Create and assign NotebookLM & Gems in Google Classroom

This article is for teachers with a Google Workspace for Education account.

To create interactive learning experiences within Google Classroom, you can create assignments that use NotebookLM and Gems. This provides students and teachers with personalized support and deeper engagement with class materials. Learn more ways to use Gemini and NotebookLM in education.

Create a notebook

Important:

  • You must login to your Google Workspace for Education account.
  • Your admin must enable access to NotebookLM in order for you to create a notebook. If you can’t create a notebook or can’t access NotebookLM, contact your admin.
    • Additionally, in order to interact with an assigned notebook, students must have admin-enabled access to NotebookLM.

You can create a new notebook or use one that already exists. A single notebook can be used across multiple classes. NotebookLM supports up to 50 source documents. Learn more about the source types that NotebookLM supports.

  1. On your computer, go to Google Classroom.
  2. Select a class.
  3. Click Classwork and then Create.
  4. Select an option:
    • NotebookLM
    • Material
    • Assignment

    Tip: In the "Assignment" or "Material" page, under "Attach," you can also select NotebookLM.

  5. In the pop-up:
    • To attach an existing notebook:
      1. Select Select existing.
      2. In "My notebooks," select a notebook.
      3. Click Attach notebook.
    • To create a new notebook:
      1. Select Create new.
      2. Optional: You can personalize the notebook.
        1. Click Choose class content to personalize the notebook.
        2. Next to the class content, select the box.
          • The supported attachments on the classwork items you select import to NotebookLM as sources.
      3. Click Create notebook.
  6. In NotebookLM, a new tab opens where you can edit the notebook. You can:
    • Add or edit sources.
    • Generate studio items for your students, like audio overview or notes.

    Your updates are automatically saved. Learn more about NotebookLM.

  7. To distribute the notebook, return to the Classroom tab.

Manage a notebook

  • Editing: When you edit a notebook, updates automatically apply to all classes where it’s shared.
  • Sharing: When you attach a notebook to a Classroom post, it’s automatically shared with your students. If a student does not have admin-enabled access to NotebookLM, the notebook will still be shared with them, but they will not be able to access it.

    Tip: Currently, students with a Google Workspace for Education account associated with an organization different from the teacher can’t access the notebook, even if they use a trusted domain.

  • Deleting a post: When you delete a Classroom post with a notebook file attached, it doesn’t remove student access to the notebook in NotebookLM.
    • To remove student access, go to the notebook’s sharing settings in NotebookLM.
  • Student access: To find an assigned notebook, students must have admin-enabled access to NotebookLM. Students get read-only access to any source materials within the notebook. They don’t need access to the original source files you used to create the notebook.
  • Check student engagement: You can check which students opened or didn’t open the notebook. You can check this in the:
    • Class learning tools
      • At the top of the Classwork page, in the "Opened by" column, click the button.
    • Expanded classwork card
      • In the Classwork page, under the notebook attachment, click the button.

    If you have a Google AI Pro for Education license, you can access your notebook’s usage analytics.

  • Using the notebook: When you use a notebook, your students:
    • Can use the chat functionality and interact with studio items you generate, like audio overviews, study guides, FAQs, and more.
    • Can’t generate studio items.
    • Can find the sources of the notebook but can’t add or edit them.

Create Gems

Important:

  • You must log in to your Google Workspace for Education account.
  • Your admin must enable access to Gemini and Gems sharing for you to create a Gem. If you can’t create a Gem or access Gemini, contact your admin. Learn more about Gemini for Education editions and data protections.
    • Additionally, in order to interact with an assigned Gem, students must have admin-enabled access to Gemini and Gems sharing.

To help students dive deeper into their learning, educators can create Gems, which are custom versions of Gemini. You can create a new Gem or use one that already exists. A single Gem can be used across multiple classes and Gems supports up to 10 source documents. Learn more about the source types that Gemini supports.

  1. On your computer, go to Google Classroom.
  2. Select a class.
  3. Click Classwork and then Create.
  4. Select an option:
    • Gem
    • Material
    • Assignment

    Tip: In the "Assignment" or "Material" page, under "Attach," you can also select Gem.

  5. In the pop-up:
    • To attach an existing Gem:
      1. Select Select existing.
      2. In "My Gems," select a Gem.
      3. Click Add Gem.
    • To create a new Gem:
      1. Select Create new.
      2. Optional:
        • Select a template:
          • Study partner
          • Quiz me
          • Brainstorm partner
          • Real-world connector
        • To personalize the Gem:
          1. Click Choose class content to personalize the Gem.
          2. Next to the class content, select the box.
            • The supported attachments on the classwork items you select import to the Gem as knowledge files. The Gem uses these files as reference.
      3. Click Create Gem.
  6. In Gemini, a new tab opens where you can edit and review the Gem. To save the Gem, click Update. Learn more about Gems in Gemini apps.
  1. To distribute the Gem, return to the Classroom tab.

Manage a Gem

  • Editing: When you edit a Gem, updates automatically apply to all classes where it’s shared.
  • Sharing: When you attach Gems to a Classroom post, it’s automatically shared with your students.
  • Deleting a post: When you delete a Classroom post that has a Gem attached to it, it doesn’t remove student access to the Gem in Gemini.
  • Student access: To find an assigned Gem, students must have admin-enabled access to Gemini and Gems sharing. For the Gem to utilize the source’s content, students must have access to the Gem’s sources. Students have a read-only view of the Gem’s sources and instructions.
  • Check student engagement: You can check which students opened or didn’t open the Gem. You can check this in the:
    • Class learning tools
      • At the top of the Classwork page, in the "Opened by" column, click the button.
    • Expanded classwork card
      • In the Classwork page, under the Gem, click the button.

Learn more about NotebookLM & Gems

  • Access for class changes: When new students or co-teachers join a class, they automatically get access to attached notebooks and Gems.

    For students who leave a class:

    • If an assignment was assigned to all students on the class roster: They lose access to notebooks or Gems that are attached to the assignment.
    • If an assignment was assigned to select students on the class roster: They continue to have access to notebooks or Gems that are attached to the assignment.
  • Account types: Teachers and students who use a personal Google Account, such as consumer accounts, can’t access NotebookLM or Gems when they’re assigned or created through Google Classroom.
  • Mobile experience: Students can open Gems and NotebookLM links on their mobile browsers.
    • To create and edit Gems and notebooks in Google Classroom, use the web version.

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