Educators in Brazil, Mexico, Spain, Australia, and sub-Saharan Africa now have access to Google's AI Educator Series, a free training program aimed at helping teachers and university faculty use Gemini for teaching and administrative work. This rollout opens up new ways for educators to bring artificial intelligence into their classrooms and institutions. Google also introduced the Africa Applied AI Lab, which plans to launch a group of 10 startups in 2026 to work with Google AI models like Gemini and Gemma. The lab will focus on local solutions and technical mentorship, working with venture-capital firms such as 4DX Ventures and Norrsken22.
What the AI Educator Series Offers
The AI Educator Series (GES), built by Google with ISTE+ASCD, offers on-demand training for school teachers and higher education faculty. Participants can finish short sessions at their own pace and earn digital badges. The program covers basic AI concepts, practical classroom uses, and administrative tasks with Gemini. Higher education modules include topics like cognitive engagement and inclusive design. Google says content is updated monthly based on educator feedback.
New Modules and Practical Applications
Recent updates add modules on interactive assessments and game-based learning. One module shows educators how to use Gemini to create practice tests and interactive web assessments, including exit tickets that give immediate feedback and hints for wrong answers. Another module looks at game-based learning activities that stress the importance of data accuracy and human oversight. The assignment design module helps educators spot questions that might encourage shortcuts and strengthen assignments to push deeper critical thinking among students.
International Partnerships and Local Adaptation
Google has set up partnerships with national education authorities to broaden the AI Educator Series. In the Philippines, work with the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education aims to bring AI training to over one million educators. The Department of Education has approved the program for both teaching and non-teaching staff, with classroom examples like using Gemini to simulate complex market scenarios in economics lessons. In the UK and Ireland, the training is available to 650,000 teachers, with both virtual and in-person events, including train-the-trainer workshops at Google's London office. UK teachers use Gemini Notebook for creative writing and lesson planning.
In India, sessions in September trained 80,000 educators, with self-paced modules in English and six local languages that match the National Education Policy 2020. More languages are planned for 2027. Indian teachers use Gemini and Gemini Notebook to turn complex topics into comic strips and podcasts. Malaysia's next phase includes train-the-trainer bootcamps with local partners, expanding access to private school educators and university faculty. Malaysian teachers have reported saving several hours of preparation time per topic. In South Korea, Google works with Seoul National University of Education to align training with the 2022 Revised Curriculum and the Ministry of Education’s Teacher AI/Digital Education Competency Framework. Uses include designing inquiry-based lessons and preparing parent communications.
Recognition and Continuing Education
Each session in the AI Educator Series lasts up to 45 minutes and can be completed in any order. Higher education modules align with ISTE+ASCD Standards for Educators and Faculty and the profile of an AI-Ready Graduate. Along with digital badges, Google offers pathways to college and continuing education credit through partners such as ISTE and Dominican University. The program aims to support both classroom innovation and administrative efficiency for educators worldwide.
