Tiny projects you can finish today.
Step-by-step recipes — open a tab, follow along, end up with something useful. Note that some of the videos may have examples provided using non-UMN AI tools because that was what Alisa was using prior to getting access to Gemini. You can use Gemini in the same way. Please feel free to contact Alisa if you have questions.
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Descripti
What it does: Upload training materials (slides, handouts, guides) into NotebookLM and then ask it questions. Bonus: try the podcast feature for a new way to learn.
Why it’s useful: A creative way to transform training materials into an interactive tool for new staff or student employees.
Starter Video: This video provides a quick tutorial on how to get started with Google NotebookLM.
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Who this is for: Only participants who have NEVER used Zoom AI Companion before.
What it does: Try Zoom AI Companion features during a test meeting (start with a colleague, then with a student if possible).
Your task: Write up tips and tricks for other staff who want to use it.
Why it’s useful: Builds confidence and creates peer-to-peer resources for using AI in everyday work.
Resource: The UMN Zoom AI Companion website can help get you started.
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What it does: Uses Gemini to search for newsletter content for you.
Why it’s useful: This could save you time using google search to look for newsletter content.
Starter FileLinks to an external site.: This is an example prompt used to generate content for Alisa's First Gen In Tech newsletter. Note that this didn't generate all content in the newsletter, but it certainly saved some time.
Not So Tiny Projects
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What it does: When someone fills out a form (e.g., feedback after an event), Google Apps Script helps generate a personalized email reply (this email automatically sends upon the person filling the form and clicking on the submit button for the form).
Why it’s useful: Students get quick, meaningful follow-up with links and resources tailored to what they asked for. You can also make this more complex where only some questions will be used to generate email content while the other questions might be used for your own data/information/feedback.
Starter fileLinks to an external site.: The linked starter file includes two different examples with prompts, images, a training video, etc.
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What it does: Use common advising content (like “how to drop a class” or “how to set up an appointment”) to create a Gemini “gem” that drafts student emails for you.
Example prompt:
“Write an email telling a student how to drop their sociology class, add ANTH 1001, and set up an appointment with me.”
Why it’s useful: Saves time writing routine emails while keeping messages professional and student-friendly.
How To Video & Files: Link to Alisa's quick how to video on creating a Gemini Gem, Alisa's example wording source docLinks to an external site., Alisa's example instructions for the gem Links to an external site.
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Alisa hasn’t developed a video for this yet, but she will be working on that. In the meantime (if you feel brave) please feel free to take a look at the google doc outlining what she did.