How to Add Guided Learning to Google Classroom Assignments

Google rolled out Guided Learning in Google Classroom globally starting November 3, 2026. Teachers can now attach a Guided Learning activity to any assignment so students receive step-by-step coaching grounded in class materials instead of finished answers.

This feature builds on the Guided Learning mode already available in the Gemini app. In Classroom, it keeps students focused, hides normal Gemini navigation, and gives teachers summaries of what students asked.

What Guided Learning does in Classroom

Guided Learning acts as a 1-to-1 study companion. When a student opens the assigned activity, Gemini asks questions, breaks problems into steps, and points back to the sources you chose. It does not simply deliver the final answer.

Teachers gain visibility. Classroom shows AI-generated insight summaries at both the class and individual student level. You can also open the full chat transcript for any student.

The experience stays locked to the activity. Side navigation disappears and new chats are disabled inside that tab. On ChromeOS, Class Tools can further restrict the session to the assigned tab.

Requirements before you start

Your school must use Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, or Education Plus. Gemini must be turned on for the organizational unit or group that includes the teacher and students.

Admins control access in the Google Admin console under Generative AI > Gemini for Workspace > Feature access in Classroom. If student access is off, you can still create the activity, but students cannot use it until an admin enables it.

The feature is rolling out as an extended release (longer than 15 days for full visibility) in all Gemini-supported languages. Check your Classroom if the option does not appear immediately.

How to create and assign a Guided Learning activity

Open classroom.google.com and select the class. Go to Classwork, click Create, then choose Assignment.

Under Attach, select Guided Learning. Name the activity something students will recognize, such as “Chapter 4 practice problems.”

Add sources. Choose Select from class or Upload file. Google recommends starting with one source (a Doc, Slides, or PDF) for the best experience and allows up to five. These sources give Gemini the context it needs.

Click Create and preview. Test the activity as a student would. Add any student-facing instructions in the assignment description; Gemini itself does not read those instructions, so put essential details into the source files.

Assign the activity. Students open it from the assignment and stay inside Guided Learning mode for the duration of the session.

Tips for better results

Use a single focused source when you first try the feature. A clear worksheet or short reading produces tighter guidance than a long multi-topic document.

After students complete the work, review the class-level insight summary first. It highlights common sticking points so you can address them in the next lesson.

Combine Guided Learning with other Classroom tools. You can still attach regular files or use Class Copy to duplicate the activity into another section without rebuilding it.

Pair this with Gemini Notebook study features. Students who finish an assigned activity can continue exploring related topics in a notebook. See our guide on adding free textbooks to Gemini Notebook for more grounded study options.

Watch the official overview of Guided Learning in Gemini:

Limits and what to expect

Guided Learning does not replace teacher judgment. It coaches within the sources you provide. If a key detail is missing from those sources, the model will not invent it.

K-12 student accounts will eventually default to off for Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom, and Search until an administrator explicitly enables them. Google plans to share more details with schools before that change fully rolls out.

Insights and transcripts are visible to the teacher who assigned the activity. Deleting the assignment removes student access, but the conversation history is retained for the teacher.

Conclusion

Guided Learning in Google Classroom lets you assign focused, step-by-step support that stays tied to your materials. Create an assignment, attach the activity, add one or two sources, preview it, and assign. Review the insights afterward to see where students still need help.

The global rollout began November 3, 2026. Confirm Gemini is enabled for your class, then try a short practice activity this week.

Sources

• Google Blog: AI in the learning era (November 3, 2026)
• Google Workspace Updates: Educators can now add Guided Learning to assignments in Google Classroom (November 4, 2026)
• Google Classroom Help documentation on creating and managing Guided Learning activities