Welcome Back!
To help with accessing the latest Glow guidance and news, we have pulled together this Back to School with Glow news page for January 2025.
This page has been divided into key areas including Microsoft, Google, Blogs, National Apps and Glow to hopefully make it easier to find useful information.
You will be able to find news items regarding:
Microsoft
Teach Module in Glow M365
Find out more about the Teach Module in Glow M365. Use the AI powered teaching tools to help support planning, assessment and the creation of engaging content using Copilot.
Microsoft Whiteboard Storage Migration
Microsoft is moving all Whiteboard file storage to OneDrive to provide improved security and better revision history. Any older Whiteboard files created before 2022 are still stored in Azure, and user action is required to migrate them.
New Copilot Quiz – Teach Module or Teams
New Quiz creation tools. You can now use AI to create and improve quizzes directly from the Teach Module or within Assignments in Teams. Copilot helps you draft questions, refine assessments, and suggest enhancements.
NotebookLM: Infographics and Presentations
NotebookLM has enhanced its “Studio” capabilities by adding visual generation features for Slides and Infographics, complementing existing audio overviews. These new tools enable users to create structured presentations and high-impact visual summaries from complex documents, improving productivity and learner engagement, especially for visual learners and study aids.
Generate presentations in the Gemini app
Google has introduced a new feature in the Gemini app that allows users to create slide presentations easily. By providing a text prompt or uploading a source, Gemini generates slides with themes and images, which can then be exported to Google Slides for further editing and collaboration.
NotebookLM Nano Banana Upgrade
Nano Banana in NotebookLM enhances video overviews with customisable visual styles, including Watercolour and Anime. Users can choose between Explainer and Brief formats, select from over 50 languages, and provide specific focus areas. These options aim to improve understanding and retention of content from uploaded documents.
Google Chat Updates
Google Chat has introduced a redesigned integrations menu for easier access to apps and actions, allowing users to initiate commands with fewer clicks. Additionally, users can now send expressive stickers in conversations. Inline threading for direct messages is also being rolled out, enhancing message organization based on user feedback.
Google Meet Updates
Google Meet now includes a meeting timer feature that can be managed by hosts or participants to enhance focus and productivity. Additionally, live captions have been expanded to support Cantonese, enabling real-time text display during meetings, thereby facilitating better comprehension and participation for Cantonese speakers.
Google Keep reminders now saved to Tasks
Google is enhancing its service by automatically saving Keep reminders to Google Tasks, allowing users to manage their to-dos seamlessly across Workspace products like Calendar, Chat, Docs, and Gemini. This integration ensures that all reminders are up-to-date and easily accessible within the Google ecosystem.
Gemini for Education Webinar Series
Glow Webinars from Google for Education
Google for Education will host webinars focused on AI tools available in Google via Glow. These sessions will cover content creation, idea generation, and personalised learning, aimed at enhancing efficiency. Upcoming webinars include Glow Gemini for Beginners on February 23, Glow Gemini Advanced Usage on March 2, and Glow NotebookLM for Educators on March 9.
Glow Blogs
Glow Blogs Plugin Spotlight: Syndication
The Syndication Plugin on Glow Blogs enables users to aggregate posts from various blogs, facilitating the creation of centralised hubs for classes, departments, or school communities. By adding RSS feeds, users can efficiently display content, reduce duplication, and showcase multiple voices in one cohesive space. Ideal for educational settings.
How To: Podcasting on Glow Blogs
Glow Blogs simplifies podcasting and multimedia blogging, enhancing digital literacy and communication skills for all ages. Users can create and publish podcasts without extra software, using basic recording tools. The platform fosters collaboration and creativity while providing a secure environment for learners to showcase their content and reach a real audience.
Tell Us How You’re Using Glow Blogs in Learning & Teaching
Glow Blogs are utilised in various educational contexts across Scotland, encouraging collaboration among teachers, pupils, and school leaders. The initiative seeks real-world examples to create practical use cases, which would inspire others and celebrate effective learning practices. Contributions from any user are welcome to amplify learners’ voices and enhance Glow Connect resources.
Glow
Glow and Education Scotland Service Status page
The Service Status page informs users about issues affecting Glow Services and Education Scotland websites. Staying updated can save time by identifying service problems quickly. Users can access the page via a provided link or through Glow Connect. Subscribing allows updates to be sent directly to inboxes for convenience.
Saltire Awards
The Saltire Awards honor young volunteers aged 11-25 in Scotland for their dedication and accomplishments. Participants receive nationally recognised certificates for various volunteering hours, from one-off projects to significant milestones. Supported by the Scottish Government, the awards promote personal development and enhance future opportunities through meaningful volunteering experiences.
Setting a Glow recovery email address
Adobe
Adobe Express add-on for Google Drive
Adobe Express for Education offers a Google Drive add-in, enabling users to save files directly from the app. A short video explains its functionality. To request this add-in for a local authority, a Glow Key Contact needs to complete a Glow App Request form.
Adobe Express in Glow: Empowering every learner
South Lanarkshire Council is enhancing digital learning by integrating Adobe Express into schools. Their recent case study highlights innovative efforts to support educators and foster creativity among students, showcasing the positive impact of this initiative on learning and teaching within the community.
Design eSports Identity with Adobe Express for Education
Adobe Express for Education hosts an interactive session for teachers to integrate creativity and esports in classrooms. Participants will gain skills to help students design logos for esports teams using accessible, inclusive tools. Competitions in journalism and marketing also invite students to create articles and logos using Adobe Express.
Internet Safety
Safer Internet Day 2026
Safer Internet Day is scheduled for February 10, 2026, focusing on the theme ‘Smart tech, safe choices – Exploring the safe and responsible use of AI’. The event will educate children on safe AI usage and provide resources for parents and educators to discuss ethical considerations and best practices for technology use.
Professional Learning Community Spotlight
Check out our news post about the Health and Wellbeing Professional Learning Community within Glow. The site contains a wealth of resources and information, all easy to access within this one dedicated site.
Health and Wellbeing Professional Learning Community
The National Health and Wellbeing Professional Learning Community Hub by Education Scotland serves as a virtual platform for practitioners. It offers key documents, resources, and case studies for various organisers, along with learning materials, event details, and information on personal achievement opportunities for children and young people.
Share your feedback
We’re looking to chat with educators and learners about their experience using Glow. Your feedback is important and helps us understand what’s working well and what we can improve.
Taking part is easy! You’ll have an individual or group discussion with our team at a time that suits your schedule. If you’re interested, please fill out this form, and we’ll get in touch with the details.
You can also share feedback on this Back to School with Glow update by getting in touch with glow.engagement@educationscotland.gov.scot
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