Just One Click to Polish Your Presentations in Google Slides

Google has introduced two AI-driven features to Google Slides: Beautify this slide and Help me visualize. These tools allow you to transform rough text into structured layouts and generate custom imagery directly within your presentation.

Beautify this Slide:

The Beautify this slide feature automatically converts slide content into a formatted layout with legible text that matches your deck's theme.

• Open a slide containing your rough ideas or text.
• Click the Beautify this slide icon (located in the top toolbar or sidebar).
• Review the generated layout.
• Select Insert as new slide to add the polished version to your deck.

Help me Visualize:

The Help me visualize tool uses text descriptions to generate images, infographics or even an entire slide.

• Navigate to Insert > Image > Help me visualize
• Choose between Slide, Image, or Infographic
• Type a description of the image you need in the text box.
• Optional: For the image, you can select a specific artistic style or aspect ratio from the dropdown menus.
• Click Create
• Click on the generated image to add it to your slide.

Tip

If the first generated image doesn't quite fit what you are looking for, try adding additional keywords to your prompt. 

In the example below,  I generated an infographic on how to create a great slide presentation. I then refined my prompt for the next version by specifying that I wanted the slide more colorful and the content tailored for 7th graders.

Note: Always review AI generated images closely to be sure they are correct and appropriate for your specific context.

Record Audio, Video, and Screencasts Directly in Google Classroom

Google Classroom now includes built-in tools to record audio, video, and screencasts directly within the platform. This allows teachers and students to record and post multimodal content in announcements, assignments, and private comments without using external apps.

For Teachers:

This update can streamline how you provide feedback and instructions. By integrating recording tools directly into your workflow, you can capture your screen or voice instantly, which helps with clarity in technical subjects, language fluency feedback, and accessibility for students who struggle with written text.

• You can find the new recording tools anywhere you typically create content (Announcements, Assignments, Materials, or Private Comments).
• Navigate to the Stream or Classwork tab and click the area where you want to post.
• Look for the new Record button in the toolbar.
  
  
  
  
  
• Select your recording type: Audio, Video, or Screencast (to share your screen).
• Capture your content and click Finish. The recording will automatically attach to your post or comment.
• Click Post or Send to share it with your students.

For Students:

Students can also use these tools to record their work or respond to your posts. (If students are unable to post, check your posting permissions for that class).

• Inside an assignment, students click + Add or create under the Your work panel.
• Select Record audio, Record video, or Record screen from the dropdown menu. 
  
  

• Once the recording is finished, it is automatically saved as an attachment to their assignment.
• Students click Turn in to submit the recording to you.

Please Note: Recordings in Google Classroom are limited to 5 minutes. For recordings up to 10 minutes, teachers and students can use Google Vids.

Tip

Teachers can use the Screencast option within Private Comments to record a quick "walk-through" of a student’s specific paper. It allows you to point to exact sentences or formulas while explaining your feedback verbally, saving you the time of typing out long explanations.

Text Leveling and More with Brisk

The Brisk Teaching Chrome extension integrates AI tools directly into your Chrome Browser, Google Docs, Slides, Classroom, and PDFs. It allows you to adjust reading levels, provide student feedback, quickly check revision history, and more without leaving your browser tab. And we have a student data privacy agreement for it!

How to Get Started

• Install the Extension: Go to the Chrome Web Store, search for Brisk Teaching, and click Add to Chrome.
• For easy access, click the Extensions icon (the puzzle piece) in your browser toolbar and click the Pin icon next to Brisk.
• Navigate to any website with readable content (like a news article), Google Doc, Slide, or PDF. You will see the Brisk icon in the bottom right corner of your screen. 
  
• Click the Brisk icon and choose an action from the menu, such as Create, Give Feedback, or Change Level.

In the example below, I changed the reading level of a website article using the Brisk extension.

Tip

Use the Inspect Writing feature within a Google Doc to view a replay of a student's revision history. This provides a time-lapse of their writing process and helps verify the authenticity of their work. 

Set It and Forget It: Auto-Close Your Google Forms

The Update 

You no longer have to remember to manually "turn off" a Google Form. You can now schedule a specific date and time for your form to close or set a maximum number of responses (like for a field trip sign-up or a limited workshop).

The Why

This is a huge win for teacher efficiency. It prevents students or parents from submitting late work or overfilling an event after your deadline has passed, saving you the headache of managing "extra" data.

How to Get Started

• Open your form and click the Published button at the top right.
• Under the Accepting responses section, click Set close date or response limit.
  
  
  
  
  
• To close by date: Select On a date, pick your deadline, and click OK.
• To close by volume: Select After a number of responses and enter your limit.
• Click Edit under the message section to customize what people see when the form closes (e.g., "Sorry, the workshop is full!"), then hit Save.