Google Classroom is adding native audio, video, and screen recording capabilities directly within the platform, a move designed to streamline multimodal communication between teachers and students. The feature, currently available to users of Google Workspace for Education Plus and those with the Teaching and Learning add-on, eliminates the need for external tools for creating and sharing multimedia content.
The integrated recording functionality appears as a record button embedded across core areas of Google Classroom, including private comments, announcements, assignments, and student submissions. Teachers can use the feature to provide detailed spoken feedback on student perform, walk through complex concepts via screen recordings, or deliver clearer assignment instructions. Students, with appropriate permissions, can respond to assignments using audio or video, offering a more personalized and expressive alternative to text-based submissions.
“Starting today, we’re bringing audio, video, and screencast recording functionality to Google Classroom,” Google stated. “This new functionality is designed to help transform teaching and learning through multimodality, improving communication, intake, and retention for learners.”
Luke Craig, Communities and Programs Lead at Google for Education UKI, highlighted the potential of the feature to replace existing tools. “I’m most excited about is the ability to record audio, video and screen casts directly in Classroom,” Craig posted on LinkedIn. He described it as “an easy-to-use replacement for Flipgrid,” noting its availability to Education Plus and Teaching and Learning accounts.
The rollout of the feature is gradual and currently limited to the web version of Google Classroom. Students must have posting permissions within Classroom to utilize the recording function for announcements and posts. There is currently no administrative control to toggle the feature on or off at the domain level.
Google’s move consolidates content creation, feedback, and submission within the Classroom environment, reducing reliance on third-party platforms. The company’s Workspace for Education offerings include Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Teaching and Learning, and Education Plus, each providing varying levels of functionality and features, as detailed on the Google for Education website.
The addition of native recording capabilities comes as Google expands access to its AI-powered tools within Classroom. Gemini in Classroom, previously limited to specific add-ons, is now available to users across all Google Workspace for Education editions, offering over 30 AI-powered tools for content creation and lesson planning. These tools include features for rubric creation, brainstorming, text translation, and the generation of informational texts and stories.
The ETIH Innovation Awards 2026 are currently accepting submissions, recognizing organizations delivering impactful education technology solutions.
