Last month, the Classroom team trialed a feature offering AI-generated questions for select science-themed YouTube videos, slashing the time needed to develop interactive video exercises. Earlier in the year, they unveiled student clusters, enabling educators to curate specialized content for groups of students within their classes.

“Initially, our focus was on ‘more teaching, less tech-ing,’ a sentiment that still holds true but in a different context,” reflects Brit Mennuti, Product Manager for Classroom Groups. “Initially, it revolved around streamlining administrative duties to empower teachers to focus on tasks that demand human touch, such as fostering relationships with students and providing support when needed. With the advent of generative AI, we’re not only saving time for educators but also magnifying the impact they can make.”

The Classroom crew continues to explore how AI can enhance educational outcomes. They have recently called upon schools to participate in testing new functionalities guided by LearnLM, a suite of models refined for educational purposes, derived from Gemini, and rooted in educational research.

“We are currently experiencing another educational revolution,” reflects Jennifer. “These AI functionalities have me eager to witness how teachers and students will stretch the limits of what can be achieved with Classroom, reminiscent of those students in Brooklyn who revolutionized learning in Classroom utilizing their mobile devices a decade ago.”

Recently, Classroom has undergone further enhancements incorporating AI-driven features for more individualized learning and effective teaching. In 2022, the team introduced practice modules, a tool empowering instructors to devise interactive assignments using existing content or from the ground up, providing instant guidance and recommended resources as students work on their tasks. A teacher testing the feature remarked, “The students dubbed it ‘Google magic’ due to the hints, pop-ups, and immediate feedback they received.”