- Google added several new features to ChromeOS
- These include classroom tools, workspace and classroom.
- Most are aimed at both students and educators
Google announced several new features for top Chromebooks, Google Workspace, and Google Classroom in a series of official blog posts.
First, there are classroom tools: real-time features that teachers can use with their students, like sending and pinning educational content to students’ screens, or activating subtitles. titles and live translations.
Google Classroom has several new features, including the ability to generate vocabulary lists through Gemini in Classroom, allowing teachers to create personalized word lists with definitions, parts of speech, and examples suitable for different grade levels.
FigJam by Figma allows educators to assign group whiteboards for group work, discussions, and brainstorming ideas. Teachers can also create separate groups of students based on their needs and assign grades on a large scale, as well as keep students’ guardians informed with weekly newsletters and share links to Classroom pages to keep them up to date with homework.
Picture 1 of 4
Another tool, somewhat related to education but also applicable on a broader scale, is Face Control on Chromebooks, which is finally available. First revealed in 2023, it is an incredibly useful accessibility tool that allows users to control their cursor with head movements and perform actions with facial gestures. It is now rolling out with the ChromeOS M132 update.
There will also be 20 new Chromebook and Chromebook Plus devices launching in 2025 for students and teachers. These include the Acer Chromebook Spin 511 and Lenovo Chromebook Duet EDU G2, which will come with styluses and are designed for a younger audience, while the Asus CR1204CTA and HP Fortis Chromebook G1i 14 are aimed at students older. There’s also the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 2-in-1 for teachers.
Google continues its winning streak with ChromeOS
In the past, I’ve written about how Google has been surprisingly successful in its initiative to create useful AI tools intended to help users and improve lives, rather than simply (and poorly) performing tasks better suited to humans. In this quest, Google has also developed useful tools in other underrepresented markets, such as education. Chromebooks are especially useful for students and teachers because their simple user interface, affordability, and portability are ideal for those who need a laptop to carry around and use for eight or more hours a day.
Now, with improvements to classroom tools, Google Classroom, Face Control on Chromebooks, and a host of models designed specifically for education, Chromebooks and ChromeOS as a whole have become even more valuable, delivering features that other laptops simply don’t have.
Hopefully the tech giant will continue to innovate in this regard, as it’s one of the best ways to set ChromeOS and Chromebooks apart from the competition.
