Appreciation post for Google NotebookLM! 🙌

Oh my goodness.

Actually this post has been written since last week, I think. But, I was fully occupied till I forgot to click the "Publish" button. hahaha

And then, I just left this blog for quite some times. So many things in my head. 

But anyway, I already posted about this on my LinkedIn account. I also make a follow-up post regarding this NotebookLM. In the follow-up post, I just want to remind that AI tools under Google, including NotebookLM do not have the "data control" in the setting like ChatGPT. So, avoid using NotebookLM to evaluate Final Year Project report or any assignments which have potential to be published in journal or other things. This is to avoid issue of plagiarism in the future. Some works done by the students are worthy and publishing them in academic platform could benefit both the student and the lecturer. This is my opinion.

I hope one day, Google can have similar "data control" setting like ChatGPT. But of course, I do understand that Google is still training their AI tools. So, using the data and information supplied by the users is still the best way to improve and train the AI tools. 

So... That's it. I just have to wait until the time comes. 

Anyway, let me just publish this post.

And the bottom contents are the initial post related to this NotebookLM. Hopefully, you can get benefit from my sharing. 😊

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This tool has officially changed how I manage my 24 hours.

As a lecturer, NotebookLM has helped me prepare materials and facilitates student learning. I used the tool to generate a clear and creative summary video (5 to 7 minutes long) about the topic, which I played at the very start of class to prime the students' minds. Once they had the overview, I switched to my prepared slides for the deep-dive lecture. The engagement level was significantly higher.

Screenshot of my NotebookLM GUI

My other favourite feature is the audio generation. For the audio, I can specify the content I need to hear and listen to evaluations of students assignments and reports on the go. Listening to these insights during my one-hour highway drive allows me to immediately identify potential errors or areas for improvement. Of course, as a lecturer, I still strictly verify the content against the written report to ensure grading accuracy. However, this workflow turns my commute into productive time, giving me a valuable "pre-evaluation" before I do the deep reading or attend their presentations.

I listened to the audit report and discussion made by NotebookLM before I deep dive the actual report for evaluation.

It’s also transforming how my students present. By using the tool to synthesize their research, they can ditch text-heavy slides for simple, and creative single-page infographics. This shift forces them to hone their oratory skills and focus on storytelling rather than just reading off a screen.

Photo of my student presenting her mini design project using a beautiful infographic

But the real highlight is at home. NotebookLM helps me be an efficient home tutor for my kids. For example, it helps my daughter navigate her Year 1 Sejarah syllabus with dual-language notes in Bahasa Melayu and English. We also use it to create mind maps, flashcards, quizzes, and summary introduction that make studying history much more approachable.

With NotebookLM, I can generate dual language information to help my daughter who has better language proficiency in English to study Sejarah in Bahasa Melayu

Whether I'm running a lecture or helping my kids with homework, this AI is doing the heavy lifting. Highly recommend giving it a try if you juggle multiple roles!