Training Series: Generative AI and Gemini

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Google Gemini web interface

The University of Minnesota offered a series of training sessions for all faculty, staff, and students who are interested in using generative AI for their teaching, learning, and work at UMN in fall 2025. The series covered a variety of topics, including generative AI, Gemini, and NotebookLM. Recordings of all sessions are now available.

Past Event Recordings

Gemini Basics & Appropriate Use at UMN

Thursday, August 21 | 9–10 a.m. View the recording

This course will cover generative AI basics and appropriate use of Google Gemini with Enterprise-Grade Data Protection.

Topics include:

  • What is Generative AI (Gen AI)?
  • How to access Gemini
  • Overview of basic Gemini app
  • Foundations of appropriate AI use at UMN
  • Q&A

NotebookLM - Knowledge Management & Responsible Data Upload

Friday, September 5 | 11 a.m.–noon View the recording

In this course, participants learned how to organize, summarize, and generate content from personal uploaded sources (documents, PDFs, web links).

Topics included:

  • Introduction to NotebookLM
  • Creating a notebook to organize content
  • Uploading personal content such as PDFs and documents
  • Overview of NotebookLM use cases
  • Understanding responsible data uploading and privacy
  • Q&A

Effective Prompting in Gemini

Friday, September 26 | 11 a.m.–noon. View the Recording

In this course, participants learn how to create effective prompts in Google Gemini in order to generate useful responses.

Topics include:

  • Prompt writing fundamentals
  • Using Gemini for everyday tasks such as summarizing content, drafting emails, and brainstorming
  • Understanding different generative AI models and limits
  • Understanding appropriate data use
  • Q&A

Gems and Deep Research in Gemini

Friday, October 3 | 11 a.m.–noon. View Recording

In this course, participants will learn how to create gems, customizable versions of Gemini that are tailored for specific tasks. Gems can act as a personalized AI assistant for tasks such as synthesizing information, brainstorming, and more.

Topics include:

  • Creating gems to assist with specialized academic and administrative work
  • Reviewing practical examples of Deep Research for literature reviews, background research for grants, or compiling information for reports.
  • Critical evaluation of AI-generated research
  • Understanding appropriate data use
  • Q&A

 

Navigating the GenAI Landscape: A Forum for Exploration and Discovery

Every day productivity - Make your life easier with AI assistance - For administration at University of Minnesota

Friday, October 24 | 1–2 p.m. -- Recording coming soon!

This session was offered as a part of Navigating the GenAI Landscape: A UMN forum for exploration and discovery. 

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