The Chromebook Classroom Podcast

John R. Sowash
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The Chromebook Classroom Podcast

A podcast focused on sharing how Chromebooks are impacting education around the world. Hosted by author and trainer John Sowash who interviews a variety of guests who share their Chromebook Classroom experience.

  1. APR 14

    Am I out of a job as a podcast host? (April 2025 EDU Updates)

    As part of my daily routine, I scan dozens of blogs, visit a handful of Facebook groups, and skim through Twitter. The goal: find the most helpful resources, tools, and articles that I can share with my teacher friends (that’s you!). Here are my favorite links for April 2025 Custom Reading Content for Read Along - Teachers in EDU Plus domains can now upload custom content to Read Along. This means you can provide students with reading support for your own stories, articles, and assignments. Google Vids Education Film Festival - teachers can submit their Google Vid creation to be featured in a Google For Education blog post. Submission deadline is May 15, 2025. Google Vids is available for EDU Plus and Teaching&Learning domains.  New sidebar menu for Google Slides - this handy menu provides quick access to templates, building blocks, and other features, based on your Google license.  Clone yourself in minutes - my latest YouTube video discusses three ways to use video in your classroom. It’s not as hard as you might think! 5 end of year project ideas - I know it's hard to believe, but the end of the school year is not far away. Take some time to plan an end-of-year project to help students reflect on their learning Audio Overview for Gemini (and docs!) - This popular feature first appeared in NotebookLM, but is now available in Gemini as well. It is especially useful when using the “deep research” model. Audio overviews for Google Docs is coming soon.  Canvas for Gemini - When working on longer, complex writing projects, “Canvas” makes it easier to use Gemini as a co-writer. This is a great tool to use when developing lesson plans or assignments.  5 advanced Gemini features - Google has added a LOT of impressive features to Gemini. If you aren’t using these, you are missing out!  A Classroom Teacher’s take on AI - Blake Harvard, HS social studies teacher from Madison Alabama, shares his honest thoughts on the incursion of AI in education.   uBlock Origin Lite - you may have noticed that some of your Chrome extensions are no longer available including some popular ad-blockers. uBlock Lite is an alternative that will work, although not quite as well as the original.  ----------------------------- Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review! You can connect with me, John Sowash, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show!

    25 min

  2. 12/12/2024

    10 updates and edTech trends from 2024

    This month, we're taking a look back at some of the big updates, developments, and edTech trends from 2024. We'll also peer into the crystal ball to consider what might be on the horizon for 2025. Episode Sponsor: Logitech for Education  Logitech Education is your partner in innovation for the classroom. Logitech designs high quality hardware including headsets, microphones and cameras that are used in classrooms around the world. You can view these best in class products including the Zone learn wired headset by visiting logitech.com/education.  Tend 1: classroom specific AI tools for teachers Trend 2: Improvements in AI image generation Trend 3: Google Gemini expands and improves Trend 4: NotebookLM blows us away!  Trend 5: AI detection debate Trend 6: Chromebook PLUS devices for teachers Trend 7: Premium gets better Trend 8: Google Drive updates Trend 9: Google Classroom Updates Trend 10: Goodbye Jamboard, Hello Vids  Was education improved in 2024?  Final thoughts and resources Show notes for this episode: https://www.chrmbook.com/s9e5/ ----------------------------- Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review! You can connect with me, John Sowash, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show!

    44 min

  3. 11/22/2024

    New Google Slides Templates, AI Essays + 8 more November updates!

    Happy Thanksgiving friends! I'm grateful that you have chosen to journey through the world of edTech with me! As a small thank you, I am offering a special sale! Anyone who registers for my winter Google Certification Academy between now and December 15 will get free access to my Wednesday Webinar program ($99 value). Click here to register! Episode Sponsor: Logitech for Education Logitech Education is your partner in innovation for the classroom. Logitech designs high quality hardware including headsets, microphones and cameras that are used in classrooms around the world. You can view these best in class products including the Zone learn wired headset by visiting logitech.com/education. Here are my favorite updates for November 2024: New templates for Google Slides Essay writing tips from OpenAI New buildikng block templates for Docs Google Vids for EDU Plus Gemini for iPhone Scholar & Arts & Culture celebrate milestones Machine learning crash course How to organize a complex document Figjam gratefulness wall Thankfulness turkey ----------------------------- Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review! You can connect with me, John Sowash, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show!

    25 min

  4. 10/23/2024

    🎃 October updates: New Gemini features, AI lawsuits and more!

    Happy fall, friends! Sip on some cider or your favorite pumpkin flavored drink while we review Google updates, classroom ideas, and news stories for the month of October. 🍁🎃 ***Episode Sponsor: @vizor-cloud for Chromebooks*** Track your devices, repairs, loaners, and more with VIZOR's best-in-class asset management system. It's not too late to get started: http://vizor.cloud/cbc All of the resources mentioned in this episode are available here: https://www.chrmbook.com/s9e3/ Episode Topics: 0:00 Intro 2:00 Gemini for Teens  3:28 Star rating for Google Forms  4:55 Tabs for Google Docs  6:10 Cover image for Google Docs  8:00 Gemini for Google Classroom 11:26 Parents sue school over school discipline over AI usage  15:00 Pumpkin carving with Google Slides 17:10 The museum of frights featuring  @googleartsculture  18:30 Halloween Choice board  19:30 Figurative language + AI images ----------------------------- Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review! You can connect with me, John Sowash, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show!

    27 min

  5. 09/19/2024

    Your September Google Updates: AI updates, Classroom Groups, cool websites and more!

    Every month I try to summarize a few important updates and share some new tools and resources you can use in your classroom. Let's see what's happening for the month of September! ***Episode Sponsor: VIZOR for Chromebooks*** Track your devices, repairs, loaners, and more with VIZOR's best-in-class asset management system. It's not too late to get started: http://vizor.cloud/cbc All of the resources mentioned in this episode are available here: https://www.chrmbook.com/s9e2/ Table of Contents: 0:00 Intro  2:15 Manage your Chromebooks with VIZOR 4:15 Data protections for Google Gemini 7:00 AI training for teachers & students 8:40 Enhance your Gemini experience with Gems 13:17 NotbookLM adds audio summaries 19:50 Google Docs has tabs  25:13 Google Classroom supports student groups 28:40 First impressions of Google Vids 33:30 Jamboard is going away 35:50 GenType (via Jeremy Badiner) 38:40 Gear Sketch (via Brad Dale) Additional links and resources: Blog post with links to all of the above updates: https://www.chrmbook.com/s9e2/ Get the EDU update delivered to your inbox each month: chrm.tech/update  ----------------------------- Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review! You can connect with me, John Sowash, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show!

    43 min

  6. 08/12/2024

    Back to school survival kit (15 resources for teachers and administrators)

    The beginning of a new school year is both exciting and challenging. There is a lot to look forward to and a lot to get ready for! In my 17 years working in education, I’ve learned some things and created some classroom templates that help me get the year started. Today I’m sharing those resources with you. 👉 If you are feeling overwhelmed, I hope these classroom templates will bring you some peace and confidence. 👉 If you are excited about the possibilities of a new school year, I hope these classroom templates will inspire you with some new ideas. Google classroom checklist for teachers Student skills checklist Classroom resource template Chrome extensions for students Chrome extensions for teachers Google Classroom requirements Student Chromebook agreement AI and plagiarism policy Google Classroom checklist for teachers Classroom resource template Free time activity template Parent contact log Peer editing practice Google Classroom quiz Selfie card lesson All of the resources mentioned in this video are available here: https://www.chrmbook.com/back-to-school-survival-kit-13-classroom-templates-every-teacher-needs/  ***Episode Sponsor: VIZOR for Chromebooks*** Track your devices, repairs, loaners, and more with VIZOR's best-in-class asset management system. It's not too late to get started: http://vizor.cloud/cbc  ----------------------------- Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review! You can connect with me, John Sowash, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show!

    34 min

  7. 07/22/2024

    10 Must-Know EDU Updates for July: Google, Figma, book recommendations & more!

    We're at the peak of summer, but the EDU updates don't stop! Here's a rundown on some important updates, changes, and ideas for you to consider as you sit poolside or enjoy friends and family. As part of my daily routine, I scan dozens of blogs, visit a handful of Facebook groups, and skim through Twitter. ***Episode Sponsor: VIZOR for Chromebooks***  Track your devices, repairs, loaners, and more with VIZOR's best-in-class asset management system. Schedule a demo TODAY and beat the summer rush! Use this exclusive link to save 20% off your first year: http://vizor.cloud/cbc Here are my favorite links for July 2024: Ask Gemini about documents and emails Google Vids in Beta Can you spot the AI image?  Wednesday Webinars are back for 2024-25 eSignatures in Google Docs Pre-configure Google Meet from Calendar LaCrOS is dead World Emoji day Great stuff from Figma The Art of Online Writing (book review) ----------------------------- Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review! You can connect with me, John Sowash, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show!

    31 min

  8. 06/24/2024

    NEW features for Google Classroom, Chromebooks, Drive and MORE! (ISTE24 Update)

    June 24 marks the start of the 2024 ISTE conference, and Google is making a big splash by announcing lots of cool updates and new features for the 2024-25 school year! Join me on this episode to explore the latest updates to Google Classroom, Chromebooks, Gemini, Google Drive, and more! ***Episode Sponsor: VIZOR for Chromebooks*** Track your devices, repairs, loaners, and more with VIZOR's best-in-class asset management system. Schedule a demo TODAY and beat the summer rush! Use this exclusive link to save 20% off your first year: http://vizor.cloud/cbc ----------------------------- Thanks for tuning into the Chromebook Classroom Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, I would appreciate your honest rating and review! You can connect with me, John Sowash, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show!

    41 min
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    About

    A podcast focused on sharing how Chromebooks are impacting education around the world. Hosted by author and trainer John Sowash who interviews a variety of guests who share their Chromebook Classroom experience.

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