Introduction to Google NotebookLM: A Guide for Training Preparation
Have you ever stood at the front of the room just before kicking off a training session with a sinking feeling in your stomach, asking yourself, “Did I prepare enough?” Trust me, we’ve all been there at least once. 😩 Preparing to deliver a new training session is often the most challenging part of training. It’s uncomfortable for most people to rehearse out loud alone. Also, many trainers are never taught a repeatable process for preparation. As a result, many of us just end up winging it. 😬
Well, not anymore. A few months ago, I shared my custom “Training Lesson Plan” template, which is free for download here, along with some best practices on how to create repeatable processes for training preparation. ✅ Now, there is a new AI tool that can also help you prepare and study your content, both at your desk and on the go. In this article, we’ll break down Google Notebook LM and how you can leverage AI to take your preparation to the next level. 🚀
Google NotebookLM A Quick Introduction
Google Notebook is easy to use on both desktop and the mobile app. Its simple “3-section” view makes it easy to upload your content, chat with it, and even create a variety of different types of study materials. 📱
Google NotebookLM Sources
The Sources section is where you can upload your own sources, such as presentations, facilitators’ guides, activities, and worksheets. You can also easily link to websites or YouTube videos, paste in text, or import Google Workspace Files. 📂
As a side note, it does not accept Microsoft file types like .doc or .ppt, but you can easily convert those to a PDF and upload them that way.
There is also a handy “Discover” feature that allows you to type in a description of what you are interested in. Once submitted, the tool will search the internet or your Google Drive for information about the topic and suggest sources that you can choose to add to your list. 💡 Once you have added all of your sources, the real fun begins.
Google NotebookLM Chatting with AI
Once your sources are uploaded, you can engage with your LLM (Language Learning Model) or “Personalized AI Assistant” using the chat function or by creating content in the studio. You can ask any questions you want about the sources you have added. 🤖 Additionally, ask it to help you fill out your Training Lesson Plan or anticipate your learners’ needs.
Let’s say you have a leadership training class coming up on the topic of change management. Now that you’ve trained Google Notebook LM on your content, you can use the chat to help you brainstorm thought-provoking questions to ask during your session. 🧠 You might prompt the AI with, “What conversation-generating questions can I ask my leadership training class?” The AI will assist by providing a list of questions that you can choose from. 💬 Such questions can be integral to facilitating deeper discussions and can be copied right into your facilitator’s notes.
Google NotebookLM Studio
In addition to the chat, you have a variety of tools available to you in the studio.
Audio Overview
- A podcast-style overview of the content delivered conversationally between two hosts.
Video Overview
- A slide presentation-style video. Delivered in a format that is an AI voiceover and an AI-generated slide presentation. 🎬
Mind Map
- A visual tool for organizing and connecting ideas, allowing trainers to illustrate concepts and relationships in a clear, structured manner.
Reports
- Used to create a variety of different types of documents that can be used for studying. Including Breifing Docs, FAQs, and Study Guides. 📊 Each of which is customizable through prompting.
Flashcard
- An interactive study aid that enables learners to test their knowledge and reinforce key concepts through a question-and-answer format.
Quiz
- A customizable assessment feature that enables trainers to create quizzes to evaluate learner understanding and retention of the material.
The ability to create various types of content, such as briefing documents, study guides, videos, and podcasts, lends itself to all types of learners. These assets can serve as vital tools for your preparation process. They may even be helpful for your learners in their studies. 📚
The assets can be easily accessed and downloaded from the website on a desktop computer. However, the real kicker is that there’s also an app available for download on your phone. 💻 If you are stuck in traffic and want to listen to that fifteen-minute podcast, you can. If you’re waiting in line and want to review some flash cards, you can! 🚗 Studying for your upcoming training session has never been so mobile.
Conclusion
Google NotebookLM offers a modern, efficient approach to preparing for training sessions. It reduces the burden of preparation, opens new possibilities for engaging learning experiences, and it’s fun to use. ✅ So the next time you need to prepare for a brand new training session, don’t just wing it! Consider using Google Notebook in conjunction with your training session plan. 💡 You may even encourage your learners to use it for their own studies or exam preparations.
For more tips and tricks on training preparations, check out this article.
Until next time.
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