The traditional classroom is evolving. Education is experiencing a seismic shift driven by the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. Google is placing its AI tools, such as NotebookLM and Gemini, at the forefront of this transformation.
While fears of AI replacing educators swirl in the public consciousness, a cohort of pioneering institutions is demonstrating a far more nuanced reality. These eight universities and schools aren’t just experimenting with AI, they’re fundamentally reshaping their educational ecosystems. From personalized learning in K-12 to advanced research in higher education, these institutions are leveraging Google’s AI to empower students, enhance teaching, and streamline operations.
AI As Catalyst For Critical Thinking And Efficiency In Higher Education
The ivory towers of academia are no longer bastions of tradition alone. These universities are embracing AI to foster deeper learning, accelerate research, and optimize administrative functions:
University of California Riverside
At UC Riverside, AI has become an active participant in the learning process. Students are utilizing NotebookLM, Google’s AI-powered research assistant, to engage in rigorous intellectual sparring. By uploading their interpretations of readings and crafting position papers, they debate with the AI, stress-testing their arguments and uncovering potential flaws.
Matthew Gunkel, UC Riverside’s Chief Information Officer, sees this as essential preparation for a future workforce increasingly reliant on AI. “We need to prepare [students] for a future where they’ll need to know how to leverage AI tools effectively in their work environments,” Gunkel states, emphasizing the institution’s commitment to equipping students with the skills necessary to thrive in an AI-driven world.
This proactive approach extends beyond the classroom. UC Riverside is exploring how Gemini can streamline administrative tasks, from automating form-filling to enhancing data visualization, ultimately freeing up staff to focus on higher-level priorities.
Wake Forest University
Efficiency is the name of the game at Wake Forest University, where Gemini is being deployed to optimize both administrative and academic workflows. Administrative staff are leveraging Gemini in Google Meet to automate notetaking, allowing them to be more present and engaged during meetings.
Meanwhile, the provost’s office is harnessing the power of NotebookLM to summarize complex documents and conduct in-depth analyses that inform university policies. Gemini in Sheets is also proving invaluable for large-scale data analysis, significantly reducing the time required for these crucial tasks.
Mur Muchane, CIO and Vice President for IT, underscores the transformative impact of these AI tools. “Colleagues in finance were telling us about analysis that they were doing with Gemini that saved them hours,” Muchane explains. “A task that took eight hours was down to 30 minutes.”
San Diego State University
SDSU is embracing AI as a tool to personalize the learning experience for students and empower faculty. Gemini and NotebookLM are providing students with on-demand study assistance, writing support, streamlined research capabilities, and interactive learning opportunities.
Faculty members are also benefiting, utilizing AI to optimize lectures, enhance student engagement in the classroom, and accelerate their research endeavors. Dr. James P. Frazee, CIO and VP for Information Technology, highlights the seamless integration of Gemini within the university’s existing Google Workspace environment. “Enabling Gemini made perfect sense because it integrates with our existing Google Workspace environment, which is already deeply embedded in how our students, faculty, and staff collaborate and learn,” Frazee notes. “This allows us to responsibly introduce AI in ways that align with our commitment to equitable and innovative education.”
Boise State University
Creativity is a cornerstone of innovation, and Boise State University is tapping into Gemini to fuel the creative fires of its marketing and communication professionals. Gemini is being used to generate ideas and inspire content creation across various formats.
Leif Nelson, Executive Director of Learning Technology Solutions and Research Computing, emphasizes the intuitive integration of Gemini with the university’s existing Google ecosystem. “Since we already use Google for our email, document management, presentations and other aspects of our work, it was a no-brainer to utilize Gemini because it most easily integrates with these existing environments and workflows,” Nelson states.
AI As A Catalyst For Equity And Access in K-12 Education
The transformative power of AI isn’t limited to higher education. K-12 schools are also harnessing AI to personalize learning, provide targeted support, and enhance efficiency:
Chicago Public Schools
CPS is leveraging AI to optimize operations and enhance the curriculum development process. Staff members are utilizing Gemini’s customizable AI tools called Gems, to act as curriculum reviewers, uploading CPS’s curriculum development evidence guides and rubrics to facilitate evaluation.
NotebookLM is also playing a crucial role in simplifying district guidance and policies, such as financial reporting requirements, empowering staff to navigate complex procedures with greater ease.
Lorne Rodriguez, Manager of Enterprise Generative AI, emphasizes the transformative potential of these AI tools. “NotebookLM and Gemini are helping people experiment with GenAI in exciting ways, transforming the way they work and allowing them to streamline tasks that would otherwise consume their time,” Rodriguez explains. “Knowing they are covered under our district licenses with Google allows CPS to encourage their use to revolutionize the way we educate our students.”
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Miami-Dade County Public Schools is harnessing Gemini to provide personalized support to both educators and students. Educators are using Gemini to create quizzes and answer keys, while students are leveraging the AI to generate personalized study materials tailored to their individual learning needs.
Gemini is also providing students with on-demand support, such as clarifying questions and step-by-step explanations, ensuring they can access assistance even when teachers are occupied.
Superintendent Dr. Jose L. Dotres highlights the importance of providing safe and secure AI tools to students. “While Gemini is providing our employees with access to generative AI, Gemini for teens will provide our high school students with the focused support of AI in a safer environment with appropriate safeguards,” Dotres states.
Albuquerque Public Schools
Albuquerque Public Schools is empowering teachers and streamlining lesson planning with the help of Gemini. Teachers are using Gemini to expedite the development of personalized lesson plans, reducing planning time from hours to minutes.
Gemini is also proving to be a valuable asset in grant research and writing, contributing to significant funding wins for the district. STEM teacher Natali Barretto emphasizes the transformative impact of Gemini on her teaching practice. “With Gemini, my planning is so fast and easy,” Barretto says. “I can adapt my lesson plan to the needs of my students, and it can give me more ideas. I feel like I can give more attention to my students and projects using AI rather than spending my whole afternoon or weekends working on the planning.”
The Ottawa Catholic School Board
The Ottawa Catholic School Board is taking a proactive approach to AI, positioning Gemini as a “thought partner” for students and prioritizing AI literacy. The OCSB’s mission and guiding principles serve as the foundation for its AI adoption strategy, ensuring that technology aligns with educational values.
Geoff Edwards, Superintendent of Learning Technologies for OCSB, emphasizes the importance of preparing students for an AI-driven world. “I can’t imagine an area that wouldn’t have an expectation of using artificial intelligence in their work moving forward,” Edwards states. “To prepare our students so they’re familiar with AI and all its opportunities, especially when it comes to equity, we use Gemini to make sure they’re on the forefront of what they need to know about AI.”
Educators at OCSB are embracing AI and integrating it into their teaching practices. Erin Doak, a geography and religion teacher at Ottawa’s Sacred Heart High School, sees AI as a tool to enhance critical thinking. “In my classroom, I try to shift the mindset from AI as the answer-giver, to AI as the thought partner,” Doak explains. “It’s a tool that’s working to help the students think, not to think for the students.”
AI’s Tangible Impact
These examples illustrate that AI in education is now a present reality with tangible benefits. As these eight institutions demonstrate, the key to success lies in a thoughtful and strategic approach that prioritizes clear goals and a focus on empowering both educators and students.
Google’s AI tools are proving to be powerful catalysts in this transformation. Together with the vision and dedication of these pioneering institutions AI is being used as a tool to shape the future of education.