How to Get Started with NotebookLM | Scribe

How to Get Started with NotebookLM

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Overview

NotebookLM is a Google AI research assistant that generates responses based only on the documents you upload. It is designed to help faculty review, summarize, synthesize, and organize course materials.

NotebookLM does not browse the web while responding. All outputs are grounded in your uploaded sources.

Step 1: Access NotebookLM

Step 2: Create a New Notebook

  • Click Create New Notebook

  • Enter a descriptive title (e.g., “BIO 101 Unit 2 Readings”)

💡 Tip: Use clear titles to organize notebooks by course or project.

Step 3: Add Your Sources

  • Click Add Sources

  • Upload PDFs, Google Docs, Google Slides, pasted text, or supported links

  • Wait for documents to finish processing

Important: NotebookLM generates responses only from the materials in your notebook.

Step 4: Ask Questions About Your Sources

Use the chat panel to:

  • Summarize a reading

  • Compare multiple documents

  • Identify key themes

  • Generate discussion questions

  • Draft study guides

Example prompts:

  • “Summarize the main argument of this article.”

  • “What themes connect these three readings?”

  • “Create discussion questions for undergraduate students.”

Step 5: Review Source Citations

NotebookLM provides inline citations tied to your uploaded documents.

  • Click a citation to see the exact source text

  • Verify accuracy before using content in instruction

Optional Features to Explore

After getting comfortable, you can:

  • Generate an Audio Overview

  • Draft structured outlines

  • Synthesize across multiple readings

  • Refine responses with follow-up prompts

Best Practices

  • Upload only relevant materials

  • Remove unrelated documents before generating outputs

  • Ask focused, specific questions

  • Treat responses as drafts — review before sharing

Important Considerations

  • NotebookLM does not pull new information from the web.

  • Responses are grounded only in uploaded sources.

  • Faculty remain responsible for reviewing and approving AI-generated content before instructional use.