The problem is, sometimes it can be a little too helpful.
A student might ask for assistance with a homework problem or an essay and the AI chatbot will simply do the problem or write the report. We want AI to support learners in their work, not do their work for them.
Thankfully Google has a helpful feature built right into Gemini that does just that. It's called "Guided Learning".
With Guided Learning, instead of just giving the student a quick answer, Gemini will explain some of the basic information, but will then ask the student questions to bring them into a discussion and encourage them to think critically.
See below for a short demonstration video and written directions on how you and your students can use Guided Learning.
▶️ Demonstration Video
👀 Overview
Rather than just giving an answer, Guided Learning works a learner through the learning process with questions and multimedia content, adapting to the user’s needs.
- Go to gemini.google.com as normal
- At the bottom, click "Guided Learning"
- In the text box, enter a question or prompt about your learning topic
- Optional: To upload files or an image with your prompt, click "Add files"
➕ Example #1 - Math Homework
So let's say we have the following homework problem:
Grace invested $5,200 in an account paying an interest rate of 4.6% compounded daily. Assuming no deposits or withdrawals are made, how much money, to the nearest dollar, would be in the account after 11 years?
Let's put this question into Gemini twice… once without Guided Learning and a second time with Guided Learning.
When I don't use Guided Learning, Gemini simply works out the problem and gives me the answer.
Now sometimes that is exactly what we want. If we have a question and we just need the answer, it is good to know that Gemini will give it to us. However if we are trying to learn the content and increase our critical thinking skills, then this isn't the right option.
Instead let's try the prompt again, but this time we will click the "Guided Learning" option.
Rather than just solve the entire problem, Gemini is reviewing some of the basics and then asking the learner to explain the different parts of the formula.
At this point we can go back and forth with Gemini as we work through the problem step by step. Gemini can assist us if we get stuck, but the focus is always on involving the learner in the process and getting them to explain their understanding.
✍️ Example #2 - Writing an Essay
As a second example, let's say we need to write an essay. We can use the following prompt:
Help me get started on an essay about the history of space exploration.
Again if we don't select the Guided Learning option, Gemini won't just help get the essay started, but will actually write the entire thing!
On the other hand, if we use Guided Learning, Gemini will ask us what we want to focus on.
Then Gemini will review some basic information, but always inquire about our understanding of the content or prediction for what comes next.
When we are finally ready to write the essay, Gemini will not do the writing for us, but instead will provide leading questions and feedback while we do the writing ourselves.
💡 More Examples
Those are just two examples, but Guided Learning can be used in many situations.
- For test prep we could say "I'm a freshman preparing for an exam in my intro to Biology class. Can you help me learn about enzymes?"
- To learn about a topic before writing a paper we could type "How do bees support our food systems?"
- To explore something we are curious about we can prompt Gemini with "I'm passionate about photography and want to learn more"
- For coding help we could ask "I’m having trouble figuring out why my code isn’t working. Can you help me understand what’s wrong with it?"
In each case, rather than just giving us the answer, Gemini will help us think and question and work through the learning and creation process.
🤔 Why This Matters
The learner involvement supported by Guided Learning is critical for AI to make a positive impact on student learning. There is a fascinating study that was done by MIT recently that shows the negatives of letting AI do all the work and thinking for us. In such cases students have less understanding of the content, and less ownership of the product, and the product is of a lower quality.
But if students wrestle with the content, and put in the work, and then turn to AI to help challenge them, and expand their thinking, and provide feedback, then the students do learn more, and do feel more ownership of their product, and the product is of a higher quality. And the same is true for us as educators.
Here is a link to that MIT study and I encourage you to check it out:
For now though, a big thanks to Google for making Guided Learning an option in Gemini, to help our students and ourselves move from answers to understanding. Try it out today!
Post by Eric Curts
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