Give one chapter a job

Start with one chapter you need to learn, not every file from the whole semester. Gemini Notebook can turn uploaded sources into flashcards and quizzes. The useful part for this session is the option to revisit the cards you missed.

If the name looks unfamiliar, Google renamed NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook in July 2026. It's still a standalone product. This guide focuses on learning from supplied material, not asking an ordinary chatbot to guess what your course covers.

Use the chapter you're actually studying

You need edit access to generate study aids. The example below is a suggested instruction for the customization field, not a claim that this exact deck has already been tested.

  1. Create or open a notebook and add course material you're allowed to upload. Remove private student or classmate information first.
  2. In Studio, choose Flashcards. Use the customization control to set the difficulty and focus before generating.
  3. For a biology chapter, start with cells rather than asking for every topic in the course.
  4. Check a few generated questions against the original material before using the deck to study.

Tell it what you need to practice

For example, replace [topic] with cell structures and their functions. After generation, read the answers beside the chapter and correct or remove cards that don't match. A specific topic makes errors and missing concepts easier to notice.

Prompt
Create beginner-level flashcards about [topic] using the selected course sources. Focus on definitions, relationships, and one concrete example per concept. Do not introduce facts that the sources do not support. If the sources disagree or don't explain something, identify the gap instead of inventing an answer.

Answer before you reveal the other side

Notebook remembers flashcard progress, so you can return to the session. This is a practice method, not a guarantee that a generated deck covers everything on an exam.

  1. Read the question and answer out loud before revealing the card.
  2. Mark it Got it or Missed it honestly. Familiar-looking isn't the same as knowing the answer.
  3. Use Explain when you need help, then compare that explanation with the source.
  4. At the end, choose Only cards you missed and try those concepts again.
  5. Write down anything still unclear so you can ask your teacher, tutor, or a reliable subject source.

Keep the useful study aids together

For a larger resource on the web, open Reports in Studio, choose Interactive, then Learning Overview. You can add suggested generated study aids to the report. Some embedded content requires you to be 18 or older.

Sharing a report also requires the recipient to have access to the full notebook. Check the source files before sharing, especially if the notebook contains material you aren't allowed to distribute. Keep the next study session focused on the concepts you still can't explain.

Sources4