I had some time today to tinker with Nano Banana Pro, and I have to say, I was genuinely impressed by its visual capabilities. When it comes to AI image generation, Google is clearly pulling ahead.
Just to be clear, I am not affiliated with Google in any way, and I am not even a fan of Gemini as a flagship chatbot. For text, ChatGPT still leads for me, with Claude close behind, then Gemini. But image generation is a different story. Nano Banana Pro is currently in a league of its own.
Over the past two years, I have experimented with a wide range of AI image generators, including Midjourney, Leonardo AI, NightCafe, and ChatGPT. Nano Banana Pro tops them all. The quality, depth, and cinematic feel of its visuals stand out immediately.
Take a look at the sketch-to-image example in the video. A few days ago, Google shared a simple prompt and a rough sketch to show how Nano Banana Pro can turn it into a cinematic scene. I tried the same prompt today, using a similar sketch, and the result speaks for itself.
The prompt:
“Transform this simple sketch into an epic, cinematic fantasy landscape”
Here is their sketch
Here is the result I got from Nano Banana Pro
What really caught my attention was its relevance for teaching and learning.
Why this matters for classrooms
This tool opens up powerful possibilities for student work, especially in areas where visual thinking, imagination, and meaning-making matter.
Here are a few ways I can see teachers and students using it meaningfully:
• Storytelling and narrative writing
Students can begin with a hand-drawn sketch of a scene, a setting, or a character, then use Nano Banana Pro to generate a cinematic version. The image then becomes a prompt for richer descriptive writing, dialogue, and plot development. The focus stays on student ideas, not on the tool.
• Pre-writing and idea development
Some students struggle to put ideas into words at the start. Sketching first, then transforming that sketch into a detailed image, can help them clarify mood, setting, and perspective before writing.
• Visual literacy and critique
Students can compare the original sketch with the generated image and ask critical questions. What changed? What assumptions did the AI make? What details were added, exaggerated, or omitted? This turns image generation into an exercise in interpretation and critical analysis.
• World-building for project-based learning
In history, geography, or social studies, students can sketch imagined historical settings, future cities, or alternative worlds, then use the tool to visualize them. The generated image becomes a starting point for research, explanation, and justification.
• Art and media studies
Students can explore how style, lighting, scale, and composition influence meaning. They can revise prompts, adjust sketches, and reflect on how visual choices shape interpretation.
Watch the video to see Nano Banana in action:
