and AI Overviews for email threads.
Editions Availability: All editions

💯 SAT Practice in Gemini

Gemini now provides students with full-length, on-demand SAT practice tests free of charge.
To try it out, students can simply tell Gemini, “I want to take a practice SAT test”.
When the student completes the test, they receive immediate feedback highlighting strengths and weaknesses.
For anything a student doesn’t understand, Gemini can explain the correct answer.
The SAT practice tests are grounded in rigorously vetted content from leading education companies, including The Princeton Review, with more tests coming in the future.

Blog post

Editions Availability: All editions

🍎 Google Classroom Updates

Google continues to expand the features of Google Classroom with many new Gemini integrations and other improvements.

🏠 Updated Google Classroom Homepage

The Classroom homepage is transforming into an actionable dashboard with student engagement metrics for school leaders, class insights for educators, and upcoming deadlines for students to help them stay organized.
Express interest in this pilot - Google Form link
Editions Availability: All editions

✨ Google Classroom app in Gemini

Gemini can already connect and communicate with your Google Drive and Gmail.
In the coming weeks you will be able to ask Gemini to access and collaborate with your Google Classroom.
Gemini will use context from your classes to inform its outputs or help complete tasks, like drafting assignments or summarizing student progress.
Editions Availability: All editions

💎 Student Insights for Gems and NotebookLM in Classroom

Currently educators can share custom Google Gems and NotebookLM notebooks with their students through Classroom.
Educators will soon see actionable insights about student use of those Gems and notebooks, providing opportunities for a transparent, reflective approach to AI learning experiences.
Express interest in this pilot - Google Form link
Editions Availability: Education Plus and the Teaching and Learning add-on

💬 Gemini Feedback on Classroom Writing Assignments

I do a lot of professional development on using AI for grading and feedback, so I was super excited to see that soon Gemini will be able to provide suggested feedback on student writing in Classroom.
You will provide the grade level and focus for the feedback.
Then Gemini will draft feedback for the student's writing including areas of strength and areas where improvement is needed.
You can then make edits before sharing the feedback as a private comment with the student.
Editions Availability: Education Plus and the Teaching and Learning add-on

🎙️ Audio and Video Recording in Classroom

Google Classroom is giving educators and students a new built-in option to record their audio, video, and screens. Uses for this will include:
Deliver engaging announcements: Capture student attention right from the class stream. Replace static text updates with personal video messages or audio reminders to keep the class connected and informed.
Bring lessons to life: Engage students and clarify instructions by recording audio, video, or screen captures directly within the assignment workflow.
Personalize feedback: Record audio or video directly in Classroom private comments when sharing feedback. Connect with students authentically and support diverse learning needs through accessible media.
Reimagine assessments: Give students flexible ways to demonstrate understanding and ask for help. With integrated recording tools, learners can submit verbal or visual messages in context to clarify their needs and understanding.
Editions Availability: Education Plus and the Teaching and Learning add-on

🏷️ Tag Classroom Assignments with Standards

Google partnered with 1EdTech and Common Good Learning Tools to bring standards to Classroom.
Educators can tag coursework with relevant learning standards or skills and view new analytics of student performance.
Express interest in this pilot - Google Form link
Editions Availability: All editions

💻 Chromebook Updates

🖥️ Screen Share with Class Tools

Last year Google launched Class tools for real-time Chromebook management and student engagement in the classroom.
Now educators can use the new Class tools display app to mirror content from any teacher or student device to a screen or interactive display at the front of the room.
It’s the perfect way to showcase work, spark discussion, and drive active participation during lessons.
Editions Availability: Education Plus with managed Chromebooks

✍️ Screen Annotations in Class Tools

Another new update for Class tools is the new screen annotation feature.
Educators can instantly mark up content anywhere on their screen to emphasize important details.
With on-screen annotation in Class tools, educators can visually guide students through instructions and help them focus on what’s important.
Editions Availability: Education Plus with managed Chromebooks

📰 Other BETT Announcements

Google shared many other announcements at BETT. See below for resources to explore all of these announcements.

BETT Launch Guide

Here is a detailed list of all features and tools announced at BETT with descriptions, requirements, and availability - PDF link

Google Blog Posts

Here are the posts Google shared for BETT with more details on these features:
Bett 2026: Celebrating the art of teaching and the science of learning - Resource link
Premium Google AI for more educators and students - Resource link
Transform teaching and learning with updates to Gemini and Google Classroom - Resource link
New ChromeOS tools to support classroom collaboration - Resource link
New security and AI detection features for Google Workspace for Education - Resource link
Prep for the SAT with practice tests in Gemini - Resource link - Resource link
Collaborating with Khan Academy to build the best AI tools for learners - Resource link
Meet the winner of the 2025 Google Vids Education Film Festival - Resource link