A NEW Way To Use Brisk!

And save time with "Batch Feedback" 

@LisaBerghoff

Happy 2026! It's a new semester and this time of year tends to be the most challenging for many of us. Back when we used to grade on quarters I can remember always seeing my students' grades slipping during the 3rd quarter. The shiny excitement of the holidays is behind us and we are staring in the face of a long, cold, dark winter. But I have good news! The days are actually getting longer, though it will take a little while for us to notice. Instead of hybernating or complaining about the cold, I vote for leaning in to this time period and using it to find some systems that can make us breath a little easier. Time is such a precious resource and it is important that we preserve it for what we prioritize most. That's why I'm excited to share about a new way to engage with Brisk! Yes, the extension is still there and it is wonderful. Brisk Boost, the student-facing assignment tool is also still very much available to you. Now there is a third way to interact with Boost: It is their website, Brisk Next. 

What is Brisk?

Brisk is an AI powered tool designed as a teaching assistant. It started as a chrome extension, and it still is, with super helpful capabilities. One of the favorites is the inspect writing tool, which plays the revision history of your students' documents like a movie. You can see how long they spent and any copy/paste action that was going on. This is a perfect place to start a conversation about appropriate AI use and academic honesty. Within the extension you can also create lessons, content, slides, change reading levels, languages, and more. It works with all of our Google tools. Check out the video to see a 1 minute overview.

What's New With Brisk?

One of the things that Brisk is famously good for, is giving feedback on writing. Now, you can ask Brisk to give feedback on writing as a batch. You no longer need to go page by page. You do this by going to Brisk Next and clicking on "Batch Feedback". Upload your student work from your Google drive and let it work its magic. This is great for the most tedious parts of grading. Of course you will look everything over and give it your stamp of approval, but it can save you from writing the same statement over and over again. 

What Else Can I Do On The Brisk Next Site?

This is a great launchpad for when you are really starting with a blank slate. Using the extension, you first need a document, slides, or video. Head over to Brisk Next to start from scratch. Also, your library is housed here. Find everything you have created with Brisk all in one place.

Brisk is constantly updating based on our feedback. Sometimes it can be hard to keep up. If you want to see what is new, you can look at the "what's new" page from Brisk Teaching.

Here you can find all of the new capabilities, along with step by step instructions on how to use them.

Want to get started with Brisk but feeling uncertain? Reach out to me. I'm happy to help!

 

Gmail Smart Compose- 

What You Need To Know 

*Image created by NanoBanana Pro

@LisaBerghoff

The automations that exist in our everyday technology keep getting more and more "helpful". One issue that I run into is that what is meant to be helpful may actually go against what it is that I am trying to do. There are assumptions made when smart technologies are created and fortunately for us, they are often correct. However, it is always helpful to be aware of these automations just in case the technology is designed to do something that you really don't want. This is also a good reminder to slow down, pay attention to what you are doing and look over your messages before you press send. So you can learn from my mistakes, here is some helpful information about Gmail Smart Compose.

What Is Gmail Smart Compose?

Gmail Smart Compose is an AI powered feature that provides writing suggestions as you type to help you compose emails faster. It uses machine learning to predict and suggest phrases or sentences based on what you have already written. The goal is to save time and reduce repetitive typing. There is a personalization setting that allows the feature to learn your unique writing style and suggest phrases you use frequently. The default has this setting turned on. See below for how to turn it on and off. 

How Do I Use Gmail Smart Compose?

This is a feature that you can turn on and off in your Gmail settings. 

1. Click the gear -> See all settings

2. Under "general", scroll down to "smart compose" and "smart compose personalization" 

3. Select writing suggestions on or off, personalization on or off. If personalization is turned off but writing suggestions is turned on, then you will see generic suggestions as you type. 

When you are typing, you will see words appear in gray. You can accept these suggestions by pressing the tab key on your keyboard. They will be ignored if you just keep typing. Smart Compose works in many languages. 

 What Else Do I Need To Know?

Google gets a LOT of use out of the @ symbol and there are new features being updated constantly. If you use the @symbol in the body of your email, and you choose an email address, it will auto-populate into the TO section of your email, sending the email to that address upon pressing send. 

Watch below and see what happens:

BONUS! Hidden feature in Gmail:

I recently learned about the Gmail "plus" trick, also called email subaddressing. This lets you create unlimited versions of your email address by adding a + sign and any text before the @. The messages will still get sent to your base gmail address. This also makes it easy to filter. For example, I could ask for Charity Drive questions to be sent to lberghoff+charitydrive@dist113.org. Those messages will appear in my school gmail inbox, but Gmail will treat them as separate gmail addresses. Think about the categories of emails that you get. Using these subaddresses can help you organize and also make sure nothing gets lost.

You're welcome!

If you want some help with Gmail, or any other edtech tool we use, please contact me. 

 Using The New Google Assignments App 

In Schoology

@LisaBerghoff

There is an updated version of the Google Assignments App that can be found when adding an assignment in Schoology. This will eventually replace the Google Drive Assignments App. This is a recent development, just rolled out in October, and while there is some information available from PowerSchool, there are also lots of questions coming in from teachers and administrators. This post is intended to be an introduction to the new app, along with some instructions on how it can be used. In the coming weeks and months, as the engineers are working out the bugs and we have more information about what is "expected behavior", I will update you. Here is what I know at this point.

What Is The Updated Google Assignments App?

This is an app within Schoology assignments that enables teachers to add Google files that will make a copy for each student. The student can then complete the work and submit it within Schoology. Here is what is "updated" according to PowerSchool's information. 

The following information is taken from PowerSchool's support site: 

• Dual Grading Options: Choose to grade your assignments in Schoology or directly in Google assignments. This is supposed to give you flexibility based on your preferred workflow.
• Enhanced Rubric Support: Unlike previous versions, this new one allows for both Google rubrics and Schoology rubrics.
• Improved Submission Monitoring: Submissions can be tracked through Google assignments or the Schoology submissions tab.
• Improved Visibility For Parents And Co-Teachers: Submissions can be reviewed in the Schoology Submissions tab. 

Here is the link to the PowerSchool Google Assignments App Instructor Guide. This gives detailed instructions for how to use the app, including screenshots. 

Here is a WONDERFUL resource made by Sara Hewitt, one of my PowerSchool Champion Council colleagues in Hastings, Minnesota. I will be connecting with Sara soon to get more information from her about how her school is successfully using the app.  I made a copy for you to view here.

You can also see it here:

When is the original app going away?

The PowerSchool information indicates that it will be around until summer 2026, then we must say goodbye.

Ok. More soon! If you want to sit down with me and troubleshoot using the app, or if you would like me to come to your classes to help problem-solve, please reach out. I'm happy to help!

AI Images Gone Bananas: 

Gemini Nano Banana Pro

@LisaBerghoff

As the saying goes, we remember 10% of what we read, 20% of what we hear, 30% of what we see, 50% of what we see and hear together, 70% of what we discuss, 80% of what we experience, and 95% of what we teach. Think about the balance in your own classes. How much are students expected to read and hear vs the others? As a special educator I know how important visuals are in learning, for all students. I also know that I am a terrible artist and have spent hours scouring the internet for the perfect image to go with my content. 

With all of the excitement around AI, one universal truth has been that AI tools are terrible at generating reliable images and infographics.

Until now.

Google recently released a huge update to Gemini called Nano Banana Pro. This version allows Gemini to make images that are more detailed, realistic, and accurate. 

With Nano Banana Pro we now have these important capabilities:

• Legible Text Rendering: No more AI gibberish! Words will actually be words.
• Search Grounding: Gemini uses Google's search engine so the information created will be accurate and current.
• Spatial Reasoning: This new model has a framework for layout so the structure and flow of your images will be in line with what you are trying to communicate.

How Do I Access Nano Banana Pro?

1. Go to Gemini.google.com

2. From the "Tools" menu, choose "Create Images". 

3. From the model selection, choose "Thinking".

Now you are accessing Nano Banana Pro!

Be aware that there is a limit to how many Nano Banana Pro images you can create. I made 4 in an hour and timed out. 

Why Would I Use AI To Create Images?

Using AI to generate images is fun, and I have seen many silly images created, but when we think about use for teaching and learning, there are some compelling ways these images can be useful.  

Here are a few I came up with.

1. Branding your content. When our brains see the same logos, images, or even colors, it helps jog our memory. You can create an image to go along with specific concepts. Those images can help students make connections which could lead to greater academic performance. Here is a logo created to help physics students when learning about Newton's Laws. 

2. Infographics. Infographics are a wonderful way to help students learn information in ways that go beyond reading or talking. An infographic can help show how concepts go together. Nano Banana Pro can actually create incredible infographics. Here is a periodic table of figurative language. 

3. Checking For Understanding. Asking students to explain, connect with, or summarize what they see in an image can be a fantastic way to formatively assess students' understanding. You could do an activity where you give students an image and ask them to write the prompt that created that image. 

4. Vocabulary Enrichment. We are all literacy teachers. However, gravity in a physics class means something different from gravity in an English class. Providing students with images, or having them create their own, can help students with complex vocabulary words that they may understand in one context but not the other. 

5. Timelines: We can read and talk about the order of events but to see it in image form is much more powerful. 

Mine Don't Look That Good, What Should I Do?

Like anything with AI, prompting is very important. Here are some helpful tips.

• What is the main subject or content you want to highlight?
• Who will be looking at the image?
• Do you want a title? What should it be and where to you want it?
• What specific information do you want included?
• Include reference materials by uploading or copy/paste.
• Give direction for the visual style. Do you want it to be a cartoon? Chalkboard art? Ikea instruction manual? The sky is the limit here.
• What format do you want? Is it a logo that will be used on materials or a stand alone image?

Want some help getting started with Nano Banana Pro? Let me know.

 Using Find A Time In Google Calendar

Image generated by Gemini's NanoBanana

@LisaBerghoff

I consider myself a generally patient person. I do have some pet peeves that drive me nuts but none of them are so overwhelming that they interfere with my day to day existence. One thing that interests me is problem-solving ways to save time and be more efficient and many of the things that bug me are really just things that could be taken care of more efficiently. Since time is so precious in our school day, I just hate to see it wasted by people either in person or via email trying to figure out a time to meet. We are spending time trying to find a time? This makes no sense to me. That's why I am a fan of the Find A Time feature in Google calendar. I'm often surprised to find out how many people don't know this exists. Our administrative assistants definitely know how to use this feature and all of you should too. 

What Is Find A Time? 

This is a feature that is built into Google calendar events. It is designed to make it easier to book times that everyone is available without needing to contact them. 

How Do I Use Find A Time?

• Open Google Calendar and click Search For People on the left.
• Start typing the person's name and choose who you want to meet with.
• At the top left click Create + and choose Event.
• Click Find A Time. 

This will open your guests' calendars on top of your own so you can see when there is an opening for all of you. As you move through the calendar, everyone's calendars will move as well.

What Needs To Happen For This To Work Well?

There are a few things to consider. 

First, the people you're looking to meet with must have their Google calendars up to date. If your Google calendar is not up to date, I encourage you to take care of that as soon as possible. 

Next, you should see their calendar times as free/busy. This is a setting within your calendar. If you don't want your colleagues to see every detail of your day, go into your calendar settings and adjust this. You will see it under "Access Permissions For Events".

Finally, this will work with anyone in our domain (district) and anyone who has shared their calendar with you. If you are trying to schedule with someone from outside the district and they have not shared their calendar with you, you will not see the Find A Time feature. 

That's it! I love when there is a simple feature that can help solve for a time consuming problem. Want some help figuring out how to get the most out of your Google calendar? I'm happy to connect and work on it with you. 

Incorporate More Play With Gimkit

@LisaBerghoff

I am so fortunate that I get to be in many classrooms over the course of the school year. When talking about their students, teachers will often say something like "this is a really good class". I somehow know what they mean, but also would like to spell it out more clearly. What makes a group of students a "good class"? It tends to boil down to two things, and these things are often confused as the same thing. These two things are engagement and compliance. I would argue that you need some amount of both to make a good class but I think it is important to define these terms.

Compliance refers to performing required behaviors such as following rules or completing assignments. Engagement is referring to a cognitive and emotional investment in learning involving active participation, curiosity, and a desire to understand. The argument could be made that you need a level of compliance in order for real engagement to happen. That is why it is so important to really think about what we know about our students when we are preparing lessons and activities. Will they be able to follow the rules and will they be engaged are two main questions I would ask. Then, what tools do I have to maximize both of these?

That's where Gimkit comes in!

What Is Gimkit?

Gimkit is a classroom game-show style platform where students compete by answering questions on their electronic devices. Instead of earning points, students earn virtual currency, which they can "invest" during the game to boost their score. Games can be played live or can be assigned as independent practice. Students connect via game codes  and can play in a web browser on any internet-connected device. They can compete against each other or collaborate in teams or as a whole class. When teachers launch the game, they choose from a variety of play modes and set in-game parameters. In KitCollab mode, students help build the game by submitting questions before play begins. Teachers can view and download detailed student reports after every game.

Gimkit gets a rating of 4/5 on Common Sense.

How Do I Get Started with Gimkit?

Start by going to Gimkit.com and logging in with your school Google credentials. That will take you to our premium license.

The games are called Kits and you can start from scratch or you can click Discovery and search from more than 30,000,000 kits that have already been created. Yes, you have the ability to edit and adjust to make it your own.  You can also begin by importing or creating a set of flashcards. The flashcards created from Pear Deck's Flashcard Factory are perfect for this.  

If you are starting from scratch, click Add Question and choose from multiple choice or text input. You can add images, audio, and equations to both types of questions.

Of course, there is now an AI generator that will help create questions for you as well. Enter a prompt, and watch the questions appear.

What is KitCollab?

If you really want to level up the engagement of your lesson and go beyond simply review, use KitCollab and have students create the questions. You will have the opportunity to decide which questions actually get added to the kit.

What Happens When The Gimkit Game Ends?

After your game ends, whether it was live or assigned outside of class, you have the opportunity to view a report. This report has a breakdown by question, overview by student, and also some quick statistics that can give you valuable insights into how well your students understood the material. This makes Gimkit an ideal formative assessment tool.

Ready to give Gimkit a try? Let me know. I'm happy to help.

New Launches In Canva 2025

@LisaBerghoff

Canva is once again making a big splash with several new launches. I know that for some educators, Canva is a dream come true, for others, it's a bit overwhelming. I definitely fall somewhere in the middle. I love Canva when I have a project that involves design and I want it to look fantastic without spending hours on it. I will also say that I have lots of other tools that are working just fine and I don't necessarily need to jump into Canva to replace them. I'm looking at you, Google Docs. The capabilities within Canva are moving ahead at warp speed and the AI tools are now really embedded in a way that you almost forget you are using AI. Let's jump in and take a look at some of what is new.  They launched so many new items but these are the stand-outs for school use in my opinion.

1. Canva Forms

• When you are in a design, go to the Elements tab and where it says Browse Categories choose Forms. You will see several forms templates, all of which can be customized by you. I could see using this within a Canva presentation. You could have some content and then a slide with a question or several questions. You have several question types to choose from: Short and long answer, multiple choice, checkbox, email, number, poll, single choice quiz, multi-choice quiz, mood meter, linear scale, and star rating. You can click and see the responses from your design. You can also open responses in a Canva sheet. Your students are logged into Canva so it can automatically saves their response with their email or it can be anonymous.

Check out this mood meter. It could be a wonderful way to start or end a class.

2. Grab Text

• This is a new feature within the photo editor. Similar to Magic Grab but this is specific for text. If there is text on your image of any kind, you can grab it and reposition it, change the font, edit it, delete it completely, or whatever you need for your design. 
• Click on the photo and select Edit. Then choose Magic Grab from the Magic Studio options.
• The AI tool will highlight any text that it recognizes. You can have it select all text or click on what you want to edit.

3. Visual Suite

• This is a workflow solution that I think is going to be life changing for some of you. You no longer have to choose one design type. You can create a presentation, sheet, doc, and whiteboard all in one. It looks like a slide deck timeline across the bottom, but you can add a new page of any type. I know it doesn't sound like a big deal, but when you give it a try you will completely understand. You can create an entire lesson package all in one file that includes slides, graphics, videos, sheets, and more.

4. Canva Video 2.0

• I'm trying to temper my expectations, but the new Canva video editor looks more robust and should give our students more capabilities without being overly complicated. You will see that the editor now has layers, giving you the ability to edit and adjust at a more granular level.

5. 3D Images

• How many times do we give students a drawing and say "imagine that this is three dimensional"? Canva elements now has a 3D option. When you are in editing mode, you can actually manipulate and move them around. This can be a huge help for prototyping, or any sort of design or geometric planning. 

This is a very short list of all that is new in Canva. If you are a Canva fan, I highly encourage you to check out all of the new launches. If Canva seems overwhelming to you, please don't walk away. Try using Canva for one, small, specific task and see how it goes. Want some help getting started? You know where to find me.