Level Up Your Unit Reviews with Google’s NotebookLM

Nearly every day, we hear about a new AI tool built to support teachers’ workflows. From multi-feature collections designed specifically for teachers, to apps and extensions with unique capabilities that promise to save hours of prep time, the options can be overwhelming! Not to mention the challenges with data privacy, accuracy, and bias that teachers keep top of mind when employing AI assistance in the classroom.

For educators who regularly use Google for Education, incorporating Google’s AI tools can help. Increasingly integrated into apps like Docs, Slides, and Classroom, Google’s AI chatbot, Gemini, offers the same privacy protections provided for all Google for Education users. 

While Gemini serves as a versatile all-purpose assistant, one of the newer Google AI tools that really excites educators is NotebookLM. NotebookLM functions as a “grounded” research partner, meaning it works exclusively with the documents, videos, and links you select. Because the AI consults only the sources you upload, it provides a secure and reliable space for both you and your students to organize and transform information without the risk of pulling in outside, unrelated content.

See NotebookLM in Action!

One of the most powerful ways to use NotebookLM is to create a shared learning environment. Curate a notebook with your own lecture notes, articles, or video transcripts, and share the notebook with students. This curation allows learners to “chat” with their specific unit materials, asking clarifying questions about areas of confusion and receiving answers cited directly from the sources you’ve provided.

Beyond the chat feature, the NotebookLM Studio can be used to create differentiated study materials instantly. From a single set of sources, users  can generate a variety of formats to support the diverse needs in their  classroom, such as:

• Custom Study Guides: Create structured reviews that include glossaries, practice quiz questions, and summaries tailored to your unit.
• Interactive Mind Maps: Help learners see the connections between complex concepts and vocabulary.
• Audio Overviews: Produce a podcast-style conversation where two voices discuss your unit’s big ideas. Perfect for learners to listen on the go.
• And more: Use the expanded Studio panel to experiment with a growing list of creative outputs, including flashcards, interactive quizzes, slide outlines, and video summaries that help bridge the gap between content and understanding.

Try NotebookLM yourself!

1. Go to NotebookLM and create a new notebook.
2. Upload your sources: Start with 5 sources from an upcoming unit to build your first notebook. You can mix and match up to 50 sources, including Google Docs, Slides, PDFs, website links, and even YouTube transcripts.
3. Open the Studio panel on the right to see the full menu of options for transforming your content into student-ready resources.

Learn to Teach with AI

NotebookLM is just one tool you’ll explore in our new course, 5381: Teaching with Google’s AI Tools. Go beyond the basics to become confident using Google’s AI ecosystem. You’ll get hands-on experience building your own Custom Gems to automate your to-do list, use Deep Research to supercharge your lesson planning, and create digital stories with Google Vids. Build the skills you need to use AI responsibly and effectively in your classroom!

About the Author

Sarah Murphy is the Evaluation Manager and a Professional Learning Specialist at Teaching Channel. She holds a B.A. in History and a Master’s in Education. Sarah began teaching in 2004 at the elementary level. She now leads Teaching Channel’s Evaluation Team, managing our wonderful team of Course Evaluators. Sarah is also a coursewriter and content creator, specializing in edtech, educator wellness, and content area teaching.

Fun Fact: Sarah has camped in 18 national parks and hopes to visit all 63 someday!

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