NotebookLM: Google's AI Sidekick for Teachers

Why It Matters

We all have loads of content, from standards to Slides. Google's free AI powered NotebookLM turns your materials into everything from interactive guides to engaging podcasts.

The Big Picture

NotebookLM is a closed-system AI that only answers questions based on the documents you have uploaded, no web access, no hallucinations.

Key Features

Source Locked - The information the notebook understands is based on what you upload. You can load: Google Docs, Slides, PDFs, websites, YouTube and copy/pasted text.
Instantly Generated Content - Study guides glossaries, timelines and more are created in a snap.
Audio Summaries - Turn the content you load into a two-person NPR-style sharable podcast.

Getting Started and Building

Visit notebooklm.google.com

Red - Sources

Click + Add Source in the upper left to get started.

The red box illustrates which resources you can load into your notebook.

Your accounts are limited to 50 sources.

Green - Chat

The chat section is where you talk to the AI.

Green Arrow - The context window, where you type your questions you want the AI notebook to answer.

Red Arrow - The question I just asked.

Blue Box - The results of the question. Scroll to read more.

Blue - Studio

Green Arrow - Use this button to generate the audio podcast.

Red Box - Click to create or add notes.

Blue Box - Saved notes.

Next Steps

Common uses of the notebooks are for your own curriculum, for just one class you teach, one notebook per subject, etc.

Always remember, never add any PII, personally identifiable information, to any AI including Notebook.

Additional Information

Overview by Google
Getting Started with NotebookLM -by Google. We have the regular, not the plus.
Introducing NotebookLM - an pretty good overview of what the tool is.
NotebookLM - New Look - a more recent article detailing some updates.

Comments

Who is emailing me? The Blue Man Group??? (Add an image to your Google account.)

WHY It is always nice to put a face with a name. Sometimes we need a tiny little reminder of what someone looks like because we don't see them very often. Follow these steps to add/change the image associated with your Google account. HOW Open your email. Click your image. It might just be a blue circle if you have not added something already. Click Change . Find an image you like. Your amazing new image will appear. From now on everyone can put a name to a face!

Embed an audio clip into a Google Form!

Are you looking to embed an audio clip into a Google Form? Below you will find a list of things you will need ready and a video to walk you through the process. Needed: A single PowerPoint slide. Movie Maker. (Already on your computer.) A Google Form. Watch this video for the steps to follow.

Setting Your Gmail Away Message

You will be away from your classroom for a bit and probably won't be checking email on a regular basis. Wouldn't it be nice to have Gmail respond for you alerting whoever is emailing that you out enjoying your summer? Setting up your vacation responder is pretty simple, a few clicks and a save. Start by clicking the gear icon in the upper right corner of Gmail. Scroll way down the page. Look for the vacation responder section. 1. Click to turn the responder on. 2. Add your first and last days away. We would recommend adding something short and to the point for the subject line. 3. Whatever you add here will be the body of the email you are automatically sending out. It would be a good idea to tell them when you are planning on returning and who to call if they need immediate assistance. We also recommend not checking the two buttons at the bottom. 4. Save changes . That is it. Now your inbox will automatically alert people that you are not in your...

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