Google Vids for Instructional Videos Made Easy

Jeff Bradbury is an author, podcaster, public speaker, creator of the TeacherCast Educational Network and father of the world famous #EduTriplets.

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On October 30th, 2025, the GEG Instructional Coaches community gathered for an exciting deep dive into Google Vids—one of the newest and most powerful tools in the Google Workspace arsenal. With coaches joining from around the world, including Sweden at midnight and New Zealand in the early morning, the session highlighted the global reach and dedication of our coaching community.

What is Google Vids?

Google Vids is a video creation and editing tool that seamlessly integrates with Google Workspace. Think of it as “Google Slides turned 90 degrees”—instead of slides arranged vertically, you work with scenes arranged horizontally at the bottom of your screen. This familiar interface makes it incredibly accessible for anyone who’s comfortable with Google Slides.

The beauty of Google Vids lies in its simplicity and power. Whether you’re creating a quick welcome video for teachers, building professional development tutorials, or providing personalized coaching feedback, Google Vids offers the features you need without overwhelming complexity.

Key Features That Make Google Vids Stand Out

1. AI-Powered Creation (For Those With Access)

If you have access to Google’s AI features, you can leverage powerful tools like:

• Veo AI Video Generation: Create 8-second AI-generated videos from simple text prompts
• AI Avatars: Generate professional-looking videos with AI presenters reading your script
• Text-to-Speech: Automatically convert written scripts into natural-sounding voiceovers
• AI-Assisted Drafts: Start with a prompt and let AI create an entire video outline complete with scenes, text, and suggestions

2. Powerful Tools for Everyone (No AI Required)

The great news? You don’t need AI features to create amazing content with Google Vids. Students and teachers without premium access can still:

• Record with Ease: Capture camera, screen, or voiceover recordings with simple one-click options
• Import Slides: Convert existing Google Slides presentations into video format instantly
• Access Stock Media: Search through an extensive library of videos, images, music, sound effects, GIFs, and stickers
• Use Professional Templates: Choose from beautifully designed templates that are far superior to standard slide templates
• Collaborate in Real-Time: Work together on video projects just like you would on a Google Doc or Slides presentation

3. Seamless Integration With Google Classroom

One of the most powerful features for educators is how Google Vids integrates with Google Classroom. You can:

• Assign videos as templates and have each student receive their own copy
• Review student work directly in Classroom, seeing exactly where they are in their projects
• Assign different templates to different groups of students
• Export videos as MP4 files for sharing beyond your domain

Practical Applications for Instructional Coaches

During our meeting, we explored numerous ways coaches can leverage Google Vids:

Creating Personalized Coaching Feedback

Instead of lengthy emails or static documents, create short video messages for teachers. Record yourself demonstrating a teaching strategy, providing feedback on a lesson, or walking through a new tool. The personal touch of seeing and hearing you makes the coaching relationship stronger.

Building Training Materials and PD Sessions

Google Vids excels at creating step-by-step tutorials. Whether you’re training staff on a new device rollout, explaining how to use a specific tool, or demonstrating a teaching technique, you can create professional-looking videos in minutes, not hours.

Pro Tip: Create a template video with a generic introduction, then make copies and personalize the opening for different buildings or departments. This saves time while maintaining that personal connection.

Developing Quick-Reference Resources

Build a library of 2-3 minute tutorials that teachers can access on-demand. These bite-sized resources are perfect for just-in-time learning and reduce the number of repeat questions you receive.

Recording Model Lessons

Capture exemplary teaching practices and share them with your staff. Google Vids makes it easy to record, edit, and distribute model lessons that showcase best practices.

Getting Started: A Simple Workflow

Access Google Vids by visiting vids.new or vids.google.com. You’ll see several options:

1. Record: The easiest way to create screencasts or video tutorials on a Chromebook
2. Convert Slides: Import an existing presentation and transform it into a video
3. Use Templates: Start with professionally designed templates for various purposes
4. Create from Prompt: (AI users) Describe what you want and let AI create a draft
5. Start Blank: Begin with a clean canvas and build from scratch

The interface is intuitive. Scenes run along the bottom, and you can add media, text, transitions, and audio just as you would in Google Slides. The key difference? Everything is optimized for video creation.

Real-World Success Stories

During our meeting, coaches shared inspiring examples of how they’re using Google Vids:

District Device Rollout

One coach created a series of 2-3 minute videos to support the rollout of 6,500 new Lenovo Chrome tablets. Using Google Vids’ stock library, transitions, and sound effects, she produced professional training videos that were posted to the district YouTube channel and website. The best part? Teachers didn’t even realize these were created with a new tool—they just knew the resources were helpful.

Student Projects That Build Skills

A middle school teacher shared a brilliant progression of projects:

1. Students brainstormed interests using Google Keep
2. They created a 3-slide presentation about one interest in Google Slides
3. Those slides were imported into Google Vids, where students replaced the slides with video B-roll
4. Students added music, transitions, and a call-to-action to create a 1-minute video
5. This foundation project would build toward larger video projects throughout the year

This scaffolded approach teaches students to work across multiple tools while building video literacy skills progressively.

Want to Learn More About Google Vids?

If you’re excited to dive deeper into Google Vids, check out these comprehensive resources:

How does Google Vids stack up against other video editing tools?

Google Vids vs. iMovie

While iMovie offers more advanced features like slow motion and fine-tuned audio editing, Google Vids wins in collaboration and sharing. Videos created in Google Vids can be easily shared through Google Classroom, Drive, and exported as MP4s—without the struggle of getting files off iPads.

Google Vids vs. WeVideo

Google Vids offers a simpler, more intuitive interface compared to WeVideo’s sometimes overwhelming feature set. For most educational purposes, Google Vids provides everything you need without the complexity. Plus, it’s free and included in your Google Workspace—no additional license required.

Google Vids vs. Canva

Both tools are powerful for video creation. Google Vids excels in its integration with Google Workspace and Classroom, making collaboration seamless. The “make a copy for each student” feature in Google Classroom works beautifully with Google Vids, just as it does with Docs and Slides.

Tips and Best Practices

For Coaches:

• Start Simple: Begin with the “Record” feature to create quick screencasts. This is the fastest way to provide personalized support.
• Create Template Libraries: Build a collection of intro/outro templates that you can quickly customize for different audiences.
• Use Brand Styles: Take advantage of the brand styles feature to maintain consistency across all your videos with one click.
• Leverage Version History: Like all Google tools, Google Vids has version history. Never worry about losing your work.

For Teachers Working With Students:

• Give Exploration Time: Let students play with the tool for a day before assigning a formal project.
• Set Clear Parameters: Specify video length, required elements, and appropriate media use.
• Monitor Sound Effects: Be aware that the stock sound effects library is unfiltered and includes some sounds you may not want in a classroom setting.
• Build Progressively: Start with simple projects and add complexity over time.

Official Google Resources

Want to learn directly from Google? Check out their official resources:

The Future of Video Creation in Education

Google Vids represents a significant shift in how we think about video creation in educational settings. By making video editing as accessible as creating a slide deck, Google has democratized content creation. No longer do you need expensive software or extensive training to create professional-looking videos.

For instructional coaches, this means:

• More time creating impactful content, less time wrestling with complicated tools
• The ability to personalize support at scale
• Easier collaboration with teachers and administrators
• A tool that both you and your teachers can use confidently

Want to continue learning about Google Vids and connect with coaches from around the world? Join the GEG Instructional Coaches community—a global network dedicated to mastering the art of coaching with Google tools.

Our mission: To empower instructional coaches by fostering a collaborative community where we can share evidence-based coaching strategies, develop practical resources using Google Workspace, and collectively improve our practice to drive teacher growth and student achievement.

What You’ll Get:

• Monthly Professional Development: Join live sessions like our Google Vids workshop, where we explore tools and strategies together
• A Global Network: Connect with passionate coaches from every time zone who understand your challenges
• Resource Libraries: Access curated templates, workflows, and strategies designed specifically for coaches
• Collaborative Support: Ask questions, share successes, and problem-solve with fellow coaches
• Professional Growth: Learn about pathways to becoming a Google Certified Coach, Trainer, or Innovator

Ready to join? Visit our website at to become a founding member of this growing community.

Looking Ahead

The GEG Instructional Coaches community has exciting sessions planned for the coming months:

• November: Introducing Google Gemini to staff, students, and administrators + Using data for pre-holiday check-ins
• December: Reflections and planning for the new year
• January: Building coaching protocols and frameworks
• February: Data-driven coaching conversations

All sessions are recorded and made available to members, so you can learn on your schedule.

Start Creating Today

Google Vids is available now to all Google Workspace users—including those with free fundamental accounts. There’s no excuse not to give it a try. Here’s your challenge:

1. Visit vids.new
2. Click the “Record” button
3. Create a 30-second introduction video about yourself
4. Share it with a colleague or in the GEG Instructional Coaches community

That’s it. You’ve just created your first Google Vids project. Now imagine what you could do with this tool to support the teachers in your building.

Final Thoughts

As one of our coaches said during the meeting: “There’s no excuse not to make this stuff.” Google Vids has lowered the barrier to video creation so significantly that anyone can produce professional, engaging content in minutes.

For instructional coaches, this is more than just another tool—it’s a way to scale your impact, personalize your support, and meet teachers where they are. Whether you’re creating feedback videos, PD materials, or helping teachers design engaging student projects, Google Vids belongs in your toolkit.

The question isn’t whether you should learn Google Vids. The question is: What will you create first?

*Want to watch the full recording of our Google Vids workshop? All GEG Instructional Coaches members receive access to session recordings, slide decks, and additional resources. Join our community today at *

Have questions about Google Vids or want to share how you’re using it? Connect with coaches worldwide in our Google Group and join the conversation!