On June 25, 2026, the Global Google Educator Group (Global GEG) hosted "The Global Exchange: Cross-Border Innovations in AI & Inclusion". Featuring guest speakers Claudia Fisanotti and Mantha Camacho, this virtual session explored how intentional, transatlantic partnerships can dismantle classroom isolation and inject world-class innovation into local schools. The event focused on the real-world impact of breaking down structural silos in education. The full event recording is embedded directly at the bottom of this post for members who wish to watch in real time; this comprehensive recap outlines every major highlight, practical workflow, and strategic insight shared by our international panel.
The central takeaway of the discussion was that cross-border collaboration fundamentally expands how teachers coach and how students view their place in a worldwide community. The dialogue highlighted a core philosophy: technology serves as a pedagogical partner to support human connection, social-emotional learning, and equity. By opening classroom doors globally, educators can turn institutional changes and rapid tech evolutions into collaborative opportunities rather than isolating hurdles.
Transatlantic Partnerships and Inclusive Workflows
The partnership between Claudia Fisanotti, a regional digital curriculum integrator and one of the leaders of GEG Italia, and Mantha Camacho, a veteran high school special education teacher and leader of GEG SPED Texas, serves as a practical blueprint for international cooperation. Fisanotti noted that the collaboration brings immense added value by showing teachers on both sides of the ocean that they face identical classroom challenges.
To ground this relationship in daily practice, Camacho shared her "Baymax" Google Form workflow, named after the Big Hero 6 Disney character, which she uses for non-optional daily emotional pulse checks with her students.
"On a scale of one to 10, how would you rate your day? And so I put that in a Google form and that's the first question. And that's the nonoptional... you do need to let me know on a scale of 1 to 10 how you're feeling," Camacho explained. "It's been so powerful because once those kids build that relationship with you and they build that connection, I get stories on that optional question... Am I going to go crab at him? No. Because I know the context... math can be taught another day. They need rest to take care of their bodies."
Riding the AI Avalanche in the Classroom
Fisanotti expanded on how global partnerships help local teachers stay grounded while navigating a rapid technological evolution. Drawing from her work with international frameworks, such as the UK’s LEO Academy Trust, she emphasized that artificial intelligence should not be avoided.
"AI is an avalanche and we have to take care. We cannot hide from it. We need to ride it and to learn how to achieve our potential thanks to AI too," Fisanotti stated. "We need to teach our students how to use it ethically and in the best way possible because if we just avoid the subject, it's not doing any good for them."
Practically, the panelists discussed using AI toolsets like Gemini Gems and NotebookLM to preserve "teacher voice" and streamline administrative burdens. Camacho shared how she inputs school guidelines and email templates into a custom Gem to filter late-night communications, ensuring her vocabulary remains professional and appropriate when her energy is depleted at the end of the school day.
Overcoming the Concrete Barriers of Time and Language
While global exchanges bring immeasurable joy, the panelists addressed real operational friction points: specifically, language barriers and asymmetric time zones. Camacho recounted a webinar she hosted for GEG Malaysia at 1:00 AM her time, noting that the resulting professional connection far outweighed the temporary inconvenience.
Fisanotti pointed out that language fears frequently prevent teachers from putting themselves out there. However, real-time technology features have completely altered this landscape. She highlighted a recent leader meeting where an American guest successfully interacted with Italian teachers through real-time translated captions in Google Meet, sparking a deep, extended question-and-answer session among educators who previously lacked the confidence to speak.
Practical Takeaways for Primary and Secondary Educators
- Prioritize Student Well-Being Over Rigid Pacing: Put the student's immediate physical and emotional state first. Use a spreadsheet view of quick digital check-ins to monitor student well-being during roll call without eating into instructional time.
- Implement Asynchronous Collaboration Channels: Do not let an 8-to-10-hour time zone gap stall your international ideas. Utilize video messages, text groups, and shared documents to co-create across borders at your own convenience.
- Build AI Filters for Professional Communications: Protect your personal time by creating custom AI text models or prompt spaces seeded with your district's code of conduct. Run late-night parent or staff communications through this template to ensure a neutral, professional tone.
- Push Past Language Friction with Integrated Tools: Encourage students and staff to participate in international networks by relying on live translation platforms. Do not wait to master a language before seeking a global partner school.
What's Next?
- Register for Upcoming Global GEG Events: Check out our upcoming events here and add them to your Google Calendar!
- Join the Global GEG Community: Educators all around the world are encouraged to join the Global Google Educator Group (Global GEG) to connect with an international hub of peers, exchange classroom workflows, and stay informed on the latest trends in Google Workspace for Education.
Shared Event Resources
- Google Earth Education: Review the official Google Earth Education Hub to access "Voyager" stories and local project builders, allowing classrooms to co-author geographic tours for global peers.
- Google Meet Live Captioning & Translation: Access the Google Meet Support Page to find step-by-step instructions on setting up AI-translated live captions for multi-lingual community meetings.
- Make Global Connections Lesson: Download the classroom-ready Google Lesson Blueprint that details how to coordinate location-based learning assignments across international classrooms.
- Google Arts & Culture Collections: Explore curated historical resources and virtual tours designed to build foundational empathy through the Google Arts & Culture Expeditions Portal.
- Panelist Professional Networks: Connect directly with today's featured speakers to exchange inclusive workflows and training ideas:
Related Google AI Educator Series Content
To build upon the strategies shared by Sabina, Mantha, and Claudia, explore these specific, self-paced courses from the Google AI Educator Series developed alongside ISTE+ASCD:
- Save Time on Administrative Tasks: This lesson focuses on structuring customized, single-click AI templates (Gems) to accelerate professional communications. This training expands directly on Mantha Camacho's method of preserving her late-night energy by channeling correspondence through custom rules that uphold institutional guidelines.
- Create a Safe and Protected Learning Environment: Explore frameworks that support social-emotional wellness (SEL) through technology integration. This lesson anchors the panel's conversation around taking the isolation out of digital spaces. It shows how to design digital entry routines—like the non-optional "Baymax" pulse check—to ensure students feel safe, seen, and heard while interacting across distinct regional borders.
- Incorporate AI into Student Learning: This course explores how to guide students to critically assess AI content for biases or inaccuracies. This provides a direct path to replicate Federico's work with the Salisani project, where students analyze generated texts to study literature interactively rather than using rote learning methods.
This content was created by a human and refined by Gemini.
Event Recording
