05 December 2024
Using Google NotebookLM for Teaching and Learning - TC meeting
If you missed our recent thematic community meeting on the applications of Google NotebookLM in education, don’t worry! Here’s a recap of the session, including all the key takeaways, thoughtful discussions, and next steps for your teaching practice.
Key Takeaways
- Google NotebookLM is an AI-driven research tool that integrates personal documents for tailored insights and summaries.
- Unlike ChatGPT, NotebookLM only references uploaded materials, ensuring outputs are source-specific and private.
- The tool offers structured outputs, including FAQs, study guides, timelines, and even podcasts.
- Ethical considerations remain key, particularly when handling student work or copyrighted material.
- NotebookLM can streamline admin tasks, such as mapping curricula, generating quizzes, and synthesizing past papers.
What Was Covered?
The session, led by Matthew Wemyss, explored the capabilities of Google NotebookLM, an AI tool designed to help educators synthesize and interact with their teaching materials. Developed from Google's "20% time" initiative, this tool enables users to upload personal documents, PDFs, and even YouTube transcripts to generate concise summaries, FAQs, and more.
Main Features Highlighted:
Document-based interaction: Educators can upload sources like textbooks, policies, and mark schemes to generate teaching aids tailored to their materials.
Enhanced privacy: NotebookLM doesn’t use uploaded data for AI training, addressing concerns around student data and intellectual property.
Educational outputs: From lesson plans to quizzes, the tool provides structured formats for teachers to use directly with students.
Podcast generation: A novel feature allows educators to create audio summaries of key topics—a hit with students preparing for exams.
Applications in the Classroom: Matthew demonstrated how NotebookLM could:
- Generate past-paper-style questions linked to Bloom’s taxonomy.
- Assist with curriculum mapping, such as aligning lesson plans with safeguarding guidelines.
- Create engaging resources like podcasts and interactive study guides.
Next Steps for Educators
To integrate these ideas into your teaching, ask yourself:
- How can AI tools like NotebookLM reduce my workload while maintaining educational quality?
- What ethical guidelines should I establish for using AI in my classroom?
- Could podcast-style resources benefit my students? How might I customise these for their needs?
Further Resources
To dive deeper into the discussion: