Overview

Many aspects of academic work are time-intensive and involve substantial documentation. Whether designing study-units, preparing teaching materials, marking and providing feedback, or responding to institutional requirements, a significant proportion of our time is spent drafting, reviewing, and refining text.

This workshop shows how the university-supported AI tools - Google Gemini and NotebookLM - can support everyday academic work. Through demonstrations and guided examples, participants will explore how these AI tools can be used to:

• prepare teaching materials
• clarify and refine assessment instructions
• support the preparation of structured and balanced feedback
• summarise and navigate lengthy policy or programme materials
• draft and refine professional correspondence and reports

Particular attention will be given to the difference between Gemini and NotebookLM, and when each tool is most useful. We will also discuss appropriate boundaries, data sensitivity, and responsible use in academic contexts.

The emphasis throughout will be on supporting (not replacing) the expertise of the academic, and on identifying small, practical approaches that can make day-to-day work more manageable.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this workshop, the participants will be able to:

• identify suitable academic tasks for Gemini and NotebookLM
• formulate clear prompts for teaching, assessment, and administrative work
• use Gemini and NotebookLM in ways that support (rather than substitute) professional judgement

Note that:

• Participants are asked to bring their laptops.
• This workshop is suitable for academics who are new to these tools, as well as those who have experimented with them but would like a more structured and pedagogically grounded approach.