Back-to-school season is filled with new possibilities, but can also bring the challenge of navigating a rapidly changing AI landscape. To help you use this technology with confidence, we created the Google AI Educator Series (GES) — a no cost, on-demand training designed to give you practical AI skills you can use immediately — with bite-sized sessions taking less than 15 minutes to earn a badge.

Today, we’re adding even more content and announcing a national Badge-a-thon on September 19. Designed specifically for K-12 educators, this flexible, 10-hour virtual event lets you drop in for lightning talks, get hands-on training, and earn official ISTE-aligned digital badges live.

Expanding your skills with monthly updates

We listened closely to feedback from educators who completed our initial series and asked for more hands-on practical applications. We are now adding new GES modules on the first Wednesday of every month, complete with rigorous checks for understanding. Here’s what you can accomplish with our latest modules:

• Eliminate visible work: Learn how to identify frequent, simple tasks — like drafting notification emails to parents when an assignment is missed — and automate them through Google tools to reclaim time with your students.
• Provide personalized support: The Active Problem-Solving module introduces Gemini’s Guided Learning feature, which helps students work through complex problems with Socratic guidance.
• Elevate student research: For our higher education community, the Planning the Inquiry module demonstrates how to use Gemini's Deep Research feature to build skills in student research and inquiry for papers and theses.
• Build interactive learning experiences: With “AI Quest: Market Marshes,” you will learn how to teach students through interactive game-based learning experiences based on real-world topics, from human agency to flood forecasting.

Meeting educators where they are

Developed in partnership with experts like ISTE+ASCD – a global network for K-12 curriculum design and educational technology – we launched GES in May based on feedback from educators around the world, explaining that training not only need to be flexible, but applicable to their everyday teaching needs We’re already seeing how teachers use these skills to set up their classrooms for success, and their stories show us what is possible.

Since we launched GES, we’ve heard two key themes from educators:

• A desire for practical application: Beyond the excitement, educators are asking, "How do I use this in my classroom tomorrow?" They want to learn how to integrate new AI tools into lesson plans.
• A need for community: Educators want a space to share ideas, recognizing that the most powerful innovations come from learning from one another.

A professor shares how the Google AI educator series can help higher education facilitators integrate Gemini and NotebookLM into their classrooms.

A speaker talks about how the Google AI Educator series program provides a valuable way for teachers to engage in bite-sized, interest-driven learning whenever they have the time.

Drop in on our GES Badge-a-thon on Sat Sept 19

Ready to bring a new wave of creativity and efficiency to your classroom? Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 19, 2026 (9:00 AM - 7:00 PM ET) for the free, virtual Google AI Educator Series Badge-a-thon: Day of AI Learning.

Here is what to expect for each 30-minute block:

• ⚡ Lightning Talk: A fellow teacher shares a quick classroom hack—like drafting parent letters or customizing reading levels in seconds
• 🎓 Module Overview: Get a fast, clear walkthrough of the official training curriculum to master the tool's core features.
• 🏆 Live Badging & Prizes: We open our screens, complete the quiz together to earn your verified ISTE-aligned digital badge, and wrap up with custom swag giveaways!

Join us to explore our latest modules, and learn practical, time-saving AI skills alongside a global community of peers who are shaping the future of education.

Grab your spot by RSVPing at goo.gle/GESBadgeathon.