Feedback from Districts Using Gemini?

[JW38]

Are there any districts here using Gemini with staff (or students age 13+)? What has the experience been like so far?

We (6,000 student K-8 district) are considering it, but wanted to get some feedback from anyone already venturing down that path.

Thanks!

[steve]

Staff at our district have had access to gemini.google.com since they introduced the added data privacy for EDU accounts, and we have a handful of the "premium" licenses for admins and a few others. Take-up is slow, but a few are using it regularly. We've had a HS English teacher working directly with students on AI, and so we've just allowed 13+ access to it (our high school basically). Most teachers are still pretending it doesn't exist, but we're trying to have some conversations on the topic to increase awareness.

[JW38]

Thanks for the info!

We're thinking of rolling out AI PD first, getting everyone on the same page of what AI is, what it can do, how you can incorporate it, etc. Then we may gauge interest via a Google Form to see who sees value, may already be using it elsewhere, etc. Those specific teachers and staff may become our pilot group.

Is cost a hindrance? Or is there no plan to expand it widely to all staff?

[steve]

I'm not expecting the use of the paid premium licences to expand very far anytime soon, it's certainly not something we could afford to do for all admins and teachers at this point.

[JW38]

Yes, exactly... this is why I was reaching out here for district feedback like yours. The cost seems prohibitive for many public ed institutions.

I'm curious to see if there are others out there dabbling with Gemini among their staff.

[panderson]

We have it available for staff but have not really advertised its availability (much to my dismay). We do have a subscription to Brisk AI for our Middle and High School staff, but in my opinion, the PD on AI is way behind where it should be. Thus, the use of it is way behind where it should be (IMO).. With all the different AI tools, especially the free ones I think it is important to get staff using something that offers data protection rather than the free personal ones.  Staff (and students) are or are going to be using it. Whether we have something in place for them or not, I would like to see them using the tools that are the safest and most productive.  We need teachers using AI so they can see the value it offers and understand how they might be able to use it with students in a safe and productive way.  

[JW38]

Thank you for the feedback! This seems to be what I'm seeing from most districts (elsewhere online and locally, as well as here).

That's interesting - it's available for your staff, but not advertised that it's available. So your district has decided to pay for it (which is $240/user/year), correct? Roughly how many licenses were purchased - 100% of your staff?

[panderson]

I guess I should have clarified that we have Education Plus and just have the free version.  I don't foresee us buying very many of the full-blown licenses unless the price comes down.

[JW38]

Ah, that makes sense. I've been trying to read up on the different variations of what Google's offering and their documentation is confusing at best.

We have Edu Plus as well... do your users have access to the Gemini icon in the corner in Google Drive apps (Docs, Sheets, Gmail, etc)?

[panderson]

No, I think you have to have the Gemini Subscription.  I think we have pretty much exactly like the Gmail users have access to except we have data protection, at least that is what it looks like to me.

[JW38]

Okay, good... I wasn't sure if we might've been missing something without that icon. Good to know - thanks!