Designing self-guided learning for your career with generative AI

Everyone appreciates support and training when switching jobs, departments, or levels. But in reality, you may only get a quick onboarding session before you’re knee-deep in fresh responsibilities — without a mentor to guide you. 

Using the Gemini app, you can take control of your learning — gaining direction, structure, and a personal tutor for any subject. Maybe you like to learn by listening. Perhaps frequent quizzes improve your memory. Gen AI makes independent learning more accessible and flexible for employees at any career stage. Here are four steps for building a self-guided learning plan to help you in your career. 

Step 1: Assess your learning needs

When you start a new role, you usually come to a new position highly skilled in some areas. But you may need primers or brush-up lessons in other areas. And every position requires new tools and skills, often resulting in a scramble to learn a new way of working. 

• First, sharpen your prompting skills. Next, apply those skills by using Gemini Deep Research for thorough analysis and in-depth reports. Use prompts like, “Based on my position as a nonprofit development director, assess the latest trends in the industry and tell me how to gain a deeper understanding of today’s U.S.-based nonprofit world.” 
  

• Next, drill down with Gemini for guidance. Your prompt could be, “What resources can I access to improve the digital fundraising skills I need for a nonprofit digital fundraiser position?” Then you can focus on the critical required skills — and ask Gemini the best way to develop them.  

Step 2: Design a plan for self-guided learning

Once you know which subjects and skills are required, you’ll need a plan to monitor your learning progress. 

Start by prompting Gemini for a plan that’s customized around what you need to learn. Include specifics for your company and position, like this: “I’m a new nonprofit marketer and I need a plan to update my digital fundraising skills.” Fine-tune the plan by breaking down the skills into specific tasks, such as how to create social media posts. And ask Gemini to include learning plans for these skills as well. 

Step 3: Personalize a study guide

Refine your plan by customizing it to your needs. Use NotebookLM to upload multiple learning resources — PDFs, links to news articles, audio and video files, and your own notes. Ask your questions in the chat box. 

Keep learning materials organized by creating a different notebook for each subject. This gives you a personalized AI resource for the topics you’re studying. You can also create a visual representation of your learning content with Mind Maps in NotebookLM. As Google’s Steven Johnson describes it, Mind Maps “is a table of contents for my brain.” 

Step 4: Say hello to your study buddies

Now it’s time to study what you and Gemini have gathered. Learning can be easier when it’s interactive. Gemini and NotebookLM can step in to help make the most of scarce study time. 

For example, if you often repeat similar prompts, use Gems — customized versions of Gemini. The Gem manager’s prebuilt Gems, like Learning coach, offer learning activities and step-by-step guidance to support your learning. You can also learn by listening to personal podcasts that you can ask NotebookLM to create out of your review material.  

And you can test your knowledge with Gemini Canvas Quizzes. Gemini will pull out highlights and areas for improvement. Try a harder quiz, or review your missed questions with Gemini to keep improving. With gen AI, everything goes at your pace.  

Learn what, when, and where you want 

Gen AI lets you jump-start learning in ways that suit how and when you want to learn — from skill exploration to mastery. Learn with Gemini on demand instead of waiting for a scheduled class or seminar. Customize how you learn, instead of following a predetermined syllabus. Gemini opens up a world of possibilities for self-guided learning.