{"id":1664,"date":"2026-03-16T10:28:17","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T10:28:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentatguide\/?p=1664"},"modified":"2026-03-16T10:49:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T10:49:10","slug":"notebooklm-the-study-tool-that-makes-your-notes-actually-useful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentatguide\/2026\/03\/16\/notebooklm-the-study-tool-that-makes-your-notes-actually-useful\/","title":{"rendered":"NotebookLM: the study tool that makes your notes actually useful"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Too many lecture slides? Dense PDFs? Notes everywhere?<br><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/notebooklm.google\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/notebooklm.google\/\">NotebookLM<\/a><\/strong> is one of the best free AI study tools out there for turning messy study material into something clear, organised and much easier to work with. It\u2019s been featured in QUB student-facing AI and digital learning resources, including guidance from the Centre for Educational Development, as a practical way to support learning<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What NotebookLM actually does<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>NotebookLM is Google\u2019s AI research and study tool. You upload your own materials \u2014 such as lecture notes, PDFs, websites or other sources \u2014 and it helps you work with <em>your<\/em> content rather than giving random answers from the internet. Google says it can analyse your sources, turn complexity into clarity, and act as a thinking partner for study and research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why students tend to love it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It can help you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>summarise long readings<\/strong> into clearer key points<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ask questions about your notes<\/strong> and get answers linked back to your sources<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>create study guides, quizzes and flashcards<\/strong> for revision<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>generate audio overview podcast<\/strong> so you can listen back while walking, commuting or resting<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>spot themes, connections and gaps<\/strong> across multiple sources<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>break down overwhelming reading<\/strong> into something more manageable and structured<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For a lot of students, that means less staring at a wall of text and more actually understanding what you\u2019re meant to know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What the free version gives you<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>At the time of writing, the free version of NotebookLM includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>100 notebooks<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>up to 50 sources per notebook<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>50 chat queries per day<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>3 audio generations per day<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>That is a generous free version for most students using it for weekly reading, revision, essay planning or module organisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why it\u2019s useful as a digital study support tool<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Used well, NotebookLM is best thought of as a <strong>digital study support tool<\/strong>. It can help you organise information, revise more efficiently, understand difficult material, and learn in a way that suits you better. QUB\u2019s student AI guidance makes clear that AI can be a valuable aid in learning and revising, and that students should be guided on how to use it effectively and appropriately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Will using it get you into trouble?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Using NotebookLM for study support is not, by itself, an academic offence.<\/strong><br>The important point is <strong><em>how<\/em><\/strong> you use it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At QUB, students are expected to understand when and how AI can be used in assessment, including any restrictions, and misuse can fall under academic misconduct regulations. Module teams should clarify what is and is not allowed, and if you are unsure, you should check with your tutor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A sensible way to frame it is this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Good use:<\/strong> revising, summarising your own reading, testing your understanding, creating study guides, or helping you organise ideas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Risky use:<\/strong> submitting AI-generated work as if it were your own, or using AI in an assessment where your module guidance does not allow it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>So yes \u2014 it can be a really helpful tool. Just use it as <strong>support for learning<\/strong>, not a shortcut around academic integrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Want to explore more?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>QUB\u2019s <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/digitallearning\/ai\/\">AI Hub<\/a><\/strong> has further guidance for students, including the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/digitallearning\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/10\/AI-Efficiency-Self-Help-Guide.pdf\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/digitallearning\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/10\/AI-Efficiency-Self-Help-Guide.pdf\">Self-Help Guide: Using AI to save time<\/a><\/strong> and broader information on responsible use of AI at Queen\u2019s. Visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/digitallearning\/ai\/\">DigiHub<\/a> for more info. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also access the attached NotebookLM guide here: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-interactive=\"core\/file\" class=\"wp-block-file\"><object data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!state.hasPdfPreview\" hidden class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentatguide\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/03\/NotebookLM.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:600px\" aria-label=\"Embed of NotebookLM.\"><\/object><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-ce58ca16-e17f-4898-beb7-9b8053c69787\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentatguide\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/03\/NotebookLM.pdf\">NotebookLM<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentatguide\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/03\/NotebookLM.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-ce58ca16-e17f-4898-beb7-9b8053c69787\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udc49Check Out These Posts on AI Tools and Resources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentatguide\/2025\/10\/02\/using-ai-safely-and-smartly-at-qub\/\">Using AI Safely and Smartly at QUB<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentatguide\/2025\/06\/05\/5-ai-prompts-every-student-should-try\/\">5 AI Prompts Every Student Should Try<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentatguide\/2025\/06\/05\/top-ai-tools-to-save-time-study-smarter\/\">Top AI Tools to Save Time &amp; Study Smarter<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to Get Support<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/digitallearning\/ai\/ai-in-education\/teaching-and-learning\/student-aisupport\/\">QUB AI Support for Students<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/digitallearning\/ai\/\">QUB AI Hub<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentatguide\/\">Assistive Tech Hub<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/training\/student-hub\/\">Microsoft Student AI Hub<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/training\/ai-skills-fest\">Microsoft AI Skills Fest<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/training\/paths\/ai-fluency\/\">Microsoft AI Fluency Pathway<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2728 <strong>Bottom line:<\/strong> AI isn\u2019t here to replace you. But if you use it responsibly \u2014 as a digital learning assistant \u2014 it can help you study smarter, save time, and feel more confident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Support and Training<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\ud83d\udc49 <strong>IT Helpdesk<\/strong> \u2013 For licensing or technical issues.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ud83d\udc49 <strong>Workshops<\/strong> \u2013 Check <a href=\"#\">upcoming Study Smarts sessions<\/a> to learn how to use these tools.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ud83d\udc49 <strong>1:1 support<\/strong> \u2013 <a href=\"#\">Book a session with the Assistive Technology Coordinator<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2401,"featured_media":1665,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1664","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-study-tools-resources"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentatguide\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/03\/NotebookLM.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentatguide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1664","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentatguide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentatguide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentatguide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2401"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentatguide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1664"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentatguide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1664\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1672,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentatguide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1664\/revisions\/1672"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentatguide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1665"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentatguide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1664"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentatguide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1664"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/studentatguide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1664"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}