Gemini Gems

Create Custom "Experts" For Any Task:

 Google Gemini Gems

Have you dipped your toes in the AI waters yet? I have heard from several educators that they tried using a generative ai tool but they weren't pleased with the results. When I ask them to tell me more, it usually gets to the point that crafting just the right prompt was such an arduous task that the ai tool no longer was saving any time. 

Yes, prompting an ai chatbot to get the results you want can be frustrating and tiresome, especially if you are asking it to do similar tasks over and over. It can get annoying to keep copying and pasting and editing the same prompt.

That's why I'm excited to show you Gemini Gems!

What Are Gems?

Gemini Gems are a tool that lets you create custom experts for any task within Gemini. The idea behind Gems is to give you an AI chat bot that’s designed to help you specifically how you want it to. For example, you can create a Gem to act as a positive, upbeat time manager that has created a work-life balance schedule just for you. Basically, you can give your Gem unique context to meet your needs and revisit this exact AI expert, eliminating the need for constant prompt refinement.

How Do I Access And Use Gems?

• First, go to Gemini.google.com and log in using your school account. Since we have a Workspace For Education account, your data will not be collected and used to train the ai models.
• Hover over the gray bar on the left side of the screen to open the side menu and view the premade Google gems and the gem manager. Premade gems are a fantastic way to get started. 

You will see gems for Career Guide, Chess Champ, Coding Partner, Learning Coach, Writing Editor, and Brainstormer. 

• When you click on a premade gem you will see several ideas pop up. These are suggestions for how you can use this particular gem. 

• If you have a premade gem that is good but not quite what you are looking for, you can click the three vertical dots and copy it. Then you can customize it. 
• After you click "copy" you will see under the hood of the gem. You will have access to the purpose, goals, and instructions of the gem. You are able to edit all of these to your liking. 
• In order to really narrow the specificity of your gem, you can upload up to 10 files that your gem will reference. 
• You also have a preview window so you can test it out while you are tinkering. This type of iteration is exactly the way we want our students to be experimenting and thinking critically in order to get a desired outcome. 

Copying and editing is a wonderful way to create a custom gem without needing to start from scratch. This type of scaffolding is designed to help you get better at using the ai tools.

Ready to create a gem from scratch? 

• In the gem manager, click "new gem"
• Give your gem a name, add the instructions, load any reference files, and take it for a spin.
• If you are still not super confident in your prompting skills, you can click the little magic pencil icon and it will help you with your prompting.

 

Why or When Would I Use Gems?

Think about some repetitive tasks. One popular one is for help with writing. If you know that you have a tendency to be too verbose, perhaps you could create a gem that can help you be more concise. 

I have been struggling with not staying on task lately. I find myself bouncing from task to task without actually finishing anything (how I got this post done is a mystery to me). Consequently, I feel overwhelmed and a little directionless. I decided to create a custom gem that I titled: Time On Task Manager. I uploaded a document from University of Pennsylvania called Mastering Your Schedule Effective Time Management Strategies For Success to use as a reference because I wanted to make sure the ai bot would give me suggestions and strategies that were tested and proven. Because I am still not confident in my abilities to create new things from scratch, I made a copy of the Brainstormer gem and went sentence by sentence changing it to act as my personal time management specialist. Then, I tested it out. Did it do what I set out for it to do? Absolutely! What is funny is I think just the act of having it ask me to list out all of the items on my to-do list, and then explain my time constraints, was very helpful just to calm down and see that I can manage my list. Could I have done this on a sticky note? Probably. Did it feel productive and helpful and motivate me to get started? Definitely. Just having the positive words of affirmation there, followed by real time management strategies AND a custom schedule really did seem to make a difference. 

Are you ready to try Google Gemini Gems?

Let me know what you try and how it goes. 

Want to see mine in action? Reach out. I'm happy to show you.

 

 NEW From Brisk: 

Turn Content Into A Podcast, 

Then Boost It For Maximum Engagement!

@LisaBerghoff

Holy Cow!  (said in the voice of Harry Caray) I feel SO fortunate to be living in the edtech world right now. Ten years ago when I started this new position, I never could have guessed that we are now in the reality of figuring out how to leverage the power of AI to help students. At the same time, we are frantically trying to figure out how to teach responsible use. Meanwhile, the technology keeps barreling along with incredible speed. I have heard many say that the most important skill our students need for the future is the ability to be adaptable and to deal with change. This is a bit ironic because educators are notoriously bad at dealing with change. We tend to enjoy predictability, and the feeling that we have control. 

I hate to break it to you but predictability and control is all an illusion in life. The sooner we can lean into the idea that change is the most predictable constant, the better off our students will be.  You must admit, some of the changes are exciting the possibilities can be encouraging. 

That's why I am thrilled to tell you about a new feature in Brisk Teaching that will turn your content into a short, engaging podcast.

What Is The Brisk Podcast Generator?

The Brisk Podcast Generator will take your content and turn it into a podcast with 2 AI voices. The podcast comes with a transcript and both the podcast and transcript can be translated into over 40 languages. Since we currently have the district premium version, you get to choose the length. Options are 1-2 minutes, 4-5 minutes, or 9-10 minutes. The free plan gives you up to 2 minutes of audio. 

How Do I Get Started?

The same way you use Brisk to create other content! 

1. Start with your content- Google doc, article, PDF, website, etc. and click on the Brisk extension. 

2. Click on Create and choose podcast, or you will also see podcast under "popular tools".

3. Adjust the language, grade level, how long you want it to be, and any standards you would like to align it to. This is also where you would enter a prompt. Mine just said- "create an enaging podcast for my high school students". But you may want it to focus on a particular piece of the text or you may want to enter a specific learning goal here. 

4. Click Brisk It

To share it with your students, just copy the link and post to the LMS. 

You can also download it and share. 

How Do I Locate The Podcasts I Already Created?

To access any Boost activities or podcasts, you can click the red backpack icon from the Brisk extension. You can also go to https://app.briskteaching.com/teacher_home to get to this dashboard. At the top of the screen you will see "My Podcasts", click there to access all of your previously created podcasts. 

Why, And When Would I Use This? 

We know, through the UDL framework, that offering multiple means of engagement and representation of information. The podcast feature from Brisk does both of these. Giving students an opportunity to listen at their own pace, in their own language, and at a level that you deem appropriate, is important. Also, mixing up the modalities for student learning makes it more interesting and novel. 

This can be a wonderful way to introduce a new unit or lesson. By listening to a short podcast on their own, students can get information and come into class with some baseline knowledge. Conversely, this can be a wonderful tool for review before an assessment.

What Do I Do Next? 

The next step is to Boost it! Create an entire activity by clicking "Boost It". Then, your students will listen to the podcast and interact with the ai chatbot to ensure they understand the concepts. Remember, you can always customize the learning goals to steer the chatbot in the direction you want to make sure your students are having an experience that will support their learning. Not sure what Brisk Boost is? Here is the link to the post that will tell you all about it. 

Ready to give this new tool within Brisk a try? Want some help getting started?

Let me know. I'm happy to work with you on this!

High Quality Video Creation 

That Is Simple But Powerful:

Google Vids

@LisaBerghoff

The power of visuals in learning is undeniable. The power of video in learning can be even more impactful. What used to be a complicated skill that required specialized equipment and lots and lots of digital storage space, is now relatively easy and can be done with a chromebook. Video as both a means of teaching as well as a means for demonstration of knowledge and skills has become more commonplace in our schools and it makes sense that we have several tools to choose from. I'm ok with this because I believe that more tools in our toolbox means that maybe we are more likely to be innovative and try new things. I also think that this encourages the edtech companies to continue working on their products to make them better, more powerful, and more user-friendly.

Today, I'm excited to share Google Vids.

What Is Google Vids?

Google Vids is an online video timeline-based editing application that is included as part of the Google Workspace For Education license. That means that it complies with our student privacy laws and regulations, making it an easy choice when you are looking for something new to try with your classes. It can be found in the Google application launcher, otherwise known as "the waffle". When you click the grid of nine dots, you will see Vids as one of the options. you can also just type in vids.google.com into your url bar.  Google Vids is designed for short, ten minutes or less, instructional videos and presentations. 

Why Should I Use Google Vids?

Video in the classroom has benefits for both students and educators. First, as a teacher who probably answers the same questions over and over again all day long, creating a short video can not only help save yourself from frustration, it can give students control over their learning. There is no need for your students to sit and wait for you to answer their question, they can simply watch the video you created and have their commonly asked question answered right when they need it. Also, they have the ability to re-watch, pause, slow down or speed up the video. They can add closed captions or even adjust the language. In addition, Google Vids has the capability of recording your webcam, your screen, or both. It also allows you to record a voiceover, something that many of the other video creation tools do not have. There are pre-made templates, in case starting with a blank screen is not optimal for you. There are also music tracks that are legal to use as well as sound effects, stock images, videos, stickers, and GIFs. Since it is a Google application it will be automatically saved to your Google drive, making it easy to store and share. Just like other Google applications, you can add collaborators by clicking the blue share button. This works well for small group projects. Students do not need to create new accounts and finding their videos will be easy. 

Here's a whole list of ideas for you:

• Record part of a lecture/lesson
• Leave video instructions for your class when you are absent
• Communicate with parents via video instead of just a text email
• Share your course syllabus or overview
• Introduce a class project
• Differentiate content for students
• Have students do group projects
• Students can create an "about me" video explaining their learning journey
• Students can ask for help via video by screen sharing and showing their work
• Students can check in with teachers via video instead of taking up class time for individual check in meetings

How Do I Get Started With Google Vids?

1. Open the Google Vids application, either in your apps launcher, from your Google drive, or by typing vids.google.com into the url bar of your Chrome browser. 

2. Use the Vids recording studio. If this is your first time using the Vids recording studio, you will need to give permission to access your camera and microphone. In the top menu, you can choose between different recording options: camera, camera and screen, audio and screen, or audio only. 

3. When you're ready, click the red button at the bottom to start recording. When you are finished, click the stop recoding button on the bottom.

4. On the next screen you have the option to restart or preview the recording at the top right. Or, you can click the record button to add to your recording. 

5. After previewing, click Insert to add the video to a Google Vids file. 

6. Give your video a title and you're ready to share it.

If you have existing content you would like to import, such as screen recordings, videos, and photos, just click My Media on the sidebar. Find and click what you want to import. 

Want to add more media? Click the blue plus button (new scene) in the lower right next to the timeline. You can add additional videos, closed captions, voiceovers, images, text, and more. To add closed captions, click View-> Closed Captions in the top toolbar and choose Autogenerated.

How Do I Assign Google Vids To Students?

1. Go to Google Vids and choose a template. You can edit the template by selecting specific scenes to add, delete, or move to a new location. Edit any text and add video placeholders so students know where to insert their recordings. 

2. You can add the template to an assignment by sharing the link as view only. Prompt students to make a copy. Students can add media, music tracks, voiceovers, video recordings, etc. There is even a read along teleprompter built in so when students first type their scripts, they can easily record and maintain eye contact with the camera. 

3. When students click on the link, they will be able to edit and submit their own video creation. 

Yes, there are lots of video creation tools out there. I believe there is a time and place for each of them. Google Vids has a lot going for it and I highly encourage you to check it out.

Since you got to the end of this post, create a Google Vid and send it to me. I will send you a sweet prize!

If this post was not enough for you, there is a 45 minute free online course from Google that you can access here. 

Would you rather give it a try with a partner? Feel free to reach out or just book a time with me.

 

The Ultimate Tool For Understanding The Information That Matters Most To You

You can't enter any edtech meeting without hearing AI mentioned at least every 5th word. Obviously, the floodgates of AI have been opened across many fields but it seems to be especially prominent in the education space. There certainly are promising possibilities. The idea of personalized learning no longer seems like a dream. The ability for English language learners to have content translated and leveled for them is no longer an arduous chore. Students can get feedback on their writing without needing to hire a specialized writing tutor. And for educators, the notion of automating some of the more mundane or frustrating tasks is becoming a reality. Now don't get me wrong, there is plenty to worry about with the use of AI, including the fact that it can make things up (called hallucinations) or that students can generate content and perhaps bypass their own thinking. 

There is one tool that has people barging into my office in stunned disbelief and I am happy to report that it is now considered a core service for Google for Education Workspace Plus users (that's us). It is called NotebookLM.

What is NotebookLM?

Notebook LM is a Google AI-powere research and note taking tool that uses your uploaded documents, links, or files to create summaries, briefing docs, faq pages, study guides, and timelines. It can be used as a personal research assistant so that you can ask questions about the resources you have uploaded and it will give you some answers. It can help you verify the accuracy of information from your sources. It doesn't just give you the answer, it points to the source. It can also generate an AI podcast that will summarize the resources that you have added. And it is very, very good.

How Do I Use NotebookLM?

Start off by going to notebooklm.google.com and sign in using your school Google credentials. Since this is a core service, you can be assured that anything you enter will be protected by the same privacy laws and measures that all of our other approved digital tools follow. That being said, it is still a good idea to never enter personal information into an AI system.

The first step is to upload your sources. Once you click to create your first notebook, you can upload PDFs, website links, audio files, Google docs or slides, and NotebookLM will summarize them and make interesting connections between topics. 

• On the left panel you will see your sources. Here you can add more or click "Discover" to find more sources that are relevant to your topic. 
• In the center, you will see the chat window. There will be a brief summary of your uploaded resources and then you can prompt the chat to ask it for specific information. Here, you can also click to have it create a mind map or you can add a note.
• On the right is the studio panel. Click to create a podcast version that you can listen to. You can also click "interactive mode" to ask the podcasters specific questions about your information. Here, you can also have it create a study guide, briefing doc, FAQ page, and a timeline. There is also room for you to add your own notes. 

Here is the mind map:

Listen to the podcast by clicking here! 

(you won't believe it)

Can I Share A Notebook?

You have the ability to share your notebook by clicking on the share icon in the upper right corner. You will see a familiar share window that behaves just like the sharing capabilities in a Google doc. This will send an email notification and share the entire notebook with someone else. You can also copy the link and send it that way. Keep in mind that even with the link, specific people need to be given access, you can work around this by including a Google group such as a department or a class. If you just want to share the audio podcast, you can click the three vertical dots and download it to share. 

What Are The Benefits Of NotebookLM?

First, this tool will definitely save you time if you are doing any type of research or analysis of documents or websites. One of the big benefits is that NotebookLM cites all of its sources so you know exactly where everything is coming from. Data privacy is another big bonus. Since you are able to log in with your school Google credentials, Google will not use your data to train its models or store it anywhere. Finally, the podcast feature is fantastic. Do I want to spend hours pouring over multiple documents and analyzing them? I absolutely do not. Would I listen to a 20 minute podcast while walking my dog to hear the summary and analysis? Definitely! Then, I can go deeper if needed. But NotebookLM helps me get over the initial hump of being faced with a mountain of text. 

Regardless of your feelings around AI,  it is all around us and it is here to stay. NotebookLM is a wonderful way to try it out without needing to know how to properly prompt. It is simple, straightforward, and the results are incredible.

Want to try it out with a friend? Feel free to reach out to me. I'm happy to help.

Gemini DEEP RESEARCH
It Can Do The Work, YOU Have To Do The Learning

@LisaBerghoff

I understand that for many educators, AI has put us in a state of existential crisis. At a recent conference, I learned about something called the Gartner Hype Cycle. This is designed to help investors think about whether new technology is worth investing in and supporting.  I found it fascinating as it relates to AI in Education. It seems that we are currently somewhere between phase 2 (the peak of inflated expectations) and phase 3 (the trough of disillusionment). See the video below for a 3 minute overview. 

 

Having this information has made me more and more curious about what it will look like when we are in the plateau of productivity and also how long it will take for us to get there. I continue to ask questions related to how these new technologies can help students to learn and realize their potential while mitigating the risks involved with offering up something that can potentially remove much of the "work" involved in producing something, but not the learning, such as a research paper. 

That's why I got excited when I learned about Gemini's Deep Research.

I will let Senior Product Manager, Aarush Selvan explan how it works. Check out the 2 minute video below.

What Does Deep Research Do?

This tool is built into Gemini, Google's generative AI tool, that will take your prompt and turn it into a personalized multi-point research plan that you can adjust. It will then search the web to find relevant and up to date information. It will even show its methods of reasoning as it reviews information gathered and thinks about next steps. It provides comprehensive custom research reports for you with even more detail and insights that are created for you in minutes. 

How Do I Access Deep Research?

Just go to Gemini.google.com and in the prompt box you will see the icon for Deep Research. Click it to make it blue and it will be activated. You can also turn it on in the upper left corner, click the dropdown where it says Gemini and click Deep Research.

What Happens When I Use It?

Enter your prompt, and then you will see a research plan for your topic. You have an opportunity to edit and update it before the actual research begins.

Here, I asked it to help analyze the impact of cell phone use and policies on high school students' wellbeing, academic performance, and success after high school. This is the research plan it gave me.

When you click on Start Research, it does it's magic. It takes a few minutes, as opposed to the many hours it would take me on my own.

When the research is complete, you can ask follow up questions, request changes, and have the report sent to your Google drive in Google docs format.

If you would like to see the full report it gave me, click here

When Will We Have Access To Deep Research?

NOW! This is included as part of our Google For Education Workspace account.

Just go to https://gemini.google.com/app.

Are you ready to give Deep Research a try?

How about introducing it to your students? 

Want a wing-woman? 

I'm here for you! Reach out via email or just book a time with me.

 Ready, Set, Record!

Recording in Google Slides

@LisaBerghoff

My mom has been a real estate agent for over 40 years. One of the things that often comes up when she is listing a house is whether or not it has "built-ins". These are kind of polarizing because people either really want them or they don't. I love built-ins in a house because it means you don't need extra furniture. The same is true when functionality is built into an application. Over time, we have seen more and more types of built-ins added to Google products. I love these because many of them are tools that you want to use but in the past you had to add an extension or go to another site. 

Slides recordings in Google slides is a perfect example of a relatively recent built-in that is so simple and can be used in many different instances. 

What is Recording In Google Slides?

Recording in Google Slides is a feature that is available with our school Google license. It gives you the ability to record your slides without using an external recording app. You can include your webcam so you are also seen on the video in addition to your slides. You have a 30 minute time limit for each recording you create. Also, you must have edit access to the slides in order to create a new recording. If you or your students like to use other browsers, please note that you can only record your presentations in Chrome and Edge browsers. However, you can view, share, and delete recordings from any browser. 

How Do I Use Recordings In Google Slides?

To record, open your slides presentation and click where it says "Rec" and then click "Record new Video". The controls are very simple and easy to use.

• To start the recording, click the red record button.
• To start over, click the red button to pause and click re-record.
• To save it, click the red button to pause and click save to drive.
• You can blur your background by clicking turn on camera blur.
• You can open your speaker notes while you are recording.
• You can also change the size of your webcam window, or move your camera from the lower right corner to the middle, or any other corners. 

How Do I Find And Share My Recording?

To find your recording, open your slides presentation and click the Rec icon. You will see a list of recordings you have made of these slides. The recordings are also saved into a folder on your Google drive called Slides Recordings.

To share, open the presentation where you made the recording and click the Rec icon. Click the title of the recording you want to share. It will open in full-screen view and there will be a share button in the upper right corner. 

If you want to remove a recording from a presentation, click Rec. For the recording you want to remove, click the three vertical dots (more menu) and click remove. 

When Would I Want To Use Google Slides Recordings?

Here are a few times where this could be helpful. I am sure you can think of many more.

• Sub plans. Send the slides to your students and include your video that walks them through what they need to get done while you are gone.
• Student presentations. If you have students that get easily distracted by bells and whistles that come with other screen recorders, or who struggle to toggle between applications, this is a great option.
• For students who are absent or need more scaffolding and support. Create the video and post it on Schoology.
• Flipped lesson- give the information using Google Slides Recordings and then when they come to class you can do a deeper dive, answer questions, and let them wrestle with the material.
• Training style presentations for showing students how to access materials. This can just live on your Schoology page.

Ready to try Google Slides Recordings?

Let me know how you decide to use it.

As always, reach out if you would like some help.

How, When and Why To Use AI 

@LisaBerghoff

The whirlwind of artificial intelligence tools for learning can seem overwhelming. I'm having fun. I love to learn and try new things and there's no shortage of new things to try right now. However, as I have been teaching staff members about some of our new AI tools and listening to their questions, I realize that I have not done a great job at explaining the reasoning behind why an AI tool might be preferred, or how or when to use in the classroom. While many of us have been experimenting with generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini, when it comes to using AI for learning, there is a little bit of head scratching going on. We all agree that we don't wan the AI to be doing the thinking instead of the students. We also agree that we don't want students using AI tools to generate work that they will then turn in as their own. This post is designed to give you some simple recommendations for why, when, and how to use AI with students.

WHY- Embracing AI For Enhanced Learning

When AI is used thoughtfully, it can be used for-

• Personalized learning- AI can analyze student data to help identify strengths and weaknesses, tailoring learning experiences to individual needs. We also now have chatbots that are designed to work like tutors for students. This can lead to increased student engagement. The students who are not going to raise their hands in class just might ask the chatbot to explain content to them.
• Faster feedback- AI powered tools can offer immediate feedback on assignments, it's especially good with writing. This faster feedback loop can help students improve their writing skills because they are not waiting to get their papers back for days or weeks.
• Foster creativity and critical thinking- This seems counterintuitive but if used correctly, the AI tools can help generate creative prompts, simulate real-world scenarios, and will go places with students that we (I) don't really have the patience for. 

WHEN- Strategic Integration

Please don't just let students decide when it's best to employ the use of AI tools. When placed strategically, AI will add value to the learning process.

Scenarios when AI could be utilized-

• Accessibility- AI tools can provide closed captioning, text to speech, speech to text, and more for students who benefit from these tools.
• STEM activities- AI simulations can model complex scientific concepts or can be used to help test engineering solutions.
• Personalized study guides- AI can analyze student performance and create study guides that focus on areas where they need the most support.
• Language learning- Personalized practice, feedback on pronunciation, and grammar.
• Research- AI powered search engines can help students gather and analyze information.
• During parts of the writing process- can help with brainstorming, outlining, editing
• Providing exemplars for students to evaluate

HOW- Practical Applications

We have many AI tools and general digital tools that now have integrated AI capabilities.  To make a blanket statement of "no AI use" is no longer a real possibility in many circumstances.

However,  it is critically important that we educate ourselves, our students, and our parents. We also need to be having ongoing conversations. 

• Please do not wait until you think you are an "expert". That day will not come. Model what learning looks like to your students by trying new things with AI and see how it goes. 
• Consider assigning AI use for part of an assignment. By making it ok. you will likely make it less appealing for students to try and be sneaky. 
• Let AI take some things off your plate. The quick automation is designed to help you. Find a tool or two that works well for you and allow it to do some of the time consuming, mind-numbing parts of being a teacher that are less than fun.
• Utilize the student chat-bot feature to provide each student with an AI tutor. They don't have to sit and do nothing while they wait for you! An added bonus is that you have access to the chat logs so you can see where they need more help.

I hope this clarifies and demystifies some of the edtech AI landscape for you. Want a thought partner that doesn't have a screen? Reach out to me. I'm happy to help!