The Heart of Our Global Webinar Series
The purpose of our webinar series is simple: to empower you to use Google resources practically and meaningfully, no matter where in the world you are teaching. By hearing from global peers, you gain diverse perspectives on navigating technology while keeping human connection at the center of your practice.
To ensure every educator has a voice, our goal is to host two webinars per month tied to the monthly theme. We believe that professional growth should be accessible to everyone, regardless of the language they speak.
If an event is held in a language you aren't familiar with, these summary blog posts are designed specifically for you. They allow you to access the key takeaways and resources in your preferred language using our platform’s automatic translation features. Our goal is to provide a practical "blueprint" from every session so you can focus on what matters most—supporting your students.
Session Highlights: Smart Tech, Safe Choices
Our recent panel featured Mmamotlhabi Francois (EMEA Impact Lead, Google for Education), Gifty Francis (Digital Learning Consultant), and Daniel Bull (Independent Consultant). The discussion moved beyond basic settings to focus on cultivating AI Literacy and maintaining trust in the digital classroom.
1. Cultivating AI Literacy Over Surveillance
The panelists argued that schools must move from simply monitoring student behavior to embedding AI education throughout the curriculum. By teaching students how to use these tools safely and ethically, we prevent bad practices before they start.
2. Privacy and Data Security in the EU
A major focus for our European schools is the privacy implication of AI. Gifty Francis and Daniel Bull clarified that:
- Core Services: Google for Education’s AI tools maintain the same rigorous security standards as Google Workspace, including GDPR compliance.
- No Training on School Data: Crucially, AI models are not trained on your school’s private data or student information.
3. Keeping the Teacher "In the Loop"
While AI can automate tasks like lesson planning and quiz generation, the panel emphasized that this time should be "reinvested" into students. AI is a co-worker, not a replacement; the educator’s expertise is vital to check for "hallucinations" and ensure outputs align with the local curriculum.
4. Modeling Human-First Habits
To ensure students don't retreat into a purely digital world, educators should model "messy" human relationships—including eye contact, physical presence, and healthy disagreement. The experts also suggested "dehumanizing" AI by referring to it as a tool rather than giving it a name.
Attached Google Resources
We have attached several resources to this post to help you implement these strategies immediately:
