NotebookLM for Teachers: All you need to know!

With AI and technology evolving so quickly, the sheer amount of information you have as an educator or learner can be overwhelming. While it opens up richer learning opportunities, it also brings the challenge of managing and processing everything effectively.

There are so many digital resources—articles, research papers, videos, and platforms—that it's easy to feel overwhelmed.

NotebookLM is Google's solution to tackle information overload in education. This experimental AI-powered tool acts like your own digital notebook; helps you organize your thoughts and research efficiently.

In this article, we'll discuss how NotebookLM can make your teaching life easier. You'll learn how it works, the features that make it perfect for the classroom, practical ways to use it across different teaching scenarios, what it means for both you and your students, a step-by-step tutorial on getting started, and best practices to get the most out of it.

If you'd rather listen to a podcast instead of reading through this long article, just hit play on the video below—the entire podcast was created using NotebookLM based on this Monsha article!

What is NotebookLM?

NotebookLM is an experimental tool powered by Google's Gemini, a multimodal model, that enhances your ability to read, take notes, ask questions, and organize ideas.

With NotebookLM, you can work with a variety of source materials like Google Docs, Slides, PDFs, text files, web pages, or even copied text—all neatly organized within notebooks, just like folders on your computer. This helps keep your projects separate and easy to manage, with each notebook supporting up to 50 sources and 1,000 notes.

What's really cool is how NotebookLM uses AI models to dive into and synthesize information from your documents, creating a dynamic and interactive experience. You can dig deeper into your materials, interact with AI to get fresh insights, summaries of key points, or direct answers—all tailored to the content you've uploaded!

Google emphasizes that NotebookLM is still experimental, with ongoing development focused on ensuring privacy and responsible AI practices. User data is processed confidentially and not used for training other models or shared with third parties, aligning with Google's commitment to ethical AI use.

And don't miss the beautifully designed, shareable infographic at the end of this article.

Understanding NotebookLM: Key Features and Functionalities

NotebookLM is distinct from other AI tools because it employs a concept called "source-grounding". This means, unlike other AI tools that pull information from huge, generalized datasets across the internet, NotebookLM focuses specifically on the documents you choose. Essentially, NotebookLM becomes an expert on the material you provide, and tailors its responses and insights directly to the sources you select.

Supported File Types

NotebookLM offers flexibility by supporting a variety of file types, so you can work with different kinds of learning materials. You can upload:

• Google Docs
• Google Slides
• PDFs
• Websites (via URLs)
• Copied Text

This wide compatibility means you can bring in anything from lesson plans and research papers to presentation slides and web articles—whatever fits your needs as an educator.

The NotebookLM Interface

The NotebookLM interface is designed to be simple and intuitive, with three main areas for you to work with:

• Sources Panel: Located on the left side, this is where you upload and manage your source documents. It gives you a clear view of all the materials NotebookLM uses to answer your questions and generate insights. You can add or remove sources as needed, ensuring the AI always has the most relevant information for your tasks.
• Chat Box: At the bottom, you'll find the Chat Box, where most of the interaction happens. Think of it as a conversational space where you can ask questions, give instructions, and request specific outputs from the AI. Just type your query, and NotebookLM will respond based on the content of your uploaded sources.
• Notes Dashboard: This is at the top of the screen and serves as your workspace within NotebookLM. It's where summaries, answers to your questions, and any content you choose to "pin" for later reference are stored. The Notes Dashboard helps you organize insights, track key information, and build a deeper understanding of your source material.

NotebookLM Use Cases and Ideas for Teachers

1. Lesson Planning and Content Creation

With NotebookLM, you can quickly pull together lesson plans, reading comprehension questions, study guides, and assessments using AI-generated summaries and outlines.

2. Differentiated Instruction

NotebookLM makes it easy to create materials for different learning levels. You can adjust text complexity or generate vocabulary lists based on student needs, which is great for diverse classrooms.

3. Collaborative Curriculum Development

Share notebooks with colleagues to brainstorm and refine lesson plans in real-time. It's a simple way to work together on building cohesive resources.

4. Engaging Students in Active Learning

Use NotebookLM to generate pre-learning questions and discussion prompts that get students thinking before and during lessons.

Improving Teacher Productivity with NotebookLM

1. Content Curation and Summarization

NotebookLM helps you gather info from multiple sources into structured notes—time-saver while prepping lessons or working on professional development.

2. Sharing Notes with Students

Easily create and share summaries, study guides, and personalized notes to give students a clear roadmap for their learning and independent study.

3. Collaborating with Fellow Teachers

NotebookLM lets you share notebooks and resources for co-planning, which is particularly handy for interdisciplinary projects and curriculum mapping.

Let Your Students Get the Most Out of NotebookLM for Learning & Research

NotebookLM isn't just for teachers; it's also an incredible way for students to dive deeper into learning, sharpen their research skills, and enhance their understanding. Even though students under 18 can't access NotebookLM directly, you can still use its features to create engaging, student-friendly resources. Here's how:

1. Age-Appropriate Engagement Through Your Resources

Since students under 18 can't use NotebookLM themselves, you can step in as the bridge by crafting tailored resources:

• Podcast-Style Audio Summaries: With NotebookLM's Audio Overview feature, you can create audio summaries that work like mini-podcasts, perfect for helping students grasp key concepts. You can also generate interactive content like dialogues or role-play scenarios, offering students a more immersive way to engage with the material.
• Interactive Study Aids: Design quizzes, flashcards, and glossaries to reinforce important concepts, ensuring students have diverse, accessible ways to connect with the material.

You can share these resources via Google Drive or your learning management system, allowing students to benefit from NotebookLM while staying within privacy guidelines.

2. Helping Students Organize Research and Notes

For students who have access to NotebookLM, the tool can really boost their information management skills:

• Structured Outlines and Summaries: Students can quickly create outlines and summaries from their research materials, helping them organize information effectively for assignments or presentations.
• Collaborative Project Hub: NotebookLM acts as a shared workspace for group projects, where students can upload materials, summarize information, and collaborate seamlessly.

3. Enhancing Comprehension and Independent Learning

NotebookLM also supports students in tackling challenging concepts:

• Simplified Explanations: You can use NotebookLM to create clear, simplified summaries and explanations tailored to complex texts, making it easier for students to grasp difficult topics.
• Personalized Glossaries: Build glossaries that explain key terms and specialized vocabulary in a way that matches each student's learning style.

Getting Started with NotebookLM: Step-by-step Tutorial for Teachers

Once you've set up your NotebookLM account and logged in, here's how you get started:

• Create a new notebook by clicking on New Notebook and giving it a name—easy as that!
  

• Upload your sources from a variety of places: Google Drive, PDFs, text files, copied text, or web URLs. Your sources could be Google Docs, Slides, PDFs, text files, or web pages.
  • For files on Google Drive (Docs or Slides), click Add Source > Drive. Pick the files you want, then click Insert. You can upload multiple files at once here.
  • For PDFs or text files, click Add Source > PDF or Text File. Choose your files, then hit Open.
  • To upload copied text, click Add Source > Copied Text. Give your source a title (it's required), paste the text, and click Insert.
  • For web URLs, click Add Source > Web URL. Paste the link and click Insert.‍
• Things to Keep in Mind:
  • Each source can be up to 500,000 words.
  • You can add up to 50 sources per notebook.
  • Avoid uploading anything that's personal, sensitive, or copyrighted unless you have the rights.
• Check out the Notebook Guide! Once your sources are uploaded, NotebookLM automatically creates a Notebook Guide for you. You'll find it on the right side of the chatbox. It provides a summary of your sources and suggests three key questions to help you explore further. You can also generate more detailed guides in formats like a Table of Contents, Briefing Doc, Timeline, FAQ, or Study Guide.
  

Making the Most of Your Sources in NotebookLM

• Ask Questions
  • Type your questions or instructions into the chatbox and press Enter (or click the arrow). You can ask for facts, creative suggestions, or specific instructions—whatever you need!
  • Try out different types of questions, like:
    • Summarizing discussions from meeting notes.
    • Creating glossaries of terms from scientific articles.
    • Generating new character ideas for stories based on drafts.
    • Suggesting product features based on business plans.

• Take Notes
  • You've got two options: Saved Responses, which are snippets from chat interactions or quotes from your sources, and Written Notes that you create yourself.
  • To add a note, you can save a model response using the pushpin icon, use existing notes to create new ones based on suggestions, or write your own from scratch.
• Explore Suggested Actions
  • NotebookLM offers context-sensitive suggestions depending on what you've selected:
    • When you select a passage: options like summarizing it, simplifying technical terms, or finding related ideas from other sources.
    • When you select a written note: options like critiquing your writing or finding related ideas.
    • When you select multiple notes: options like merging them into one or creating an outline.
• Using Citations
  • Most responses will include inline citations showing which parts of your sources NotebookLM used to generate the answer. Click on a citation to jump straight to that passage in your document.

Keep in mind, NotebookLM is still evolving, so features might change or get updated. Always check the official documentation for the latest info!

Responsible Use of NotebookLM: Ethical Considerations and Limitations

Using NotebookLM thoughtfully is key to making the most out of its capabilities while keeping things ethical in the classroom. Here's what you need to keep in mind:

AI as a Support Tool

Think of NotebookLM as a helper, not a replacement for critical thinking. It can simplify your tasks, but the goal is to guide your students to engage with content, analyze it, and come to their own conclusions. Encourage your students to:

• Cross-Check: Compare AI-generated summaries with the original sources.
• Critically Evaluate: Question the AI's output, looking for biases or errors.
• Apply Knowledge: Use insights from the AI as a starting point for their own work.

Ensuring Accuracy, Privacy, and Navigating Limitations

NotebookLM usually provides accurate results, but it's important for you and your students to double-check information using its citation feature. Privacy is also a priority—data is kept confidential and isn't used to train general AI models. Be mindful of limitations like file size constraints and potential biases, especially with sensitive topics. As the tool evolves, staying updated and adapting your practices will help you make the most out of it.

Final words: NotebookLM as a Teaching Tool

NotebookLM is a game-changer that can help you bring AI into your teaching, making your work more efficient and engaging for both you and your students.

• For You as a Teacher: It makes lesson planning easier, simplifies assessments , and centralizes resources, saving you time with features like document summaries and podcast-style audio overviews.
• For Your Students: It boosts their research, note-taking, and comprehension by offering tools like flashcards, summaries, and explanations—but remember, it's essential to guide them in using it responsibly and thinking critically.

Start exploring NotebookLM with content you're already familiar with to see its strengths and limitations. Sharing your experiences and resources with colleagues can also help you get the most out of it. Staying informed about updates and developments in AI will keep you ahead of the curve, ensuring you use NotebookLM effectively and responsibly. This way, you're not just enhancing your teaching but also empowering your students for the future.