When ChatGPT was released in November 2022, one thing was certain to me ...
The tech giants -- like Google -- were NOT going to stand idly by while OpenAI took control of that space. You could tell that Google would respond.
First it was Google Bard. (Yuck.) Then it was renamed: Google Gemini. (Better!)
And not too long after that, it was integrated into Google Workspace for Education, making it more available to teachers and students.
If your school is a Google school, you might be wondering: what can Google Gemini do for me? Why might I use it over some of the other large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, or Anothropic's Claude?
If you're just learning about Google Gemini, you've come to the right place! We'll get you caught up to speed quickly.
If you already know about Gemini, this could be a great place for you to learn about some new features or ways to use it in the classroom.
Here is our guide to getting started with Gemini in your classroom.
What is Google Gemini?
Here are some of the basics about the app and the AI that runs it:
- Google Gemini is an AI-powered assistant designed to support educators and students.
- It is a type of generative AI, which means it can create new content like text, images, or other media from prompts that you write.
- It's conversational. When you prompt it (ask it to do something or give it instructions), you can use regular speech. And once it has responded to your prompt, you can follow up conversationally by replying.
- Gemini is powered by a large language model that has been trained on massive datasets of text and code, enabling it to generate effective and (mostly) accurate responses.
How do I access Google Gemini?
Gemini is available as an app and is integrated into Google Workspace apps you already use, like as Docs, Gmail, and Slides so you can access it in a variety of ways.
You can simply use it in a web browser (the place I use Gemini most often) like any other website you access.
You can also use it on a mobile device (like a smartphone or a tablet) by getting the mobile app version.
Using Gemini in a web browser:
To get started with the Gemini app,
- Go to gemini.google.com.
- If you’re not already signed in, sign in to your Google Account
- In the text box at the bottom, enter your question or prompt. Scroll down to see tips for prompting.
- Tap or click the submit button
Using the Gemini mobile app:
You can download and install the Gemini mobile app on a smartphone. It's available for phones, tablets and other devices that run iOS (i.e. Apple iPhone) and Android (i.e. Google Pixel, Samsung and other Android phones/devices).
Quick access guide to Gemini in Google Workspace:
Gemini is also integrated into the Google Workspace for Education apps you already use. You can find it inside your Google Workspace apps.
- Gmail: In your inbox, look for the Gemini icon in the top right corner to open a side panel.
- Docs: You will find an "Ask Gemini" button in the top-right corner of your document. You can also see a "Help me write" button at the top of a new document.
- Slides: In a presentation, click the "Ask Gemini" button in the top right corner to open the side panel and begin a conversation.
- Sheets: Look for the "Ask Gemini" button in the top-right corner of your spreadsheet to open the side panel.
- Drive: In your Drive homepage, click the "Ask Gemini" button in the top-right corner to open the side panel and interact with your files.
- Classroom: Access Gemini by clicking the Gemini icon in the sidebar to view the available tools.
How can I use the Gemini app in the classroom?
In short: in lots and lots and lots of ways!
I consider AI assistants like Google Gemini to be my new AI teaching assistant. I'm still the human teacher driving instruction and making the decisions. But the AI assistant can help make tasks quicker -- and give me creative input.
1. Generate lesson ideas.
This is probably the most common place where teachers get started using Gemini (and other AI assistants) for classroom use. Use Gemini to help you:
- Brainstorm new ideas for teaching a concept in class
- Generate creative ways to teach something you've taught for a long time
- Come up with new ways for students to get repetitions with new content
- Identify possible misconceptions that students might have
- Create an analogy that will help students better understand a new idea
Open Gemini and tell it what you teach (and other related context), what your students are learning, and what you'd like it to do.
Example: "I'm a 10th grade English teacher and my students are learning about literary analysis. We are reading Julius Caesar right now. Suggest some creative ways to get students thinking about literary analysis."
Pro tip: If you aren't sure what to ask it for, you can always ask Gemini how it can help! Start the prompt with what you teach and the content your students are learning, and then ask: "How can you help me to ____________?" or "What can you suggest to help my students learn and keep things engaging?"
2. Create teaching resources.
No need to make photocopies of terrible worksheets or spend all of your money on Teachers Pay Teachers. Gemini can help you create teaching resources to support anything you're teaching.
Of course, you're the human teacher, so keep the "AI teaching assistant" concept in mind. Ask it for a variety of teaching resources. It'll make whatever you ask for, but it's up to you to make sure that it's any good, that it relates to well to what you're teaching, and that it accomplishes your goals.
Some examples:
- Informational texts
- Handouts
- Anchor charts
- Writing prompts
- Discussion starters
- Slide decks
- Interactive simulations
- Integrations with edtech tools (Kahoot quizzes, Quizlet sets, Nearpod lessons)
- Review games
- Storytelling frameworks
- Rubrics
- Peer assessment/self assessment guides
- Differentiation supports
It can even get specific to your content area or grade level. For example ...
- Math: practice problem sets, real-world application tasks
- Science: lab write-ups, claim-evidence-reasoning frames
- ELA: reading guides, literary analysis graphic organizers
- Social studies: DBQs, primary source analysis sheets
- World languages: conversation starters, vocab games
- Electives: digital citizenship lessons, creative projects
3. Make images to support your instruction.
Google Gemini has a built-in image generator. All you have to do is ask it to create an image with a description of what you're looking for and it'll do it. For example, the little image of a teacher working at a laptop at the top of this section? That was created with AI.
It's great at making creative examples, referencing big ideas or topics you're studying, and making representative images of things you're talking about. It can make infographics, but I've found the results to be kind of hit or miss.
What it's not great at: making specific math images, replicating specific things that happened in history, creating charts, etc.
Here are some things you can include in your prompt -- when you tell it to create an image:
- Style of illustration or artwork: flat vector, cartoon style, watercolor sketch
- Lighting: bright daylight, moody shadows, glowing highlights
- Tone / Mood: playful fun, serious academic, inspiring creative
- Perspective / Layout: wide diagram, close-up detail, exploded view
- Color Palette: bright primary, muted neutral, pastel soft
- Level of Realism: photo-realistic, simplified icons, abstract shapes
- Content Focus: world map, food chain, solar system
- Complexity / Detail: simple outline, medium detail, highly detailed
- Labels / Text: no labels, minimal labels, full annotations
- Graphic Type: diagram chart, infographic style, illustrated scene
100+ ways to use Gemini for Education and NotebookLM
Google for Education has compiled a list of 100+ ways to use Gemini and NotebookLM in education.
You can read the full guide here or scroll down to see 5 of our favorites ideas below.
1. IEP-aligned assignment modification
You can find this suggestion on slide 24 of 100+ ways to use Gemini for Education and NotebookLM
Prompt: You are a special education support teacher. Modify a 5th grade social studies assignment about US geography to align with a student’s IEP goals. Include simplified instructions, visual supports, and a single-step rubric.
Tip: Upload the original task for tailored support. Ask Gemini to keep grade-level content goals intact.
2. Grant proposal brainstorming
You can find this suggestion on slide 28 of 100+ ways to use Gemini for Education and NotebookLM
Prompt: You are a grant writing support coach. I’m developing a proposal to study the impact of AI tools on teaching practices in higher education. Help me outline a compelling draft that includes a research question, rationale, methods, and potential outcomes.
Tip: Ask Gemini to align the proposal structure with National Science Foundation , Spencer Foundation,
or institutional research funding templates.
3. Reinforcing concepts with flash cards (Student use)
You can find this suggestion on slide 31 of 100+ ways to use Gemini for Education and NotebookLM
Prompt: [Upload PDF of class material] At as an educational content creator and design interactive flashcards for freshman biology students focusing on key concepts from the provided class material, structured as question-and-answer flashcards to aid in review and understanding.
Tip: Adding your class materials helps Gemini produce more relevant outputs.
4. Learn deeply instead of just getting quick understanding (Student use)
You can find this suggestion on slide 41 of 100+ ways to use Gemini for Education and NotebookLM
Prompt: Help me with this homework problem. A 10.5kg test rocket is fired vertically from Cape Canaveral. Its fuel gives it a kinetic energy of 1925J by the time the rocket engine burns all of the fuel. What additional height will the rocket rise? Assume that air resistance is negligible.
Tip: Guided Learning is already built to help you develop a deep understanding instead of just proving an answers so it can help explore a topic well even without strictly following prompting best practices.
5. Revise an old lesson for multiple learners
You can find this suggestion on slide 45 of 100+ ways to use Gemini for Education and NotebookLM
Prompt: Act as an instructional designer. I’ve uploaded a legacy lesson plan on persuasive writing for 8th grade students. Help me revise it to support three learner profiles: an English learner, a student with executive functioning needs, and an advanced writer. Suggest changes to the task instructions, pacing, and support strategies for each learner.
Tip: Ask Gemini to generate a side-by-side chart comparing how each version supports different learners, or include Universal Design for Learning (UDL)-aligned scaffolds.
Getting the most out of Google Gemini in Docs, Slides and Sheets
Gemini in Google Docs
In a new document, you'll see a "Help me write" button to generate a draft from a prompt. You can also click the "Ask Gemini" button in the top-right corner to open a side panel and get help with editing, summarizing, and proofreading your writing.
✨ Go deeper and learn more about how to use Gemini in Google Docs
Gemini in Google Slides
To use Gemini, click the "Ask Gemini" button in the top-right corner to open a side panel. From there, you can generate images, create a new slide based on existing content, or get help with text and speaker notes for your presentation.
✨ Go deeper and learn more about how to use Gemini in Google Slides
Gemini in Google Sheets
The "Ask Gemini" button in the top-right corner opens a side panel. This panel allows you to use natural language prompts to create tables, generate complex formulas, summarize data, and create charts and graphs.
✨ Go deeper and learn more about how to use Gemini in Google Sheets
Do more with Google Gemini in Google Classroom
To access Gemini in Classroom:
If your admin has assigned you a Gemini Education license you'll be able to access Gemini in the sidebar of Google Classroom.
- Go to Google Classroom.
- Click Gemini in the sidebar.
- You'll see a list of all the content and resource types you can generate, like Assessments. You can view all of them or click on a specific type.
- Select a resource type and give it a try.
Screenshot from @GoogleforEdu Gemini in Google Classroom: Google AI tools for educators tutorial video on YouTube
✨ Go deeper and learn more about how to use Gemini in Google Classroom
- Course Module: Use Gemini to create resources in Google Classroom Note this is part of the larger Get Started with Google AI in K12 Education free online course.
- Article: Learn about Gemini in Google Classroom
- Blog post: Gemini in Classroom: No-cost AI tools that amplify teaching and learning
- Infographic: Anatomy of Gemini in Google Classroom
Tips for prompting in Gemini
Creating the right prompt makes all the difference when working with generative AI. But sometimes it's hard to know how to craft the right prompt.
The PARTS Framework for Prompts: Google for Education suggests using the following framework for crafting a successful prompt.
- Persona: Identify your role or the role you want Gemini to play.
- Act: Use a clear action word like "create," "rewrite," or "explain".
- Recipient: Say who the output is for (e.g., 5th grade students, parents).
- Theme: Add your specific topic or concept.
- Structure: Name the format you want, such as a lesson plan, rubric, or email.
💬 Grade level specific prompts
I asked Gemini to create grade level specific prompts using the PARTS framework. After uploading slide 14 from 100 ways to use Gemini and NotebookLM in education I used the following prompt: [Please create 5 examples of a quality prompts using the PARTS framework for each of the following grade levels. Explain how the PARTS framework is used for each. Keep the tone professional yet conversational. K-2, 3-5, 6-8, High School, High Education.] See the responses below.
K-2 (Kindergarten-2nd Grade) Level Prompt
For our youngest learners, the focus is on foundational skills and engaging, simple activities. Here's a prompt example for a literacy activity:
Prompt: "You are a reading assistant for a first-grade teacher. Create a short, two-paragraph story about a curious squirrel for a read-aloud activity. Include simple, rhyming words and four comprehension questions to check for understanding."
- P (Persona): "You are a reading assistant for a first-grade teacher." This tells Gemini to adopt a supportive and educational tone appropriate for this age group.
- A (Act): "Create a short, two-paragraph story." This clearly states the task.
- R (Recipient): "A first-grade teacher" for the persona and "a curious squirrel" for the story's theme.
- T (Theme): "A curious squirrel" and "rhyming words." This focuses the content.
- S (Structure): "A short, two-paragraph story" and "four comprehension questions." This specifies the format of the output.
3-5 (3rd-5th Grade) Level Prompt
In these grades, students are ready for more complex subjects and projects. Here's an example for a science lesson:
Prompt: "You are a science curriculum developer for a fourth-grade teacher. Design a fun, 30-minute activity for students to learn about the water cycle. Include a hands-on experiment and a short, one-page worksheet with two diagrams to label."
- P (Persona): "You are a science curriculum developer." This sets the tone and expertise.
- A (Act): "Design a fun, 30-minute activity." This is the core task.
- R (Recipient): "A fourth-grade teacher" and "students."
- T (Theme): "The water cycle." This is the specific topic.
- S (Structure): "A fun, 30-minute activity" with "a hands-on experiment" and "a short, one-page worksheet with two diagrams to label." This outlines the desired format.
6-8 (6th-8th Grade) Level Prompt
At the middle school level, students are exploring more abstract concepts and developing critical thinking skills. This prompt focuses on a history project:
Prompt: "You are a project-based learning coach for an eighth-grade social studies teacher. Help me design a choice board for a unit on the American Revolution. The board should have at least five activity options that allow students to demonstrate their understanding through different formats, such as writing, multimedia, or art."
- P (Persona): "You are a project-based learning coach."
- A (Act): "Help me design a choice board."
- R (Recipient): "An eighth-grade social studies teacher."
- T (Theme): "The American Revolution."
- S (Structure): "A choice board with at least five activity options" that include "writing, multimedia, or art."
High School Level Prompt
High school prompts can be even more detailed, focusing on specific standards and assessments. Here’s an example for a biology class:
Prompt: "You are a high school biology curriculum teacher. Design a 5E lesson for 10th-grade students introducing the structure and function of DNA. Tailor the lesson for an inquiry-based science class and include an engaging lab activity and a claim-evidence-reasoning (CER) writing prompt as the exit ticket."
- P (Persona): "High school biology curriculum teacher." This sets the tone and expects a standards-aligned, professional lesson.
- A (Act): "Design a 5E lesson." This directs Gemini to create a complete lesson using a well-known structure.
- R (Recipient): "10th-grade students in an inquiry-based science class." This helps tailor the level of difficulty and engagement strategies to fit the learners.
- T (Theme): "Structure and function of DNA." This focuses the lesson on a specific science concept.
- S (Structure): "5E model" with "lab" and "CER writing prompt." This ensures the response uses an inquiry-based format and ends with a meaningful assessment.
Higher Education Level Prompt
For college faculty and staff, prompts can be highly specialized, supporting research or course design. Here's a prompt for a university course:
Prompt: "You are a college course designer. Create a 14-week semester syllabus for an introductory sociology course, including weekly topics, major assignments, and a grading breakdown. Ensure each week's topics align with specific learning outcomes."
- P (Persona): "You are a college course designer."
- A (Act): "Create a 14-week semester syllabus."
- R (Recipient): "An introductory sociology course."
- T (Theme): "Introductory sociology."
- S (Structure): "A 14-week semester syllabus" with "weekly topics, major assignments, and a grading breakdown." It also includes the refinement to "align with specific learning outcomes."
