Thursday 17th

By Nicole - September 18, 2025

Happy Thursday. Thank you for another great week. We hope you have a relaxing weekend and managed to get some rest.

TECHY Thursdays

Supercharge Inquiry with Google's Guided Learning

Google's Guided Learning is an AI-powered feature, within Gemini, that acts as a "thought partner" for your students. Instead of giving direct answers, it asks probing questions to help students develop their critical thinking skills and construct their own understanding of a topic. In other words it is the ChatGPT (Large Language Model) that we want them to use.

How to Implement It in Your Classroom:

Frame the Inquiry in Google Classroom: Before students use the tool, you set the stage. Create an assignment with a clear, open-ended prompt or question you want them to investigate. This sets the purpose for their AI interaction.
Share the direct Link: Provide the single, direct link to the Guided Learning feature in your assignment description or as a material. You can tell students, "Use our 'AI Thought Partner' to explore this topic." This same link can be used for any subject or assignment.
Instruct Students on the Process: Guide your students to:

Click the link to open the Guided Learning tool.
Enter the specific prompt from your Google Classroom assignment.
Engage in the conversation with the AI to deepen their understanding before starting their work.

Classroom Example: Science Class

Assignment in Google Classroom: "Your task is to explain the concept of biodiversity and argue why it is important for a healthy ecosystem.Before writing your explanation, use the Guided Learning link to explore the complexities of this topic."
Student Action: A student clicks the link, which opens the tool. They type in the prompt, "Why is biodiversity important for a healthy ecosystem?"
AI Interaction: Instead of a list, the AI might ask, "That's a big question! To start, what do you think might happen to a food web if one species of insect disappears?" or "Can you think of a way biodiversity might directly benefit humans, for example, in medicine?"

Message from Ms Asiya

General classroom observations will begin 1st October. If you have any student concerns already, please share these names with me before scheduled observations. I will send observation invites, please let me know if it clashes with specialist lessons.

Checking resources

Please make sure you are following the Ministry guidelines when sending or positing resources home. If you are unsure about anything please ask Ms Rola who will be able to guide you.

Documenting student behavior

It is important to log iSAMS awards, particularly -ve ones. If this does not happen, we are in a challenging position when it comes to implementing our behavior protocols and meeting with parents who have no history of behavior concerns.

Professional Goals

Keep thinking of your personal professional goals for the year. We will be having a PD on the 25th for goals for the year.

Cover

Please make sure you message Salma before 6am if you are going to be off for a day. The cover needs to be shared with the person covering your class, Salma and your team leader.

Helpful links

Important dates