We are excited to introduce you to Gemini Gems, a new way to turn those repetitive prompts into permanent, specialized "thought partners" that are ready whenever you are.
What is a Gem?
Think of a Gem as a customized version of Gemini that has been "pre-trained" by you to be an expert on a specific topic. Instead of starting from scratch every time, a Gem remembers your goals, your preferred tone, and any specific constraints you’ve given it. It’s like having a dedicated assistant who already knows exactly how you like things done.
Try it Out: Personal Productivity
To help you get a feel for how these work without the pressure of a lesson plan, the Technology Department has created two "Personal Gems" for you to play with:
1. The Vacation Architect: This Gem is designed to help you plan your next escape. It understands how to balance travel times, suggests hidden local spots, and helps you build an itinerary that actually feels like a vacation. Here's an example created for traveling to Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
2. Our Secret Meal Prep Gem: (Currently in development!) This upcoming Gem will focus on taking the stress out of "What's for dinner?" It can suggest recipes based on what's in your pantry or help you plan a meal based on what type of cuisine you're craving. Here's an example of a dinner created (and actually made by Amy) for Crispy Cheddar Chicken Dinner.
Why Start with Personal Use?
The goal of starting with things like vacation planning or meal prepping is to show how Gems can reduce your cognitive load. Once you experience the ease of having a tool that "just gets it" for your personal life, it becomes much easier to envision how an "IEP Goal Assistant" or a "Lesson Hook Generator" Gem could save you hours of administrative time during the school day.
If you are ready to see what is possible in the classroom right now, we highly recommend exploring EduGems. Created by EdTech expert Eric Curts, this is a curated website featuring dozens of specialized Gemini Gems built specifically for schools. You can explore his EduGems Website to find pre-made tools for lesson design, literacy, and assessment, or read his introductory blog post to learn more about the concept.
Sharing the Brilliance: How to "Force a Copy"
If you have started dabbling with Gems already and would like to share one with a colleague so they can get their own copy to use, you can easily provide them with a "master" that they can customize. This allows them to make adjustments without affecting your original Gem. Here are the steps to do that:
- While you have the Gem open, click the three dots (⋮) in the top right corner, then click Share
- Paste the link into an email or document and make these specific changes:
- At the end of the URL, delete the "?" and everything after it
- Next, after ".com/gem", add "s/copy"
- When your colleague clicks that adjusted link (while signed into Gemini), they will be brought to the Gem Builder where they can make their own adjustments. The name of the Gem will automatically update to say "Copy of..." followed by the original name.
Next Steps and Support
We encourage you to click the links above and start a conversation with these Gems. See how they respond differently than the standard Gemini chat!
As you start to think of ways a custom Gem could help you in your specific role—whether in the classroom, the front office, or the gym—don't hesitate to reach out to your building Technology Coach. They are ready to help you curate your own vault of everlasting resources, ensuring your best ideas and most helpful prompts remain as clear and brilliant as a diamond, ready to shine whenever you need them most.