Integrate your industry knowledge into your course
Outline
Introduction
Faculty, you occupy the critical nexus between theoretical concepts and real-world application. You have highly relevant, up to date knowledge of your industry but you may be teaching a topic that is relatively abstract. You know the connection between the concepts and the industry but it may not be as clear for your students.
When you work to align your course with trends or key developments in your industry, which phase of the alignment process requires the most significant time investment? Is it the initial search for credible, current data across varied sources, or the synthesis of that information into engaging course material that will help prepare students for the industry?
In this session we will examine how to use Gemini as a research partner that can scan multiple sources to identify current industry trends and data. By taking on this lift, you are able to leverage your expertise and understanding of what’s relevant in your industry to draw connections for students in your course.
By strategically scanning for real-time industry shifts and trends, Gemini can compare this data to your course topics and suggest areas for increased or strengthened alignment.
It can help identify a gap within the content and highlight changes in the job market by analyzing "long-context" data—meaning it can maintain the nuances of a 50-page course manual while suggesting how to integrate new, industry-relevant competencies.
By acting as a research partner or teaching assistant, Gemini can help identify where aspects of your course could benefit from the inclusion of newly released job reports, articles about shifting global trends, or updated industry-focused and skills-based competencies.
Demo
Let’s look at how this applies to our work. If I were reviewing an introductory Digital Marketing course, I’d want to know how industry expectations have evolved. While core principles remain, the tools and strategies may have shifted rapidly due to a disruption in the industry. I can use Gemini to find concepts in my course where there is alignment with my materials and industry standards and ask it to draw connections that are compelling for students.
Step 1: Open gemini.google.com
Step 2: Enter and run the following prompt:
Conduct a comprehensive review of the top 3 industry shifts in Digital Marketing since 2019, focusing on workforce demands and emerging technologies. Provide a detailed report on how these shifts could be integrated into a 100-level university syllabus to ensure student career-readiness. Provide recommendations for connections between abstract concepts covered in the course and current trends.
Practice
Now, let’s apply this to your discipline. Consider a specific course you are teaching and the significant industry shifts your field has navigated recently.
Your task:
Open gemini.google.com
Enter your prompt. If you can't think of a specific course right now, feel free to copy and adapt this pre-filled example:
Act as an industry expert. Conduct a comprehensive review of the top 3 industry shifts in Supply Chain Management since 2020. Provide a detailed report on how these shifts should be integrated into an updated syllabus for MBA students taking Introduction to Global Logistics. Focus contemporary workforce skills, current trends, and emerging technologies that employers are currently hiring for. Format as a professional report with specific, actionable syllabus update recommendations.
In Person Peer Review (2 mins):
Turn to a partner and share one point of interest that the report generated.
How accurately did Gemini identify trends and nuances within your industry?
How might you use these insights to update your approach to updating your course?
Virtual Reflection (2 mins): Reflect on your generated outputs.
How accurately did Gemini identify trends and nuances within your industry?
How might you use these insights to update your approach to updating your course?
Reflection
By positioning Gemini as a research partner, you can delegate aspects of data collection, giving you time to focus on applying your expertise to the findings and translating industry data into meaningful learning experiences.
As an action Item: Use Gemini to generate a report focusing on emerging industry trends relevant to a specific concept that will be covered in your course.