On Tuesday, Google took the stage at the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) expo and impressed the audience with its latest accessibility and learning features. These features include an expanded reading mode, the ability to pair with a sign language interpreter in Google Meet, and AI-powered question suggestions in the classroom.
After experimenting with advanced algorithms in popular features like Search, Gmail, and Sheets to deliver better performance and enhanced user experience, Google is now introducing AI-powered questions to assignments based on YouTube videos. Teachers have the option to customize the AI-powered suggestions or add their own questions. The tech giant is currently accepting applications to test this feature in English, with support for Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, and Malay.
Google’s Reading Mode is a game-changer. It allows users to concentrate on the text by stripping away distractions like images and videos from the page. The feature, once limited to ChromeOS users, will soon be available to all Chrome browser users.
In addition, Chromebook users can now convert images to text for PDFs using Chrome browsers, making it accessible for screen reader users. However, this feature may not allow users to copy the text from these PDFs.
Image | Google
Google Meet has recently introduced many new features that have made it even more beneficial for educators. With the “Teaching and Learning Upgrade” or “Education Plus” subscription, teachers can utilize advanced features such as polls and Q&A sessions during live streaming, thus enhancing engagement and interactivity during classroom sessions.
The search engine company offers a free Workspace for Education, with the option to upgrade to the Standard or Plus tier at a low cost per student per year. The upgraded tiers provide advanced security, device management, learning tools, and analytics.
