All the hype about Generative AI had not impressed Nicole Speelman. Generating text and images didn’t seem useful for a chemistry instructor, and she was mindful of environmental concerns around AI energy usage. But something she learned at a department AI workshop in November piqued her interest.

“With Notebook LM, you control the source,” Nicole said. “You’re not outsourcing the whole internet.”

In other words, Notebook LM is an AI tool that works with YOUR stuff. It’s also less of an energy suck because it is working with a controlled data set. 

This information persuaded Nicole to experiment with Notebook LM for Biochemistry, a challenging course with a dense curriculum. She uploaded her chapter notes and asked for a quiz with an answer key. Notebook LM reformatted her words into a 12-question quiz that was easily converted into a printable document. Minor editing was needed to ensure the document was accessible.

“This is the first time I’ve had practice quizzes,” Nicole said. “Making them with Notebook LM is a huge timesaver for me. It takes me 15 minutes from start to finish.” 

Success with the quizzes prompted Nicole to try the MindMap, another Notebook LM feature that she learned in Ali Thornton’s workshop. Again, she fed it her chapter notes and created an interactive outline that she reviews with students in class. The visual gives students another way to understand how concepts are tied together within a chapter.

Nicole plans to experiment with other Notebook LM features this summer. And she recommends the tool to other instructors.

“It’s worked really well for this class,” she said. “That it’s saved so much time is great for me, and the MindMap and quizzes are great for students.” 

Nicole will share her Notebook LM strategies at October Conference. 

From Ali Thornton: Keep an eye on your email for the Quick Bytes Announcement for upcoming Notebook LM classes in mid-summer! NotebookLM is adding new features all the time, and the new infographic feature is quite incredible!