Recently, ISTE + ASCD partnered with the Google for Education team to release the Google AI Educator Series, which is a completely free on-demand training programme leading to a Google badge. The series is built around 15-minute sessions and class-based use cases. The focus is on Google AI tools such as Gemini for Education and NotebookLM, although non-Google users will gain some useful benefits.
It was initially designed for the US Education audience, and it covers several educational roles such as teachers, instructional coaches, principals, and third-level, so some of the terminology might not come from an Oide training session. Each session focuses on one classroom-ready use case, ends with a short-form quiz and a digital badge, and runs for 10–15 minutes. There are some sessions available already, with additional sessions expected to drop every first Wednesday of every month starting in September. The sessions are non-sequential, so you can pick and mix how you complete the course.
The sessions are divided into three pillars.
1. Foundational Understanding. (3 Sessions) An entry-level pathway for educators new to AI. Sessions build a solid professional foundation focused what it is, how it works, and how to think about it as a teaching partner rather than a replacement.
2. Pedagogical Applications (18 Sessions). The instructional core of the series. Teacher sessions are grade-level specific and tackle real “problems of practice” with Gemini — differentiation, scaffolding, feedback, project design, and transformational student-facing learning.
3. Administrative Applications (5 Sessions) A productivity-focused track. School focus areas onh using Gemini and NotebookLM to streamline lesson planning, parent communication, and other admin activities.
A useful addition is the toolkit for those who wish to deliver it as a school-wide PD event. The toolkit contains a slide deck plus a facilitator guide for every session. Each pathway concludes with a short form quiz and a certificate and badge upon completion.