Gemini
Google Gemini is an AI-powered assistant available to Monash students to enhance productivity, support learning, and streamline research. When you log in with your Monash account, you gain access to Gemini Education Plus, which provides enterprise-grade privacy and advanced features.
Getting started: opt-in and access
Before using Gemini for the first time, you must opt-in via the Monash eSolutions portal. Once activated, always log in using your Monash student email. This ensures your data remains within the Monash environment and is not used to train Google’s public models.
Tips for mastering Gemini
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Create custom study assistants with Gems
Gems are reusable, custom versions of Gemini that you can program with specific instructions. Instead of typing the same complex prompt every time you start a study session, you can build a Gem that already knows your goals, your subject area, and how you like to work.
How to build your first Gem
- Open the Gems manager: In the Gemini sidebar, select Gems (or "Create a Gem").
- Give it a persona: Tell the Gem who it should be (e.g., "You are an expert Python tutor").
- Set the boundaries: Give it specific instructions on how to help (e.g., "Don't give me the full code immediately; instead, point out where my logic is failing").
- Save and reuse: Your Gem will appear in your sidebar, ready to pick up exactly where you left off.
Gem examples for Monash students
- The interactive tutor: Use this to test your knowledge.
- Instruction: "Act as a first-year Chemistry tutor. I will upload my lecture notes, and I want you to quiz me on the key concepts one question at a time. Provide feedback on my answers based only on the provided notes."
- The structural editor: Use this to refine your flow (where permitted).
- Instruction: "You are an academic writing coach. I will provide a draft of my essay. Your job is to check the logical flow between paragraphs and ensure my topic sentences are clear. Do not rewrite the content; only provide suggestions for structural improvement."
- The time manager: Use this to organise your study schedule.
- Instruction: "You are a productivity coach. I will upload information about my assessments, including dates and weightings. Your job is organise all of my units chronologically and suggest dates for when I should start working on my assessments to meet deadlines comfortably.”
Tip: When creating a Gem, uploading files can provide your Gem with more context and get it to provide more tailored responses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my data private? Yes. When logged in with your Monash account, your prompts and uploaded files are protected. They stay within the Monash environment and are not used by Google to train its global AI models.
Does Gemini cite its sources? Gemini provides links and citations, but they are often not in the specific style required by your unit (e.g. APA 7th or Harvard). More importantly, citations and references produced by AI need to be verified. You should check every citation and format it according to the Library style guides.
Can I use Gemini for exams? Unless explicitly stated in your exam instructions, the use of AI tools during an exam is strictly prohibited and constitutes academic misconduct.
Why is my Gemini access limited? While Monash provides Education Plus, some "experimental" features may be restricted for security reasons. If you reach a usage limit for advanced tools like Deep Research, a notification will advise you when your credits reset.