At some point, many students have said they want to be a YouTuber or content creator. As educators, we can use that interest to teach valuable skills like planning, editing, and communicating ideas clearly. With Google Vids, we now have an easy, school-friendly way to bring video creation into our classrooms.
Google Vids is a new tool in Google Workspace that makes it simple to create short videos using templates, voiceovers, and stock media. It is still in early stages. Videos are capped at about 10 minutes, editing is desktop only, and some features may not be available depending on your version of Google Workspace for Education. But even with those limits, it is one of the most accessible ways to get teachers (and students) started with video creation.
Here are a few real-world classroom ideas that can make Google Vids immediately useful:
- Weekly Recaps – Instead of writing a classroom newsletter, create a short weekly video recap. Include photos of projects from the week, student quotes, and a quick voiceover. It is faster than formatting a doc, and families are more likely to watch.
- Science Lab Walkthroughs – After a hands-on lab, ask students to explain their process and results in a short video. They can use photos they took during the experiment and narrate what they did and why it matters.
- Book Trailers – Instead of traditional book reports, have students create a video preview of a book they read. They can script a short hook, include key themes, and add stock video or images to support their summary.
- Instructional Videos – Teachers can quickly create mini lessons or how-to videos. For example, show how to set up a Google Doc with MLA formatting. This could be a way to make a flipped classroom easily!
- Many Missouri teachers I have met with also said they will be using Google Vids with their students to create podcasts and news broadcasting videos.
Before you get started, a few quick disclaimers:
- Google Vids may not be turned on yet in your district. Check with your tech team.
- Because Google Vids includes generative AI features, it is important to consider student data privacy. Ensure use complies with COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) and FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act). Use under teacher accounts, avoid inputting sensitive student information, and follow all district guidelines regarding AI tools in the classroom.
- Videos are saved in Google Drive and can be shared just like Docs or Slides.
- Always follow your district’s media release policies when publishing videos that include student voices or images.
Google Vids is a simple way to start building digital storytelling into your classroom. Start small with one short video a month and build from there. Chances are, your students are more than ready.
Go to vids.new to try it out!