Updates in Action
Updates in Action
Google Workspace Updates for Educators
Google releases frequent updates to tools like Docs, Classroom, Drive, Meet, and Gmail. To make these changes easier to follow, this page highlights recent updates that are most useful in K–12 classrooms and school workflows.
This list is curated by educators, for educators — focusing on practical changes that impact teaching, learning, and daily school work. Below you’ll find highlights from the past month, along with links to Google’s official update pages if you’d like to explore everything that’s new.
How do those updates actually work in a classroom?
What have you tried and verified, and what do you want to know more about?
Check out what Idaho educators are learning about the latest Google Workspace updates.
January 2026 Updates
January 2026 Updates
Google Workspace Highlights (Last 30 Days)
Google Workspace Highlights (Last 30 Days)
(Dec 12, 2025 – Jan 28, 2026)
1) Edit password-protected Microsoft Office files in Google Drive
You can now open and edit password-protected Word/Excel/PowerPoint files directly in Docs/Sheets/Slides (no downloading + re-uploading).
2) Forward messages in Google Chat
Quickly forward a message to another DM or Space (keeps the original sender/context) — helpful for staff communication and sharing info without screenshots.
3) Calendar color labels more accessible (permissions change)
Starting Feb 27, 2026, users with “Make changes to events” permission will also see color labels (not just colors), making shared calendar organization easier.
4) Use NotebookLM notebooks as a source inside the Gemini app
Workspace users can add a NotebookLM notebook into Gemini so responses are grounded in your collected sources (Docs/PDFs/etc.).
5) Better suggested meeting times in Google Calendar (Gemini)
Gemini can suggest meeting times by analyzing attendee availability (including time zones/working hours) and can help when rescheduling after declines.
6) Google Meet improvements for presenting & instruction
Auto picture-in-picture when you start screen sharing (so you can still see participants while presenting).
Share device audio (and stereo sound) while presenting — useful for videos/music/audio examples in lessons or PD.
Want to learn more about these updates?
Want to learn more about these updates?
Google Workspace Updates blog (all updates):
https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/
Google Workspace Release Calendar (what’s rolling out + when):
https://workspace.google.com/whatsnew/
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