Google Gemini for Education Tour

A Google Gemini team member explains features of the AI tool to students gathered at an outdoor demonstration booth on campus. — SDSU students interact with Google team members during outdoor Gemini demos.

On September 23, 2025, as part of Google’s national Gemini for Education College Tour, San Diego State University served as a flagship stop to kick off the new academic year. The one-day event provided students, faculty, and staff with a dynamic, hands-on introduction to Google’s Gemini and NotebookLM tools freely available to the SDSU community through their campus credentials.

Agenda Highlights

With programming that combined interactive workshops, networking with Google experts, and swag-filled pop-up experiences, the event aimed to boost creativity, productivity, and responsible AI use in higher education.

Gemini Pop-Up Booth

Dozens of students wait in a long line outside Google Gemini booths during the campus event, surrounded by SDSU buildings. — Hundreds of students participated in the Gemini tour at SDSU, with lines stretching down the Centennial Walkway.

Located on Campanile Mall near Hepner Hall, this all-day event served as the public centerpiece of the tour stop. Attendees explored drive-by product demos, engaged in casual interviews for potential features on Google’s social channels, collected exclusive Gemini merchandise, and connected with Googlers for informal networking.

Gemini Academy – Student Sessions

SDSU students attend a Google Gemini workshop inside Montezuma Hall, watching a live demo on multiple projection screens. — SDSU students gather in Montezuma Hall for the Gemini for Education Tour, exploring hands-on uses of Google's Gemini AI.

Two highly interactive student-focused workshops were held in Montezuma Hall, Aztec Student Union:

Morning Session

Students were introduced to how Gemini and NotebookLM can be used for note-taking, research, and productivity inside and outside the classroom.

Afternoon Session

A repeat hands-on session reinforced use cases with practical examples and tips, tailored to student learning workflows.

Both sessions were laptop-friendly, encouraging students to experiment with Gemini tools in real time, supported by Google product specialists.

Faculty Lunch & Learn

Presenter stands at a podium next to a large screen encouraging faculty feedback during the Gemini Academy kickoff session. — SDSU CIO James Frazee invites faculty to shape AI integration by participating in the Gemini Academy's event survey, as well as the SDSU AI Survey.

Faculty were invited to a focused professional development session in Montezuma Hall. This “Lunch & Learn” explored how Gemini and NotebookLM can enrich instruction through AI-driven support for curriculum design, content generation, and responsible classroom integration.

The session emphasized ethical considerations in AI use and shared use cases specific to higher ed teaching and learning. Lunch was provided, and faculty were encouraged to bring their own devices for hands-on participation.

This energetic day of programming reflected SDSU’s growing emphasis on accessible and responsible AI adoption. The Google Gemini tour stop complemented earlier efforts like SDSU OpenAI Day and further positioned the campus as a leader in AI-enhanced teaching, learning, and research.

Wide view of Google Gemini tents and event booths on SDSU’s campus, with students gathered around and lining up. — Gemini for Education Tour brought AI to the heart of campus, where students explored use cases and gave feedback.