Google has just announced new education features for Chromebooks at the 2023 BETT conference. These updates will help teachers and students improve their online learning experience through more personalized and interactive tools. Here’s a rundown of the new features:
Reading Mode for Enhanced Learning
One of the most significant updates is the Reading Mode, which will be available on the ChromeOS as well as the Chrome desktop browser. This mode reduces distractions and allows users to focus on primary content. The Reading Mode also offers several font options, including text size, background color, and line spacing/margins, to enable learners with dyslexia and ADHD to read more effectively.
AI-Powered Hand Raise Gesture Detection
Using AI technology, Google Meet now has an AI-powered Hand Raise Gesture Detection feature that activates the Hand Raise icon in Meet when a participant raises their hand physically. With this feature, online meetings are expected to feel more natural and free-flowing.
Co-Presenting Feature for Collaborative Teaching
The Co-Presenting feature allows two or more educators to manage slides together on Meet for online lectures. This feature will promote collaborative teaching and make it easier for teachers to work together.
Interactive Questions for YouTube Videos
Google Classroom now enables educators to add interactive questions to YouTube videos, enabling them to receive insights into how well students understand specific subjects. Educators can also identify where students struggled with the given subject matter.
Screencast Demo Tools
The Screencast recording and transcription tool now supports up to a dozen new languages and introduces demo tools that enable users to animate clicks/taps and highlight keyboard shortcuts on their screens.
Cast Moderator Hardware Expansion
Cast Moderator hardware is set to expand further into Asia and Europe later in the year. With this expansion, presenters have the option of pausing the screen they’re casting and switching between tabs without ending the cast session. Furthermore, Cast Moderator now supports new languages such as Dutch, Spanish, and Japanese.
Practice Sets with AI Assistance
Google Classroom’s latest update includes a Practice Sets feature that enables teachers to turn their existing teaching content into interactive activities via AI. This update provides personalized support and identifies gaps in understanding at both the class and student level quickly.
Reader Mode for Reading Challenges
Google has introduced a Reader Mode for Chrome that helps people with reading challenges, such as dyslexia, read online articles and text posts. This mode reduces clutter and distractions by transferring the site’s primary content into a side panel. Users have the ability to customize their typeface, font size, spacing, and color options, along with background color; therefore, they can adjust according to their preferences.
In conclusion, Google continues to support education by offering innovative features to facilitate learning. BETT 2023 has been an excellent opportunity for Google to showcase its latest updates to educators worldwide. These features will undoubtedly have a significant impact on students’ online learning experience and contribute significantly to making it more personalized and interactive.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
