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John Sowash

John Sowash

@jrsowash.bsky.social

590 followers 280 following 43 posts

I help #teachers and students use Google products and #Chromebooks in the #classroom. Proud father of 5 kids; campground owner.

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John Sowash @jrsowash.bsky.social · Jun 30

I'm VERY eager to explore assigning GEMS and #NOTEBOOKLM to students through #GoogleClassroom. The very first time I used NotebookLM I knew this was a perfect fit for Google Classroom! I'm so glad that Google is including this feature for all EDU domains!

John Sowash @jrsowash.bsky.social · Jun 30

📺 I put together this video to share some early screenshots and personal thoughts on some of these new features: youtu.be/LyaiSnyR0BQ

Google's BIGGEST Workspace EDU Update Ever | Full Breakdown

YouTube video by John R. Sowash

John Sowash @jrsowash.bsky.social · Jun 30

TODAY Google announced a BUNCH of great new updates!

This year I'm especially impressed and excited by how many of these updates are FREE. Google is also expanding access to features that used to be premium (i.e. Google Vids) to EVERYONE!

#GoogleEDU #ISTE2025

John Sowash @jrsowash.bsky.social · Mar 17

This week I am a featured speaker at the 2025 #MACUL conference in Detroit! Come join me for sessions on AI, #Chromebooks, #GoogleAdmin policies, and more!

If you can't attend live, feel free to request my session resources: chrm.tech/macul25.

Hope to see you there!

John Sowash @jrsowash.bsky.social · Mar 12

Is anyone attending #MACUL next week?

My first time was in 2005 as a student. My EdTech professor invited us to attend and said he would take anyone who came out to dinner. I was a poor college student, so this was a good deal!

I've been attending ever since!

John Sowash @jrsowash.bsky.social · Feb 3

The #Chrome browser has a cool new tool bar that you can customize with shortcuts to useful features like creating a QR code, accessing your saved passwords, reading mode and more.

Chrome settings > More Tools > Customize Chrome

#ChromebookEDU #GoogleEDU

John Sowash @jrsowash.bsky.social · Jan 27

Tomorrow (Jan. 28) is #DataPrivacyDay ! I collected a series of student lessons that you can use in your classroom: www.chrmbook.com/data-privacy/

Help students understand the importance of protecting their personal information!

#GoogleEDU #TeacherTwitter #lessonideas

Data privacy lessons for K-12 students (10 different ideas)

Teach your students the important of data privacy! These 10 data privacy lessons will help your students learn about their digital footprint.

www.chrmbook.com

John Sowash @jrsowash.bsky.social · Jan 24

Have you tried the new face control creature for #Chromebook? It's incredible!

youtu.be/6rO0q9ngVh8

#accessibility #googleedu #chromebookedu

Face control on Chromebooks

YouTube video by Google for Education

John Sowash @jrsowash.bsky.social · Jan 22

🚀 Exciting #GoogleEDU updates from the #BETT 2025 conference in London! 🎉

My favorite update? The amazing "Class tools" for managing #Chromebooks in the classroom! 🖥️✨

But that's just the tip of the iceberg—check out my full summary for all the updates!

www.chrmbook.com/google-updat...

John Sowash @jrsowash.bsky.social · Dec 31

I'm not on the "AI will save the world" bandwagon, but it's not going away, so I am trying to understand how to use it in a responsible and meaningful way.

John Sowash @jrsowash.bsky.social · Dec 31

There's some interesting research being done related to word prediction in LLM that gives us greater insight into how humans use language to communicate. LLMs can do this at a scale humans can't handle.

John Sowash @jrsowash.bsky.social · Dec 31

I have found it to provide some helpful insights and ideas. Not always, but sometimes.

I guess I'm open to exploring new opportunities to see where they lead.

John Sowash @jrsowash.bsky.social · Dec 31

AI is a reflection of the body of work it is trained on which is far broader than my understanding and experiences.

John Sowash @jrsowash.bsky.social · Dec 31

Great feature! I have a YT video with instructions on how to set up the required admin role to make this possible.

John Sowash @jrsowash.bsky.social · Dec 31

Cheers to 2024! 🥂 It was a full year with a few ups and downs.

Gearing up for the challenges and adventures of 2025!

John Sowash @jrsowash.bsky.social · Dec 30

I think it all depends on how you use it and your expectations.

I have found AI to be a good thought partner. It certainly doesn't eliminate my need to think critically, but it does offer a different perspective.

John Sowash @jrsowash.bsky.social · Dec 29

One of the more useful premium features I am using is "custom building blocks" which make it easy to insert templates into @googledocs.bsky.social

Today I'm planning a new YouTube video, so I'm inserting my video planning template.

#googleEDU #EduSky #GoogleDocs

John Sowash @jrsowash.bsky.social · Dec 24

I'm using a modified AI chat bot from @schoolai.com for one of my puzzles. After solving a mystery, a secret word is revealed which is the combination to one of the locks.

app.schoolai.com/student-spac...

AI-Powered Tutors and Learning Activities

app.schoolai.com

John Sowash @jrsowash.bsky.social · Dec 24

Heavily leaning on AI (Gemini) this year as I build my puzzles.

Gemini wrote me a "night before Christmas" story with numerical clues for my four digit combination lock.

John Sowash @jrsowash.bsky.social · Dec 24

Oh, that is an interesting idea! It's less than 20 degrees outside at the moment, so maybe next year! 🥶

John Sowash @jrsowash.bsky.social · Dec 24

If you have any good puzzle ideas, let me know! My kids are getting smarter which means I have to work harder every year!

John Sowash @jrsowash.bsky.social · Dec 24

This morning I'm setting up our annual "Christmas Breakout" activity: www.chrmbook.com/christmas-br...

At this point this has become an essential family tradition.

The process of "breaking out" gives mom and dad time to get up, get ready and start breakfast while the kids are occupied.

#edusky

John Sowash @jrsowash.bsky.social · Dec 17

This is definitely not an easy test. There are quite a few questions on situations that we don't deal with in education very often.

John Sowash @jrsowash.bsky.social · Dec 17

I just passed the #ChromeOS admin exam (my certification expired last month). This exam is FREE until January 1, 2025.

I have a free study guide (just updated!) that you can use to review: www.chrmbook.com/chromeos-adm...

#edusky #GoogleEDU #GoogleAdmin

How to pass the ChromeOS administrator exam

Google announced a new ChromeOS administrator exam, so I took it! Here's what you can expect and how to prepare for this certification.

www.chrmbook.com

John Sowash @jrsowash.bsky.social · Dec 16

Welcome, Chromie!