Gems provide Gemini with information about what you want it to know, how you want it to act, or what it should produce. When using Gemini you can select which Gem is appropriate for your needs at that time.
Step 1
Open Gemini
You can open Gemini by going to gemini.google.com or open the Gemini app as described below.
A. Select the Waffle menu at the top right of your Chrome browser.
B. Select Gemini from the list of apps. Note: Your apps are likely arranged differently so you may need to scroll down to find Gemini.
Step 2
Write your Prompt
A. Verify you are using your school district Google account to work with Gemini. Some staff choose to associate their personal Google accounts with their school account and can easily switch between the two. If you do not see the school district's icon, you are not using a school district account and should not be used for district business. Select the icon to switch between accounts or close out and log into your district Chrome account before opening Gemini.
B. You can type in your prompt, press enter, and you will get a response. If you don't like the response or need more information you can type in clarifications and follow up questions just like having a conversation. You can also get better responses by creating a well worded prompt with details about specific information you want, the way you want Gemini to respond and ask. Many of the directions that follow will explain other options for refining your prompt to get exactly what you want.
C. Select this option if you would like to use the speech-to-text option.
D. If you have access to any Gems made by others they will appear here. Select one to begin your chat based on the background information and response directions set up in the Gem.
E. Select the right arrow to add and edit Gems. Directions for adding or creating your own Gems are on the Gems page.
F. Gems you have created will appear in this section.
G. Select the magnifying glass to search for a previous conversation.
H. Select the star icon to see content, like images, you have created with Gemini.
I. Select a category to select a prompt suggested by Google.
J. Select how thorough and fast your response should be.
Fast - Response comes in a few seconds and is suitable for straight forward responses
Thinking - Responses take around 15 seconds and gives deeper reasoning with more nuanced detail. The number of these prompts you can make in a day fluctuates based on Google server capacity.
Pro - Responses take closer to a minute, sometimes longer. It responds to highly complex logic and gives deep dive responses. It is also the only mode capable of displaying equations using complex math symbol notation. The number of these prompts you can make in a day fluctuates based on Google server capacity.
K. You have the option of selecting a tool for this prompt to use.
Guided learning - Helps user learn a topic rather than Gemini's normal approach of answering and explaining.
Create image - Create an image following parameters given in the prompt (and your Gem)
Canvas - Opens an interactive workspace. Instead of a standard back-and-forth chat, it provides a 'digital blank slate' where you can refine, edit, and preview your work side-by-side with Gemini.
Deep research - Causes Gemini to think on the prompt for minutes to create a thesis style in-depth response.
Create music - Prompt Gemini with an image or a description to create a 30 second song with lyrics on the topic you chose.
L. The '+' icon allows you to attach your personal files and resources for Gemini to consider when responding to your prompt.
Upload files - Such as PDFs or other documents saved to your hard drive.
Add from Drive - Access any content saved to your Google Drive.
NotebookLM - Connect a NotebookLM you have previously created and all its content and conversations will influence prompts used with this Gem. NotebookLM instructions are coming to the Self Help Site soon.
M. Settings and help gives you several options:
Activity - Explains your past activity in Gemini and how it gathered information to respond to each prompt.
Connected Apps - Allows you to connect or disconnect apps from Gemini.
Theme - Change between system setting, light, or dark modes
NotebookLM - Opens your NotebookLM account.
