AI in Action for Educators

Hello everyone!

Have you ever opened a long document and wondered, “What am I supposed to focus on here?”

This lesson introduces NotebookLM, an AI tool designed for a very specific—and very common—need: understanding documents you already have.

Unlike many AI tools, NotebookLM doesn’t search the internet or pull in outside information. It works only with the documents you provide. That makes it especially useful for school- and work-related materials.

Educators and staff are asked to read a lot: policies, curriculum documents, strategic plans, meeting materials, articles, and guides. Often the challenge isn’t reading—it’s figuring out what matters, what applies to you, and what to remember.

NotebookLM helps by letting you ask questions directly of your documents.

In this lesson, you’ll learn how NotebookLM can help you:

• Summarize long or complex documents

• Identify key points, responsibilities, or deadlines

• Clarify confusing sections using plain language

• Prepare for meetings or conversations

• Study or review material more efficiently

The goal is not to replace reading, but to support understanding.

Let's keep exploring and creating!

Laurie

Laurie Conzemius
Technology Integration and Media Specialist
Park Rapids Area Schools

You start by uploading one or more documents—such as a PDF, Google Doc, or text file.

Then you ask questions about those documents, just like you would ask a colleague.

NotebookLM answers based only on what’s in the materials you shared.

Go to notebooklm.google.com and sign in with your Google account.

1. Click the + or Create new notebook button to start a new project and give it a title.

In your new notebook, use the "Add sources" or Discover sources tab to bring in information

You can upload:

• Files from your computer or Google Drive (Docs, PDFs).
• YouTube video transcripts.
• Websites by pasting the URL.
• Pasted text.

1. Ask Questions: Use the chat box to ask specific questions about your uploaded material (e.g., "Summarize this document," or "What are the key themes across these sources?").
2. Generate Study Aids: In the Studio panel, use features like:
   • Study Guide: Create quizzes or flashcards.
   • Audio Overview: Get a podcast-style summary.
   • Video Overview/Slide Deck: Generate visual learning aids.
   • Mind Maps: Explore connections between topics.
3. Create Notes: Write your own notes or save AI-generated answers to your notebook for easy access.

If you’d like a quick visual sense of what NotebookLM does, here’s a short official introductory video from Google that shows how you upload documents and ask questions about them. Watching it is completely optional—everything you need to use NotebookLM is right here in this lesson.

NotebookLM helps you analyze and understand information—but you still decide what matters and what to do next. AI supports thinking; it doesn’t replace professional judgment.

Choose a document you already have — such as recent meeting notes or a professional article you intended to read, but haven't gotten to yet — and upload it to NotebookLM. Ask one simple question, like “What are the main takeaways?” or “Are there any action items?”

You don’t need to explore every feature. The goal is just to experience how NotebookLM helps you make sense of something you were already expected to read.

In the next lesson, we’ll look at one of the most powerful classroom uses of NotebookLM: working with standards. We’ll explore how AI can help clarify standards, support assessment alignment, and assist with feedback and communication—without replacing professional judgment.

To help me make these lessons most useful (and to use my time wisely), I’d love your input:

How do you prefer to receive these AI lessons?

☐ Short written newsletters like this

☐ Short video walkthroughs

☐ A combination of both

You don’t need to reply unless you’d like to—this is just helpful feedback.

And finally, if you would like a short video or Google Meet walkthrough of anything we cover, please let me know. I’m happy to create videos or meet virtually with you when you'd like help.

Use NotebookLM when:

• You already have a document

• The document is long, dense, or hard to interpret

• You want understanding, not new content

• You want answers grounded in your materials

Don’t use NotebookLM when:

• You’re starting from scratch

• You want creative writing or images

• You need up-to-date internet information

• You don’t yet have a source document

In short:
👉 Have documents? → NotebookLM
👉 Have an empty page? → ChatGPT or Canva

Getting Oriented

• “Give me a short summary of this document.”

• “What are the main ideas I should remember?”

Clarifying

• “Explain this section in plain language.”

• “What does this mean in practice?”

Role-Based Questions

• “What parts of this apply to my role?”

• “What am I responsible for, based on this document?”

Planning & Meetings

• “What questions should I be ready to answer?”

• “What action steps are mentioned?”

• “Are there deadlines or timelines I should note?”

Learning & Review

• “Create a brief study guide from this.”

• “Quiz me on the key points.”

• “What would I need to explain to someone else?”

You can view all of the AI in Action for Educators lessons on our district website through this link: https://www.parkrapids.k12.mn.us/departments/technology-homepage/ai