AI is showing up in everything from online shopping to healthcare—and now, it’s becoming a staple in education. But with its fast evolution, it can initially be hard to understand, and teachers have questions about how—or if—it can actually make a difference in the classroom.
If you ask us, we say absolutely!
Let’s take Google’s Gemini and its integration with Google Workspace for Education. For schools already using Google Workspace, apps like Docs, Sheets, and Classroom are a cornerstone of day-to-day work. Gemini Education takes that support further. As an add-on, it blends into the tools school staff is already familiar with and offers smarter, faster ways to handle tasks–all without adding extra steps or new systems.
This is just scratching the surface, and you probably still have questions about the how and why behind Gemini, so let’s get into exactly what makes it such a powerful tool for your school and classrooms.
What is Gemini?
In short, Gemini is Google’s generative AI model that works with text, images, audio, video, and code. It’s designed to do things like simplify tasks, spark creativity, and most importantly, save time. The base version of Gemini is available for free to anyone.
For schools, though, open AI models present a major security concern. That’s because anything put into an AI chatbot gets added into the large language learning model. Any private information used for prompts (like student names, school data, etc) is out there for anyone to grab it. All a bad actor needs is the right prompt.
Gemini Education, on the other hand, keeps your school’s AI system closed, keeping all input prompts safely within your domain. What’s more, Gemini Education integrates seamlessly into the rest of your Google Workspace for Education environment, enhancing the tools teachers and administrators are already using.
Depending on how deep schools want to go with AI, they can opt for one of two tiers of Gemini Education.
Gemini Education
Gemini Education is a great starting point for schools dipping their toes into AI. Teachers and admins get help with the basics—drafting lesson plans, summarizing emails, and creating visuals in tools like Docs and Slides. It's simple, it’s effective, it’s secure, and it gives schools what they need without being too overwhelming. Plus, with up to 1,000 searches included, it’s designed to support regular educational needs, making it a great fit for schools curious about AI but wanting to start small.
Gemini Education Premium
Schools ready to take the plunge into AI have Gemini Education Premium, which unlocks the full potential of Google’s AI tools. With added features like AI-enhanced note-taking in Google Meet, stronger security, and access to all the generative AI tools across Google Workspace, this tier is built for schools that want to make AI a central part of how they work. It also expands the search limit, offering a higher or potentially unlimited number of searches—perfect for users with more demanding needs.
What Can You Do With Gemini?
Think of Gemini Education as an assistant: that extra support teachers and staff need to combat the growing mountain of tasks they tackle every day. Gemini can aid in those time-consuming to-dos like lesson planning, grading, organizing, and communicating.
Just look at some of the things Gemini Education can do:
- Simplifying lesson planning: Starting a new lesson doesn’t have to mean starting from scratch. Gemini jumps in with templates and ideas, giving you a head start so you can focus on tailoring lessons to your students' needs.
- Creating visuals without the hassle: When you need quick visuals or slides, Gemini pulls everything together faster, allowing you to focus on the content that matters instead of spending hours on design.
- Providing focused, personalized feedback: Gemini helps teachers deliver specific, thoughtful feedback efficiently, allowing students to better understand their progress and areas for improvement, fostering academic growth.
- Protecting data: Gemini quietly works behind the scenes, using AI to prevent data breaches and ensure everything stays compliant with education standards.
Keeping communication in check: Handling a full inbox can be a lot. Gemini makes it easier by summarizing email threads and helping you draft responses quickly, so you stay on top of things without the stress. - Keeping everything organized: Balancing multiple tools and tasks can be chaotic, which is never ideal. Gemini seamlessly connects your work across Docs, Slides, and Gmail, keeping everything organized and easy to manage.
One of my favorite tips for teachers when using Gemini in Workspace is how easy it is for them to modify or extend lessons... When I taught, I would spend so much time brainstorming and agonizing over how to personalize learning for my students’ different needs and abilities. But, with Gemini integrated right within Docs, teachers can generate incredible ideas to differentiate their existing lessons and save a ton of time! Anna Hanrahan, Trafera’s Teaching and Learning Consultant