Imagine having a tireless thought partner, a personalized brainstorming assistant, or a tool that can help you lighten your workload. Good news – you do! This school year, we've rolled out access to Gemini, Google's powerful AI platform, and now it's time for a proper introduction.
Who Can Use Gemini?
Gemini is accessible for all HTPS staff and high school students by going to gemini.google.com.
How Do I Use It?
To start a new conversation with Gemini, just type in the box at the bottom of the screen. Think of Gemini not just as a search engine, but as a dynamic conversation tool. It's designed to understand context, take your feedback, and refine its output. So, if you ask for a lesson plan on life cycles and the first draft is suited for high schoolers, simply tell Gemini: "Rewrite this for a first-grade class." You don't need to re-explain all the details; as long as you remain in the conversation, Gemini remembers! For tips on crafting effective requests and getting the best output, check out our previous blog post on prompt generation here: Unlock the Power of AI: Your Guide to Prompt Engineering (No Tech Degree Required!).
Need-to-Know Features
- New chat: This will start a fresh conversation without reference to any previous interactions you had with Gemini.
- History: A list of all conversations you've had with Gemini. You can always go back to a previous conversation and pick up right where you left off. Gemini never forgets what you were talking about!
- Add Files: In the lower corner of the input box, you will see a plus sign with options for adding additional reference materials. You can upload files or link to a Google file (once you give approval to access your Drive).
- Microphone: Raise your hand if you prefer dictating your thoughts to typing? (Joel Handler - hand up!) You can dictate your input to Gemini, making it even more like a natural conversation.
What Should I Do with Gemini?
Well, that's up to you, but we can give you some suggestions for where to start based on three main categories:
- Thought Partner: Need to brainstorm ideas for differentiating a lesson? Want suggestions for integrating technology into your art lesson? Gemini has you covered.
- Lighten Your Load: Generate rubrics, draft communications, create simple quizzes, or even get ideas for an engaging hook to introduce a new topic. Let Gemini handle some of the repetitive tasks.
- Explore New Possibilities: Want to personalize student learning? Rewrite a passage for your struggling readers? Create a fractions worksheet using a Minecraft theme? Gemini can take things that you never thought possible and make them happen.
What are Its Limitations?
- Accuracy & Hallucinations: While powerful, Gemini is not infallible. It can sometimes generate incorrect, misleading, or even nonsensical information. Always double-check any critical information, especially factual data, before using it.
- Bias: AI models learn from the data they're trained on. This means they can sometimes reflect biases present in that data. Be mindful of this in the output.
- Not a Replacement for Expertise: Gemini is a fantastic assistant, but it's not a substitute for your professional judgment, creativity, or the nuanced understanding you bring to teaching and learning. It's a tool to enhance, not replace, human intelligence.
Important Reminders
AI tools are generally trained on datasets and user interactions. However, we have a specific agreement with Google: any information you share with Gemini using your HTPS account will NOT be used to train Gemini or make it 'smarter' for others. This provides an extra layer of privacy for our district. Even with this protection, we still advise you to exercise discretion and only share as much information as necessary in your conversations.
Need your own "Human Gemini" to coach you through this? You know where to find us!
Tags:
AI Tools