Posts

Exploring Google Gemini

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     Image generated by Gemini      This week, I continued exploring Google Gemini  and used it to practice designing  a cover for our class eBook project . It was a very interesting experience using AI for visual design.  I started with a simple prompt asking for an eBook cover about digital tools used in learning and education, but the result was very basic and did not fully match what I expected. My Experience with this tool      Capitalizing on last week's experience with AI prompting, I knew that the quality of the image Gemini can produce depends heavily on how detailed and clear the prompt is . I added more details, such as the theme of the eBook, names of the tools included and the purpose of this eBook, the output was very different and of a better quality.      One thing I appreciated about Gemini is how accessible and easy it is to use . This tool does not require design experience, and it allows you...

Exploring AI Image Generation: Learning to Prompt Creatively - Bonus Activity

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     This bonus activity gave me the opportunity to better explore a different side of AI, which is image generation. This was my first time experimenting with tools that turn text into visuals. I explored both Microsoft Copilot (which uses DALL·E) and Google Gemini to see how each responds to image prompts. The general thought is that generating images using AI is simple. Just describe what you want and AI gives you the result. The truth is, image prompting requires a different kind of thinking compared to text prompting.       My first attempts were very basic, such as: “Create an image of a workplace training session.” The results were acceptable but generic and not very engaging. The images lacked detail, context, and creativity. They looked like the generic images you can find on the internet and not really related to the context I was concerned with. Then, I refined my prompts and started adding: - Setting (specific organization, office, classroo...

Learning the Art of Prompting: My Experience with AI Chatbots

    I have used different AI tools in work-related context to review and develop training content, different presentations and executive summary preparation. In this class , I had the opportunity to explore different AI tools as someone learning how to communicate effectively with them. One thing became very clear, which is that the quality of the output depends heavily on the quality of the prompt.      This week,  I used ChatGPT and Google Gemini to compare how different tools respond to similar prompts, and this helped me better understand how wording, structure, and specificity influence the results that the AI tools produce. My Experience with Prompting      At the beginning, my prompts were very general. I would ask things like “improve this paragraph” or “summarize this document,” and while the responses were helpful, they were often too broad or not exactly what I expected to see. As I watched the videos and  read the tips the pr...

Reflection on 7 Weeks of Blogging

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Image generated by AI I can't believe I have been blogging for seven weeks now! This class gave me the opportunity to explore something I had not done before, which is writing blogs and interacting with fellow bloggers. Reading more blogs written by colleagues in class and by other professional bloggers has helped me improve how I write my blog posts. As I read several blog posts this week, I noticed that some immediately captured my attention while others felt difficult to finish. Reflecting on these posts helped me identify a few elements that make blog writing engaging and useful for readers. A strong blog post is not only about sharing information; it is about presenting ideas in a way that invites readers to connect, reflect, and continue reading. The following are the features of the blogs I found interesting and engaging: 1. Content clarity I was attracted to blog posts that value the reader's time, experience, and thinking. The content was focused and presented in an at...

To Lead, or Not to Lead: That Is the Question!

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     Leadership has always been one of the most interesting topics for me. I enjoy watching videos and reading about leadership and its impact on individual and organizational success, or failure. When we look into the success stories of different organizations, leadership style and vision almost always stand out as key elements behind that success. A successful leader cares about people, and when people feel valued and supported, they naturally become more engaged, dedicated and care more about performance. This is when organizations begin to grow, innovate, and succeed.      Leadership is not limited to companies or formal organizations. Leaders exist in every aspect of life including families, communities, and everyday interactions. Leadership is not defined by a title or a rank; rather, it is defined by influence, vision, and the ability to inspire others. I have worked with many leaders throughout my career and the most effective ones viewed leadership...

Turning Slides into Videos: A Hidden Gem in Google Slides

I’ve always been a PowerPoint user and honestly never thought about exploring Google Slides. Recently, I started experimenting with it, and I discovered a feature I didn’t expect at all. Google Slides can convert your presentation into a narrated video, complete with voiceover, background music, and even an avatar if you want one. Instead of simply sharing static slides, you can create an engaging video that feels more dynamic and professional. This can be helpful for training, onboarding, or asynchronous learning where learners may not attend live sessions. Imagine creating: • quick training modules • onboarding walkthroughs • project updates • microlearning videos • or recorded presentations for remote teams All without needing complex video-editing software. What I like most about this feature is how simple it is. You design your slides as usual, add narration, and export them as a video. It saves time and makes content more accessible for learners who prefer watching and ...

Learn Smarter, Not Harder: Beat Information Overload with NotebookLM

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          Have you ever struggled with information overload? Needed to review a stack of documents in a short amount of time? Or prepare for a project and didn’t know where to start because there was simply too much to read? If this is the situation, Google NotebookLM might be the right tool for you.      NotebookLM is an AI-powered tool that can help learners and working professionals process large amounts of information in a simple and organized way. Instead of spending hours reading documents, this tool can generate summaries, create podcast-style audio overviews, and even produce quizzes and flashcards to support understanding and information retention.      This tool is very easy to navigate. You simply upload your documents, slides, manuals or notes and allow the tool to analyze them. From there, you can ask questions, request explanations, or generate learning aids that are based only on the materials you uploaded. Unl...