Key Points
- Free one-year Colab Pro subscriptions for U.S. educators and students unlock advanced computing power for data science courses.
- Slideshow Mode lets instructors create dynamic, interactive lessons using live code execution in a single tool.
- These updates support teaching and learning on Chromebooks by reducing reliance on external devices and streamlining workflows.
Google recently unveiled major improvements to Google Colab tailored for university-level data science education. These updates address common challenges in classrooms where computational resources and seamless workflows often limit learning experiences. The highlights include a generous free access program for U.S. institutions and a new teaching-focused presentation tool.
Colab Pro subscriptions for educators and students: Google is offering selected colleges and universities in the U.S. a way to provide their data science-focused courses with free Colab Pro accounts for one year. This service, usually paid, grants access to powerful GPUs, extended runtime, and more memory—critical for handling advanced machine learning models and large datasets. Schools can apply for a limited number of subscriptions, and eligible users (students or faculty) verify their institutional email to claim access. This move benefits Chromebook users, who often rely on cloud-based tools like Colab to avoid hardware limitations. Educators can now design courses that push computational boundaries without worrying about costs or licensing.
Slideshow Mode with live coding: Another standout feature is Slideshow Mode, which turns Colab notebooks into interactive lecture slides. Instructors can now embed code execution into presentations, saving time by avoiding back-and-forth between a coding tool and a slide deck. For example, a teacher can demonstrate a Python script for a statistical model and instantly show results or visualizations within the same interface. This is particularly useful for Chromebook-based classrooms, where app-switching can slow down technical workflows. By streamlining lessons, Google aims to make data science concepts more accessible to learners who might not have dedicated devices like desktops or high-end laptops.
While these updates focus on Colab, the tool is part of Google’s broader cloud-based ecosystem, which aligns with the Chrome OS philosophy of minimal local storage and web-centric computing. Chromebooks already dominate many schools due to their simplicity and low cost, and enhancements to Colab reinforce their utility in technical education. For instance, the free Pro subscriptions ensure students can run demanding tasks without relying on personal computers, bridging gaps for institutions prioritizing Chrome device adoption.
The timing for this rollout is strategic. As Chromebooks grow in popularity among schools, tools like Colab that integrate smoothly with Google Workspace for Education make it easier for educators to build cohesive tech stacks. This also appeals to students uncomfortable with installing or maintaining complex software, as everything happens within the browser. Additionally, features like frequent runtime updates and built-in GPUs in Colab Pro could reduce dependency on external development environments, which Chromebooks sometimes struggle to support.
Instructors adopting this should explore how Slideshow Mode simplifies demonstrations, while students can apply for free Colab Pro accounts to access more robust resources. Both should consider how these changes save classroom time and improve cross-device collaboration and efficiency in a Google-first learning setting.
Actionable takeaway: For U.S. educators and students starting the academic year, visit Google Colab’s “No cost to students and educators” portal to verify eligibility for the free Pro subscription. This step could unlock tools essential for advanced projects while reinforcing the practicality of Chromebook-based education.
You can also check out our list of the best Gmail Extensions, TikTok Extensions & the best Ai Extensions for Chrome.