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 October 2026.
This page has been divided into key areas including Microsoft, Google, Glow Blogs, National Apps and AI in Glow Data Privacy to hopefully make it easier to find useful information.
You will be able to find news items regarding:
Microsoft
Using Join Codes for Teams?
In Microsoft Teams, when using a team code to add members to a private team, approval of join requests is now required. Team owners must approve each request for users to be added. Public teams remain unchanged, allowing immediate access with codes. Pending requests should be checked if users cannot see the team.
Updated Teams Meeting Experience
Starting mid-October 2026, Microsoft Teams will feature a revamped, simpler toolbar for meetings. Key changes include central placement of key buttons, a separate Leave button to prevent accidental exits, and a reorganised “More” menu for less frequent functions. Users can personalise their toolbar layout, while a new share panel will enhance content sharing.
Important Changes to Sharing in Glow M365
There are some important changes to sharing from OneDrive and SharePoint in Glow M365. New external sharing links will expire after 360 days, with content owners receiving reminders. The default permission will also change to “View” for new sharing links, however content owners can still give “Edit” access when collaboration is required.
National Webinars: Google for Education
AI is rapidly evolving, offering educators tools to enhance lesson planning and student engagement. Two upcoming webinars focus on the latest features of Gemini and Gemini Notebook for educators using Google Workspace via Glow. These sessions aim to showcase practical applications that simplify teaching workflows and promote responsible AI use.
Gemini Notebook: New Interactive Reports
Gemini Notebook turns traditional learning materials into interactive, source-based reports, ensuring content accuracy by relying solely on teacher-provided materials. Users can create outputs, including new Interactive Reports, which allow for personalisation and customisation of interactive elements such as flashcards and mind maps tied directly to verified course content.
Generate Copies of Gemini Notebooks
Gemini Notebook Glow now allows users with copy permissions to duplicate entire notebooks along with their associated sources and studio items. This feature facilitates customisation of existing work, enabling users, such as teachers, to enhance templates for specific projects. Notably, copied notebooks do not sync with the originals.
Add Gemini Notebook as a source in the Gemini Education app
Google Workspace Glow users can now integrate Gemini Notebook into the Gemini Education app, enhancing response relevance based on notebook content. Users can add notebooks easily via the chat box and utilise them for content creation, research, and more, leveraging Gemini’s advanced features for deeper learning experiences.
Generate presentations in the Gemini app
Gemini app now allows users to create slide presentations effortlessly through its Canvas feature. Users can input a text prompt or upload a source, and Gemini generates themed slides with images. Presentations can be exported to Google Slides for further collaboration. A knowledge hub article offers additional guidance and examples.
Gemini Music: Latest Updates
The Gemini app enhances musical creativity by transforming prompts and images into personalised soundtracks. Teachers can create clips up to three minutes, customise various musical aspects, and export tracks as MP3 or MP4 files with cover art and subtitles, making it ideal for curriculum warm-ups, composition analysis or as background and focus audio.
Gemini: Transition from Gems to Skills
Gems are being replaced by Skills in Gemini Education, enhancing instruction customisation for Google Workspace users. Skills are reusable instructions, offering added functionality for repetitive tasks, like drafting content. This transition promises a seamless experience, allowing users to integrate tone and formatting directly while facilitating skill development through conversation.
Glow Blogs
Theme Retirement Update: Phase 2 – Removal from Theme Selection
Phase 2 of the retirement process for Yoko, Agama Pro, and Make themes has begun. New installations are prohibited, but existing sites remain unaffected. Users are encouraged to plan transitions to alternative themes, with recommendations provided. Full retirement will occur later, and ample support will be available before changes are implemented.
Glow Blogs: Fixes and Updates
Managing Site Privacy and Media Files in Glow Blogs
When changing privacy settings on Glow Blogs with extensive media, all media files require relocation, which can be time-consuming. To ensure smooth transfers, delete unnecessary media, wait for transfers to complete, and monitor progress. For hiding specific content, use draft status, pending review, or password protection instead of site-wide privacy changes.
AI Data Privacy within Glow
Adobe Express for Education AI Data Privacy
As AI becomes integral in classrooms, educators must balance fostering creativity with data privacy. Adobe Express for Education meets this challenge through Firefly, which ensures student data is not used for model training. The platform provides tight administrative controls, moderation filters, and transparent content credentials to promote a secure learning environment.
Gemini Education Data Privacy
Gemini Education serves as a secure digital vault for schools, distinguishing it from public AI versions. It emphasises robust privacy with features like no data training, no human review, and local data retention. Enhanced administrator controls and safety measures for younger users further ensure a secure educational environment, adhering to high security standards.
Canva Education AI Data Privacy
Canva is enhancing education through generative AI tools like Text to Image and Magic Write™, providing students creative platforms with necessary digital safety. Features include privacy controls, data ownership, and automated content moderation. Canva prioritises bias reduction and maintains transparency in data practices, ensuring a secure learning environment for all users.
Apps and Services
National Applications
National Applications are apps that have been accepted by Education Scotland as having national benefit. These apps are 100% free to use and align to the 3-18 curriculum.
Canva Education – Live Webinar Opportunities
Canva Education is a free platform tailored for educators and learners, providing tools for creating engaging visual content. It features templates and collaboration options that enhance digital literacy. Upcoming webinars will help educators integrate Canva into their classrooms, focusing on creativity, differentiated learning, and efficient design practices.
Canva Education Webinar Recordings
Catch up on the latest Canva Education National Webinar recordings and presentations shared during the session. Canva Education features classroom-friendly templates and collaboration options for enhancing lessons and promoting creativity. National webinars support with sharing latest updates and increasing teacher confidence.
Share your Glow Story
Glow encourages practitioners to share successful stories from classrooms, staff collaborations, or parental engagements using various tools within the Glow platform. Submissions should be approved by the local authority Glow Key Contact and must not include sensitive information. Once submitted, stories will undergo a review and approval process.
Prompting Progress: How Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the classroom
The “Prompting Progress” initiative highlights the transformative role of AI tools like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace in Scottish education. These tools assist educators in personalizing learning, automating administrative tasks, and enabling students to create generative media for storytelling, thereby enhancing creativity and streamlining classroom workflows.
Share your feedback
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