Google Classroom has launched a redesigned homepage globally, creating a centralised hub for teachers and learners. The new dashboard for teachers provides insights and tracks student interactions, while learners benefit from an ‘Enrolled’ view to manage upcoming deadlines. This update aims to simplify navigation and enhance user experience.
Google Calendar now offers enhanced protection against spam and unwanted invitations by allowing users to block specific individuals. Once blocked, any current events from that user are removed, and future invitations are blocked across all supported Google products. This feature streamlines calendar management and improves user experience.
The Canva Learning Lab in Scotland is launching a new opt-in service for Canva Education, designed to enhance collaboration and creativity among teachers and students. Events are scheduled in Aberdeen on October 9, 2026, and Edinburgh on October 30, 2026, both from 9 am to 3 pm, to provide further information.
Glow Blogs is transitioning from the Classic Editor to the Block Editor for new blogs to enhance security and align with WordPress functionality. The new default theme will be Twenty Twenty-Five, designed for improved performance. Existing blogs remain unaffected, and resources for using the Block Editor will be expanded soon.
The "Back to School with Glow" page for August 2026 consolidates essential updates on Glow, organised into categories like Microsoft, Google, and Apps. It provides guidance on housekeeping, security, and new tools, along with platforms for sharing experiences. Feedback is encouraged via email for continuous improvement.
Live lessons for ages 7-13 are 75 minutes long, with a 40-minute natural break and video recordings available for later use. Various sessions include topics for different occasions, while new Adobe Creative educator training is also offered. Exciting lesson topics are provided in an accompanying eBook for the Scottish classroom.
Microsoft is retiring Exchange Web Services (EWS), a legacy technology for accessing Glow email and calendar data, between October 2026 and April 2027. This change affects several email apps. Users should update their apps or consider switching to Outlook for continued access.
Copilot Notebooks, available for Glow staff, centralise teaching resources using AI to enhance organisation and planning. Users can store various materials, while the AI can summarise documents, create outlines, and suggest questions based on the notebook's content.
Google has rebranded NotebookLM as Gemini Notebook, enhancing its functionality within the Google ecosystem. This AI-powered tool aids in research and learning, allowing users to upload materials for summarisation and interactive engagement. It supports diverse outputs like podcasts and infographics, facilitating efficient study processes and content creation.
