New research shows how Guided Learning supports students

Two new studies show how Guided Learning boosts student performance, plus new Google Classroom features that give teachers more control.

We’re sharing two new studies that show how Guided Learning supports students and teachers in real-world settings. Alongside these findings, today we’re starting to roll out Guided Learning in Google Classroom, giving teachers even more control over how and when this tool is used in their classrooms.

Guided Learning is designed to help students work through complex concepts step by step, prioritizing deep understanding over providing direct answers.

Boosting statistics scores

To see how Guided Learning impacts real performance, we conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with more than 300 students at the University of Tokyo. We wanted to test whether Guided Learning provided extra value beyond standard study tools. All students were given half a day to independently study a statistics lesson using standard online resources. Half of the group was also given access to Guided Learning in the Gemini app.

Instead of looking for quick answers, students used Guided Learning to dig deeper. They frequently asked for practice quizzes, step-by-step help, and custom visual aids. When we compared pre- and post-test scores, the difference was clear. Students using only standard web tools improved their scores by 5.3 percentage points. But students with access to Guided Learning improved by 8.1 percentage points, representing 1.5x higher learning gains in just a single study session. While that number might seem modest — these gains were achieved in just half a day of study, pointing to growing evidence that when technology guides students rather than shortcutting the process, it can lead to more learning.

Giving teachers more insight and control

Bringing Guided Learning into Google Classroom requires a specialized approach that is purpose-built for the classroom, keeps teachers in control, and grounds the experience in relevant lesson materials.

To test this experience, we partnered with Ark and ran a four-week pilot across three UK secondary schools, allowing teachers to use Guided Learning in Google Classroom across four different subjects. Feedback from post-pilot surveys and interviews was encouraging: teachers found Guided Learning handled initial student questions effectively during independent work, so they had more time to offer targeted, one-on-one help. Meanwhile, the majority of surveyed students said they felt comfortable asking Gemini for help when stuck, and over half said it helped them solve problems on their own.

We also received important feedback on areas of improvement. Some teachers wanted clearer visibility into how their students were engaging with the course materials so they could better tailor future lessons. Others voiced a desire to keep their students focused on specific assignments during class time and reduce distractions. We took this feedback back to the team and made direct improvements — including adding insights for educators to show how their students interacted with Guided Learning, and improving the ability for teachers to anchor conversations on uploaded curriculum.

Shaped by real educator and student feedback in the classroom, today we're rolling out teacher-led Guided Learning globally in Google Classroom. This feature will help teachers assign their students a Guided Learning experience that will coach students step-by-step on their course materials and track student progress with actionable insights.

By grounding our tools in learning science, working alongside educators, and conducting research in real classroom settings, we're eager to continue innovating on tools that support active learning and a deeper understanding.