Robot-Proof Study: Build Your AI-Powered Learning Skills
Learning today often means dealing with too much information at once, notes, PDFs, videos, websites, lectures, and scattered ideas that do not always fit together. This module shows people how to use Google Gemini Notebook to bring that material into one place, work through it more clearly, and turn it into something they can actually use.
This module is designed to help participants use AI as a practical learning tool, whether they are building skills for work, learning something new on the job, preparing for school or college, or helping someone else learn. The emphasis is on strengthening understanding and judgment: working from reliable sources, checking what the tool produces, and creating work you can apply, explain, reuse, or teach from.
This training module is part of KINBER’s AI-Ready Workforce Hubs Train-the-Trainer series.
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You created a notebook and generated learning resources you can reuse.
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Your work follows the Privacy and Data Rule.
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You learned how to verify content by clicking a Gemini Notebook citation and confirming it matches the source passage.
- Work in order. Do not skip steps.
- Every step ends with at least one saved output you can keep.
- Use the Quality check to know if you’re ready to move on.
- Use “If you’re stuck” first. Ask for help after you try the reset steps.
“I’m not a fan of AI, but the idea of using it as a tool to summarize sources is a good idea for people who work with information daily. I also like that you can verify a source to make sure it is accurate.”
Librarian
Redbank Valley Public Library
New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Purpose and outcomes
Who it is for, what you will produce, and what counts as success.
Create study guides, reports, tables, visuals, and overviews you can save and use later.
Use flashcards, quizzes, and follow-up questions to check your understanding and build confidence.
Keep useful outputs, explain them clearly, and share them when needed.
- schoolHigh school students preparing for college
- schoolFirst-year college students
- psychologyPeople who want to build practical AI learning skills
- workAdults returning to school, work, or training
Participants under 18
On a personal Google account, Gemini Notebook is available to users above the age of consent for their country. With a Google Workspace for Education account, it is available to users of all ages. If you are working with high school participants, plan on school-issued Workspace for Education accounts. Note that the Deep Research source-finding feature is limited to users over 18.
Use the Quality check to know if you’re ready to move on:
Gemini Notebook Study Workspace
Sources uploaded and labeled
Saved Learning Resource
Step 2 study note
Study Pack
Flashcards (including a downloaded CSV), quiz results, Confirmation Note
Report and Data Table
Saved outputs that organize or compare source information
Audio and Video Overview
Spoken and visual summaries, plus downloaded copies of each output
Visual Explanation
Slide deck, infographic, or mind map that helps explain the topic clearly
Shared notebook or standalone output
Full notebook access or one downloaded or exported output, matched to your audience and goal
Tools needed
Keep it simple. Use the primary tool, then add support tools only as needed.
Google Gemini Notebook, web
Formerly NotebookLM. Open it at notebook.google.com. Use it as a grounded learning workspace and keep your sources labeled.
Laptop and Google account
Required for access and saving work. Use a laptop, not a phone: the Gemini Notebook mobile app does not support notes, and every step in this module ends in a saved note.
Google Slides
For slide deck work in Step 5
Google Docs and Google Sheets
Useful for drafting, editing, and saving written outputs. Reports export to Docs; data tables export to Sheets.
Headphones
Required for audio features
Rules you follow every time
These rules protect learners, improve source quality, and keep outputs accurate and reliable before you begin the steps.
Never upload personal identifying information, or confidential institutional data into public AI models.
Do not upload
- Social Security, driver’s license, passport numbers
- Medical information
- Bank or credit account numbers
- Student records or protected education data
- Internal documents not meant for public release
- Passwords, access codes, private links
Do instead
- Start with publicly available sources
- Use non-public sources only if you are allowed to use them
- Remove names and identifying details first
- When in doubt, do not upload it
One thing to know about feedback
- Google states your data is not used to train Gemini Notebook unless you provide feedback.
- On a personal account, submitting feedback means Google may review the full context of that interaction, including your queries, your uploads, and the responses.
- On a Google Workspace or Workspace for Education account, uploads, queries, and responses are not reviewed by people and are not used to train models, even when you give a thumbs up or thumbs down.
- Practical takeaway: think before you click the feedback buttons on a personal account.
Gemini Notebook works from the sources you choose. Before you ask it to summarize or analyze, take a moment to review what you added. Some sources, such as teacher-provided class materials, may already be part of a trusted learning context.
When you add your own web sources, it helps to make sure they are current, trustworthy, and relevant. Better source choices lead to better results.
New: Gemini Notebook can now find sources for you
You are no longer the only one adding sources. From the Sources panel you can type a research question and use:
- Fast Research to pull in supported sources from the web or from your Google Drive.
- Deep Research to browse many sites automatically and return a report plus a list of sources you can import. Deep Research is limited to users over 18, and the standard plan includes a small monthly allowance.
This is convenient, but it does not do your thinking for you. Automated source-finding is strong on breadth and weak on judgment. Treat what it returns as a draft reading list, not a finished one. You still choose which results to import, and this rule still applies to every one of them.
Free tools you can use
- Google Fact Check Explorer to see whether a claim or topic has already been fact-checked.
Always cross-reference AI-generated facts with the primary source materials you are using.
How to verify
- For any factual claim you plan to keep, find the matching passage in a source
- Use Gemini Notebook citations to verify
- Click the citation to jump to the exact passage
- Confirm the passage supports the claim
Important: not every output has citations
Chat answers, reports, and data tables include citations you can click. Infographics, slide decks, audio overviews, and video overviews do not contain citations inside them.
So when you want to verify something you saw in a visual or heard in an overview, do not go looking for a citation on the artifact itself. Take the claim to chat, ask about it there, and click the citation in the chat answer. Steps 5 and 6 will walk you through this.
Setup checklist
You are ready to start when these are done.
- Sign in to your Google account, or create one. If you are under 18, use a school Workspace for Education account.
- Open Gemini Notebook at notebook.google.com. If you have used NotebookLM before, this is the same product and your notebooks are still there.
- Check your current usage. At the top right, select Settings, then Usage.
- Have headphones available for audio features.
A free Google account has daily limits on Gemini Notebook. The ones you're likely to hit in this module:
- 50 chat messages a day
- 3 Audio Overviews and 3 Video Overviews a day
- 10 each of Reports, Flashcards, Quizzes, and Mind Maps a day
- 50 sources per notebook
Paid Google AI plans raise these limits, but the module does not require one.
As of September 8, 2026, Google is in the middle of changing how these limits work, moving from fixed daily counts to a usage budget that refreshes every few hours. Some accounts have this already; most do not yet. If a Studio generation screen shows a cost bar above the Generate button, that account has the new system and the counts above will not match exactly. Either way, check Settings, then Usage, if something will not generate.
For exact current numbers on any plan, see the Gemini Notebook Help Center.
Step-by-step sequence
Work in order. Every step ends with a clear output you can save and use later.
Build your Gemini Notebook workspace
Get oriented, create a notebook, add mixed sources, and save one note you can reuse.
infoWhy this step matters
Gemini Notebook performs best when you treat it like a workspace for your sources. It answers based on the sources you select.
descriptionWhat you will create
A named notebook with sources added and labeled, plus one saved note.
Instructions
- 01Select Create new notebook. Gemini Notebook will prompt you to add a source right away, so have your links ready. You can name the notebook once it opens.
- 02Add your sources (PDFs, a website, a YouTube link, or your own notes) using Add sources on the left.
- 03Take a quick tour of the notebook workspace. Sources is on the left, Chat is in the middle, and Studio is on the right. Note that Notes now live inside the Studio panel, alongside the other outputs you will create.
- 04Rename your sources so they are recognizable. Once you have five or more sources, Gemini Notebook can automatically label and group them by topic. You can add, rename, or delete those labels and move sources between them.
- 05Look at the Studio panel. Gemini Notebook sometimes creates a first output for you automatically, such as a report, flashcards, or an overview. This is normal, it is free, and you did not do anything wrong. Have a quick look, then carry on.
- 06Open one source, then read the Source guide summary.
- 07Click one key topic to see the expansion.
- 08Select the sources you want used right now, and deselect the rest.
- 09Ask one starter question in chat: “Give me a plain-language summary, then list the 5 most important terms from my sources.”
- 10Verify one claim. Click one citation in the response. Confirm the cited passage supports the claim.
- 11Save your best output. Click Save to Note so you can keep it. Your notes appear in the Studio panel and are pinned above the chat box.
Sample Sources
Use these curated sources to practice adding sources into Gemini Notebook. For this activity, select one category and only use the sources listed in that category. Please do not copy sources from other categories for this training activity.
Note: Gemini Notebook works best when each notebook is topic-specific. Keeping one notebook focused on one topic helps you stay organized and gives Gemini Notebook clearer source material to work with.
Category 1: Responsible AI Use for Children and Families
Use the sources below:
Category 2: Home Gardening Basics
Use the sources below:
Category 3: AI and Teamwork
Use the sources below:
Category 4: Online Safety, Phishing, and Scam Awareness
Use the sources below:
Category 5: AI Basics and Responsible Use
Use the sources below:
Quality check, pass or fail
- PASS: You can point to Sources on the left, Chat in the middle, and Studio on the right, and explain what each does.
- PASS: You can find the Notes section inside the Studio panel.
- PASS: At least two sources are added and you can see them on the left.
- PASS: You saved at least one note.
Common mistakes and fixes
- Mistake: The answer uses a source you did not mean to use. Fix: Deselect that source before you ask.
- Mistake: You got a good output and lost it after reload. Fix: Save to Note every time you want to keep it.
- Mistake: You are hunting for a separate Notes panel. Fix: Notes are inside Studio.
- Mistake: The output feels vague. Fix: Ask for key terms, then ask what to focus on first.
- Mistake: You cannot find where a claim came from. Fix: Click a citation and read the passage.
If you are stuck
- Reload the page.
- Make sure your sources finished processing.
- Try a smaller source set first.
- If a link will not import, check that the page is public and not behind a paywall, and that a YouTube video has captions.
Create one Learning Resource
Turn your sources into a structured study aid you can reuse, edit, and save.
infoWhy this step matters
You turn your sources into a study resource you will reuse. This is where you learn to ask for structure, not a long answer.
descriptionWhat you will create
One saved Learning Resource Note.
Instructions
- 01Select only the sources you want used right now.
- 02Choose one learning resource type, Study guide, Review worksheet, Q&A notes, or Practice questions.
- 03Run one prompt that matches your choice (See prompt options below).
- 04Verify one claim. Click one citation in the chat answer. Confirm the cited passage supports the claim.
- 05Save it. Click Save to Note so you can keep it. Note that a note saved from a chat response cannot be edited afterwards, so if you want to change it, use the next step.
- 06Optional: Export to Docs from the three-dot menu next to your notes in the Studio panel, then edit there. Changes you make in Docs do not sync back to Gemini Notebook.
Prompt options
Prompt A: Study Guide
“Create a one-page study guide from my sources. Use headings and bullets. Include key terms and 5 practice questions with an answer key. Use citations for facts.”
Prompt B: Review Worksheet
“Create a review worksheet from my sources. Include a mix of question types and an answer key. Use citations for facts.”
Prompt C: Q&A Notes
“Turn my sources into Question and Answer notes. Ask learner-style questions. Answer in short bullets. Use citations for facts.”
Prompt D: Practice Questions
“Build a list of practice questions from my sources. Include answers and short explanations. Use citations for facts.”
Optional: quick actions on your notes
Once you have a few notes saved, you can select them in Studio and use the built-in quick actions to combine them into one note, summarize them, turn them into an outline, build a study guide with key questions and a glossary, or convert them into a new source.
Sample Sources
Use these curated sources to practice adding sources into Gemini Notebook. For this activity, select one category and only use the sources listed in that category. Please do not copy sources from other categories for this training activity.
Note: Gemini Notebook works best when each notebook is topic-specific. Keeping one notebook focused on one topic helps you stay organized and gives Gemini Notebook clearer source material to work with.
Category 1: Responsible AI Use for Children and Families
Use the sources below:
Category 2: Home Gardening Basics
Use the sources below:
Category 3: AI and Teamwork
Use the sources below:
Category 4: Online Safety, Phishing, and Scam Awareness
Use the sources below:
Category 5: AI Basics and Responsible Use
Use the sources below:
Quality check, pass or fail
- PASS: The note is structured and easy to scan.
- PASS: It includes citations you can click.
- PASS: You saved the note before moving on.
Common mistakes and fixes
- Mistake: You asked for “everything.” Fix: Choose one resource type and one clear structure.
- Mistake: The note is too long. Fix: Ask for a one-page version in bullets.
- Mistake: You skipped source selection. Fix: Deselect sources you do not want used.
- Mistake: You tried to edit a saved chat response and could not. Fix: That is expected. Export it to Docs, or write a new note yourself.
- Mistake: You did not save the note. Fix: Save before you move on.
If you are stuck
- Choose only 2 to 4 sources.
- Use Prompt A first.
- If the answer is still messy, ask for “shorter, clearer, beginner level.”
Reinforce your learning
Generate flashcards, take a quiz, use the Explain feature to trace an answer to your sources, then confirm the cited passage supports the explanation.
infoWhy this step matters
This is your trust step. You practice retrieval first, then use Explain to check how Gemini Notebook connects an answer back to the source. You learn not to trust the output until you verify it.
descriptionWhat you will create
A flashcard set with a downloaded CSV copy, a quiz, and one saved note from an explanation you verified.
Instructions
- 01Select only the sources you want used right now. You need edit access to the notebook to generate flashcards or quizzes, so if you are working in someone else’s shared notebook, check that first.
- 02In the Studio panel, open the setup for Flashcards before generating.
- 03In the setup panel, choose a difficulty (easy, medium, or hard) and type a prompt describing the topic or focus you want. Then generate. Your flashcards build in the background, so you can keep working while you wait.
- 04In the Studio panel, open the setup for Quizzes before generating.
- 05Choose a difficulty and enter a prompt for the topic or focus you want. Then generate the quiz.
- 06Work through the flashcards and the quiz. While studying, you can set how many items you see (fewer, standard, or more), shuffle the deck, expand to full screen, and use a hint on quiz questions.
- 07Mark each flashcard Got it! or Missed it! as you go. Gemini Notebook remembers your progress, so you can leave and pick up where you left off.
- 08Use the Explain option to learn how Gemini Notebook derived an answer from your sources. In Flashcards, reveal the answer first, then select Explain. In Quizzes, choose an answer first, then select Explain.
- 09Read the explanation, then check the citation and confirm the source passage supports the answer.
- 10If the explanation is useful, save it as a note.
- 11At the end, review your results. You can retake the quiz, or practice flashcards again using Same cards, All cards, or Only cards you missed.
- 12Download your flashcards as a CSV file. This is a real artifact you keep after the session, and it belongs in your Study Pack.
Sample Sources
Use these curated sources to practice adding sources into Gemini Notebook. For this activity, select one category and only use the sources listed in that category. Please do not copy sources from other categories for this training activity.
Note: Gemini Notebook works best when each notebook is topic-specific. Keeping one notebook focused on one topic helps you stay organized and gives Gemini Notebook clearer source material to work with.
Category 1: Responsible AI Use for Children and Families
Use the sources below:
Category 2: Home Gardening Basics
Use the sources below:
Category 3: AI and Teamwork
Use the sources below:
Category 4: Online Safety, Phishing, and Scam Awareness
Use the sources below:
Category 5: AI Basics and Responsible Use
Use the sources below:
Quality check, pass or fail
- PASS: You generated flashcards and a quiz, and you customized at least one of them before generating.
- PASS: You used Explain on an answer and checked the citation.
- PASS: You saved the explanation as a note.
- PASS: You downloaded your flashcards as a CSV file.
Common mistakes and fixes
- Mistake: You are looking for a place to set the number of cards before generating. Fix: You set that while studying, not before. Use the setup panel to set difficulty and focus.
- Mistake: You skipped the Explain feature. Fix: Use it to trace the answer back to your sources.
- Mistake: You didn't verify the support. Fix: Click the citation and read the highlighted text.
- Mistake: You forgot to customize the quiz. Fix: Try again and use the setup panel to set difficulty and topic.
- Mistake: The CSV download is unavailable. Fix: This can happen if your notebook uses a purchased Play Books ebook as a source. Generate from your other sources instead.
If you are stuck
- Ask for a smaller set in your customization prompt (for example, “about 5 questions”).
- Select fewer sources so the flashcards are more targeted.
- If nothing appears right away, remember these generate in the background. Give it a moment and check Studio again.
Create a Report and a Data Table
Turn your sources into structured outputs you can review, compare, and export.
infoWhy this step matters
Reports help you organize ideas. Data Tables help you compare details across sources in a format you can reuse. Both carry citations, which makes them the best outputs to practice verification on.
descriptionWhat you will create
One Report and one Data Table, plus one verified claim.
Instructions
- 01Select the sources you want used right now.
- 02In Studio, create a report. You can create your own, or choose a type such as FAQ, Study Guide, or Briefing Document, or use the report type Gemini Notebook suggests.
- 03Review the report and check whether it gives you the structure you need.
- 04Open the setup for a Data Table using the same sources.
- 05Use the prompt box to describe the rows and columns you want so the table is more focused and useful. Then generate the table.
- 06Export if you want a working copy. Open the three-dot menu next to your report and choose Export to Docs. For a Data Table, choose Export to Sheets.
- 07Verify one claim or one row by checking the cited source support. Tip: when you export a Data Table to Sheets, the table content lands on the first tab and its citations land on the second tab. That second tab is a fast way to check your work.
- 08Optional: to see exactly what instruction produced an output, open the three-dot menu next to it in Studio and select View custom prompt. This is a good habit, because it shows you why an output turned out the way it did.
Data Table Prompt Samples
Sample 1
“Create a data table comparing the main themes across my selected sources. Use the rows for the distinct concepts, methods, or items discussed. Create columns for 'Key Definition', 'Primary Use Case', 'Major Benefits', and 'Potential Risks or Limitations'.”
Sample 2
“Build a comprehensive study table from these sources. Assign the rows to the core lessons or subtopics. Set the columns to 'Main Idea', 'Critical Vocabulary Terms', 'Real-World Examples', and 'One Practice Question to Test Understanding'.”
Sample 3
“Create an actionable data table based on the advice provided in these sources. Use the rows to list specific scenarios, challenges, or tasks mentioned in the texts. Create columns for 'The Challenge/Task', 'Recommended Action Steps', 'Best Practices', and 'Things to Avoid'.”
Sample Sources
Use these curated sources to practice adding sources into Gemini Notebook. For this activity, select one category and only use the sources listed in that category. Please do not copy sources from other categories for this training activity.
Note: Gemini Notebook works best when each notebook is topic-specific. Keeping one notebook focused on one topic helps you stay organized and gives Gemini Notebook clearer source material to work with.
Category 1: Responsible AI Use for Children and Families
Use the sources below:
Category 2: Home Gardening Basics
Use the sources below:
Category 3: AI and Teamwork
Use the sources below:
Category 4: Online Safety, Phishing, and Scam Awareness
Use the sources below:
Category 5: AI Basics and Responsible Use
Use the sources below:
Quality check, pass or fail
- PASS: You created both a report and a data table.
- PASS: The table has rows and columns that match your purpose.
- PASS: You verified one claim or one row with source support.
Common mistakes and fixes
- Mistake: The report is too general. Fix: ask for a report type or tighter structure.
- Mistake: The data table is messy. Fix: return to the setup panel and specify better rows and columns.
- Mistake: You forgot to verify a claim. Fix: click a citation, or check the citations tab of your exported Sheet.
- Mistake: You edited the exported Doc and expected it to update the notebook. Fix: exports do not sync back, and sharing permissions do not carry over.
If you are stuck
- Create the report first, then the table.
- Use one of the sample table prompts as a starting point.
- If the table is too broad, reduce the number of sources selected.
Create visuals from your sources
Turn source-backed information into a visual you can scan, present, or study from.
infoWhy this step matters
Visuals help you see structure. They are useful for study, explanation, planning, and presentations. They are also where verification takes the most discipline, because the visual itself does not show you its sources.
descriptionWhat you will create
One visual output: a Mind Map, an Infographic, or a Slide Deck.
Instructions
- 01Select the sources you want used right now.
- 02Choose one visual format in Studio: Mind Map, Infographic, or Slide Deck. If you want a timeline, ask for one inside an infographic or report prompt rather than looking for a Timeline button.
- 03If you chose an Infographic or Slide Deck, open its setup panel before generating. For an Infographic, you can set the level of detail (Concise, Standard, or Detailed), choose the image orientation, and add a prompt to guide the design. A Mind Map does not use this setup process.
- 04Generate the visual.
- 05Check whether the structure matches the source material and is easy to understand.
- 06Verify one label or claim. Visuals do not contain citations, so you cannot click through from the image. Instead, pick one specific claim from your visual, ask about it in chat, and click the citation in the chat answer to confirm a source supports it.
- 07Save or export the visual. Use the three-dot menu to rename or download it.
Visual Prompt Samples
Sample 1
“Create an infographic from my sources about [TOPIC]. Keep it simple, clear, and beginner-friendly. Use short labels and source-backed claims.”
Sample 2
“Create an infographic from my sources that lays out [TOPIC] as a timeline. Show the key stages or events in order. Use concise labels and source-backed facts.”
Sample 3
“Create a mind map from my sources about [TOPIC]. Show the main idea in the center, the major branches, and the key details under each branch.”
Before you share a visual
Images and videos generated by Gemini Notebook carry an invisible SynthID watermark that identifies them as AI-generated, and most accounts also get a visible watermark on generated images and video. Expect it, and do not try to crop it out. If you are presenting this work, say plainly that the visual was AI-generated from your sources.
Sample Sources
Use these curated sources to practice adding sources into Gemini Notebook. For this activity, select one category and only use the sources listed in that category. Please do not copy sources from other categories for this training activity.
Note: Gemini Notebook works best when each notebook is topic-specific. Keeping one notebook focused on one topic helps you stay organized and gives Gemini Notebook clearer source material to work with.
Category 1: Responsible AI Use for Children and Families
Use the sources below:
Category 2: Home Gardening Basics
Use the sources below:
Category 3: AI and Teamwork
Use the sources below:
Category 4: Online Safety, Phishing, and Scam Awareness
Use the sources below:
Category 5: AI Basics and Responsible Use
Use the sources below:
Quality check, pass or fail
- PASS: You created one visual output.
- PASS: The visual is easy to scan and understand.
- PASS: You took one claim from the visual into chat and confirmed it with a citation.
Common mistakes and fixes
- Mistake: The visual is overloaded. Fix: ask for fewer branches, shorter labels, or a more concise level of detail.
- Mistake: You went hunting for citations on the infographic. Fix: there aren’t any. Verify through chat instead.
- Mistake: The visual looks good but is not grounded. Fix: pick its boldest claim and check it in chat.
- Mistake: You did not save or export it. Fix: save the output before moving on.
If you are stuck
- Start with a Mind Map. It is the fastest and the easiest to read.
- Use a shorter topic or fewer sources.
- Ask for a beginner-friendly version with simpler labels.
- If you are out of usage budget, use Generate later and come back to it.
Create an Audio Overview or Video Overview
Turn your sources into a spoken or audiovisual explanation you can listen to, replay, and review.
infoWhy this step matters
Audio and video formats help you review ideas in a different way. They are useful for listening back, checking understanding, and sharing a quick explanation. They are also the most persuasive-sounding outputs, which is exactly why you verify them.
descriptionWhat you will create
One audio or video overview, plus one checked claim.
Instructions
- 01Select the sources you want used right now.
- 02Choose Audio Overview or Video Overview in Studio. The setup panel will open before generation. Video Overviews come in more than one format, including a standard version and a short vertical version, and cinematic video is available on some plans. Pick one and note why you picked it.
- 03In the setup panel, select the available options and enter a focus or audience before generating.
- 04Generate one overview. These take longer than text outputs and cost more of your usage budget, so plan for one good attempt rather than several.
- 05Listen to it or watch it and note what it explains well and what still feels unclear.
- 06Verify one claim. As with visuals, overviews do not contain citations. Take one specific claim you heard, ask about it in chat, and click the citation in the chat answer to confirm the source supports it.
- 07Download or save the result. If you have run out of usage budget, use Generate later and turn on notifications so you know when it is ready.
Use this reflection prompt after you listen or watch
Reflection Prompt
“What were the 3 clearest points in this overview, what still feels unclear, and which source should I review next?”
Sample Sources
Use these curated sources to practice adding sources into Gemini Notebook. For this activity, select one category and only use the sources listed in that category. Please do not copy sources from other categories for this training activity.
Note: Gemini Notebook works best when each notebook is topic-specific. Keeping one notebook focused on one topic helps you stay organized and gives Gemini Notebook clearer source material to work with.
Category 1: Responsible AI Use for Children and Families
Use the sources below:
Category 2: Home Gardening Basics
Use the sources below:
Category 3: AI and Teamwork
Use the sources below:
Category 4: Online Safety, Phishing, and Scam Awareness
Use the sources below:
Category 5: AI Basics and Responsible Use
Use the sources below:
Quality check, pass or fail
- PASS: You created one audio or video overview.
- PASS: You listened to or watched it all the way through.
- PASS: You took one claim from it into chat and confirmed it with a citation.
Common mistakes and fixes
- Mistake: You used too many sources and the overview became broad. Fix: reduce the source set.
- Mistake: You treated the overview like proof. Fix: verify one claim in chat against the source.
- Mistake: You regenerated several times and ran low on usage. Fix: customize first, generate once.
- Mistake: You listened once and moved on. Fix: replay the unclear parts and use the reflection prompt.
If you are stuck
- Try Audio Overview first. It is quicker and cheaper than video.
- Use a smaller source set.
- After you listen, ask Chat to clarify the confusing parts.
Share a notebook or send one output
Choose between giving someone access to the notebook workspace and sending one standalone downloaded or exported output.
infoWhy this step matters
Learning is more useful when you can carry it forward. A notebook link provides access to the workspace. A downloaded or exported output lets you send one result without providing notebook access. This step helps you choose the method that fits your audience, purpose, and privacy needs.
descriptionWhat you will create
One full-notebook share or one standalone downloaded or exported output, depending on what best fits your purpose.
Instructions
- 01Decide what access you want to provide: access to the full notebook, or one standalone output. A link copied from a Studio output opens that output first, but it still relies on notebook access. To provide only one output, download or export it and share the resulting file.
- 02Decide who the audience is. Ask: Am I sharing for learning, feedback, collaboration, or presentation?
- 03If sharing the notebook, select Share and add people by email. Choose the right access level: a Viewer can read all the sources and notes you shared; an Editor can add or remove sources and notes and share the notebook onward. Give Editor access only when you actually want that.
- 04Decide whether to allow copies. The Allow copies setting controls whether the people you share with can duplicate your notebook, including its sources and artifacts.
- 05To provide one output without giving access to the notebook, download or export it first. Then send the resulting file using the method that fits the audience, for example email, Google Drive, Slides, Docs, or another approved platform.
- 06Before sharing, check again that no restricted, private, or sensitive information is included, in your sources as well as your outputs.
- 07Reflect: Why is this the right sharing method for this audience and this purpose?
Additional sharing details
- An artifact link is not output-only access. If a notebook is shared with the recipient or made public, you can copy a link that opens a slide deck, audio overview, report, or another Studio output directly. The link does not create a separate access boundary for that output. If the recipient should receive only one output, download or export it and share the resulting file.
- Copies are partial. When someone copies a notebook, the sources and Studio content come with it. Chat history and notes do not.
- Personal accounts have limits. A personal Gmail account can share a notebook with up to 50 people and cannot share with Google Groups.
- Some sharing features are paid. Advanced sharing is available on paid plans. If an option is missing for you, that is why, and exporting the single output you need is a good workaround.
- Analytics need a group. Notebook analytics show users and queries over the past seven days, but only once a notebook is shared with several people and has some chat activity.
- Purchased ebooks restrict sharing. If a notebook uses a Play Books ebook as a source, recipients may need to own that book to view the sources or artifacts, and some public sharing is blocked entirely.
Quality check, pass or fail
- PASS: You chose a sharing method that matches your purpose.
- PASS: You checked the access level, and the Allow copies setting, before sending.
- PASS: You checked the content for privacy and safe sharing.
- PASS: You can explain why this sharing method fits the audience and purpose.
Common mistakes and fixes
- Mistake: You copy an artifact link and assume it limits access to that output. Fix: if the recipient should not have notebook access, download or export the output and share the resulting file.
- Mistake: You grant Editor access when Viewer would do. Fix: an editor can change your sources and reshare your notebook.
- Mistake: You choose a sharing method without checking permissions. Fix: review access settings before sending.
- Mistake: You forget to review the content for privacy. Fix: do one final privacy and sensitivity check before sharing.
If you are stuck
- If you are unsure which method to use, download or export the one output you need and share the resulting file.
- If permissions feel confusing, ask a facilitator or use the safest limited-access option available.
Wrap-up
You now have a repeatable process for learning with source-grounded AI, and the record of your work to prove it.
- check_circleCreated a notebook and added sources
- check_circleSaved at least one study note
- check_circleVerified claims with citations, including claims from outputs that do not show citations
- check_circleCreated structured outputs you can reuse
- check_circleShared work using a method matched to your audience
What part of Gemini Notebook felt most useful to you for learning, and what would you want more practice with next?
Glossary
Key terms used throughout this training module.
Artifact
Google’s word for something Gemini Notebook generates in the Studio panel: a report, data table, flashcard set, quiz, mind map, infographic, slide deck, audio overview, or video overview. If you see “artifact” in the Help Center, it means the same thing this module calls an output.
Chat
The part of Gemini Notebook where you ask questions, give prompts, and get responses based on the sources you selected. Chat answers include citations, which makes chat the place to verify claims from outputs that do not.
Citation
A link in a Gemini Notebook response or explanation that takes you to the exact source passage used to support a claim. In this module, citations are how you check whether an answer is supported by the selected sources. Citations appear in chat, reports, and data tables, but not inside infographics, slide decks, audio overviews, or video overviews.
Data Table
A Studio output that organizes information from your sources into rows and columns you describe. It exports to Google Sheets, with the table on the first tab and its citations on the second.
Deep Research
A source-finding feature that browses many websites for you, produces a report, and offers a list of sources you can import into your notebook. It is limited to users over 18 and has its own usage allowance. Treat what it finds as a draft reading list you still have to judge.
Explain
A feature used after revealing a flashcard answer or choosing a quiz answer. It shows how Gemini Notebook generated the answer from your selected sources.
Fast Research
A quicker source-finding option. You type a question in the Sources panel, choose Web or Drive, and Gemini Notebook returns results you can review and import.
Gemini Notebook
Google’s source-grounded research and learning tool, and the primary tool used in this module. It was called NotebookLM until July 2026. Same product, new name. Open it at notebook.google.com.
Generate later
An option that queues an output when you have run out of usage budget. The output is produced when capacity allows, and you can be notified when it is ready. Available on the web.
Grounded Output
A response or resource that stays tied to the actual sources you selected, instead of making unsupported claims. This idea is central to the module, even when the phrase appears through instructions like “use only my sources” or “remove anything not supported by sources.”
Learning Resource
A study support created from your selected sources, such as a study guide, review worksheet, Q&A notes, or practice questions.
Note
A saved piece of work inside Gemini Notebook. Notes live in the Notes section of the Studio panel and are pinned above the chat box. You can write your own notes, or save a chat response with Save to Note. A note saved from a chat response cannot be edited afterwards. Notes are not available in the mobile app.
Notebook
Your main workspace in Gemini Notebook. It is where you add sources, ask questions, generate outputs, and save work. Each notebook is independent, and Gemini Notebook cannot draw on more than one notebook at a time, which is why keeping one notebook per topic matters.
NotebookLM
The former name of Gemini Notebook, used until July 2026. You will still see it in older tutorials, videos, screenshots, and downloaded files. It refers to the same product, so check whether the steps match your screen rather than dismissing a guide for using the old name.
Output
Anything Gemini Notebook creates from your selected sources, such as notes, study guides, flashcards, quizzes, reports, data tables, visuals, audio overviews, or video overviews. Google calls these artifacts.
Pass or Fix Gate
A checkpoint in the module where you stop and review your work. If it does not meet the quality check, you fix it before moving on.
PII
Short for personally identifiable information. In this module, it refers to private personal data, such as Social Security numbers or other identifying details, which should not be uploaded into public AI tools.
Privacy and Data Rule
The rule that says you should not upload personal, sensitive, or confidential information into public AI tools. It also directs you to remove identifying details and use caution with non-public materials.
Prompt
The instruction or question you type into Gemini Notebook’s chat, or into a customization panel, to tell it what you want it to do with your selected sources. You can revisit the prompt behind an output using View custom prompt.
Q&A Notes
A learning resource organized as questions and answers based on your selected sources.
Quality Check
The module’s built-in check for whether your work meets the step requirements. It helps you decide whether your work passes or needs revision.
Quizzes
A Studio output that turns your sources into practice questions. Use the setup panel to customize difficulty and focus before generating; choose how many questions you see while studying.
Source
Any material you add into Gemini Notebook, such as a PDF, website, YouTube link, or your own notes. Gemini Notebook uses these sources to generate its responses and outputs.
Source Guide Summary
A short built-in summary of a source that helps you understand what the source covers before you work with it more deeply.
Source labels
Topic groupings for your sources. Once a notebook has five or more sources, Gemini Notebook can label and categorize them automatically. You can add, rename, or delete labels and move sources between them.
Study Guide
A structured learning resource created from your selected sources to help you understand and review a topic.
Study Pack
The collection of practice materials produced in the module, including flashcards and their downloaded CSV file, quiz results, and a confirmation note.
Studio
The panel in Gemini Notebook where outputs based on your sources are generated and stored. It holds Notes, Reports, Data Tables, Flashcards and Quizzes, Mind Maps, Infographics, Slide Decks, Audio Overviews, and Video Overviews.
SynthID watermark
An invisible marker embedded in AI-generated images and video so the content can be identified as AI-generated. Most accounts also receive a visible watermark on generated images and videos.
Usage limits
The budget that controls how much you can generate. Gemini Notebook now uses a flexible, compute-based limit that factors in prompt complexity, the features you use, chat length, and how many sources you have. It refreshes through the day, up to a weekly ceiling. Check it under Settings, then Usage.
Verification Rule
The rule that says you must cross-reference AI-generated facts with the primary source materials you are using before you keep them. Where an output has no citations of its own, take the claim into chat and verify it there.
