Gemini Notebook for FORSK courses

When enrolled in a FORSK course, you are encouraged to use Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) to assist with your compulsory course literature.

Please note that the Norwegian text is the official and authoritative text. This translation is for convenience only.

Gemini Notebook is an AI tool from Google that allows you to upload your own sources—such as documents, links, and notes—and use them as the basis for summaries, questions, explanations, and idea development. Unlike a standard chatbot, Gemini Notebook works with your chosen source material. This improves both accuracy and response quality because you decide on which sources the tool relies.

A demo of Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) from Google is available here.

How to request access to Gemini Notebook?

Gemini Notebook is based on Google's Gemini model and requires a Google Workspace account through NMBU.

Note! If you already have a personal Google/Gmail account:

Ensure you log in with your NMBU email address when creating your Google Workspace account, and not your personal Gmail address.
If you have created a personal Google account using your NMBU email address, an account conflict will occur. You will automatically be guided through the process of changing the email address linked to your personal Google account when logging in.

Click here to request access to Gemini Notebook (NotebookLM).

Please note that NMBU may not have enough licenses for all students requesting access to Gemini Notebook. Contact the IT Department if you do not gain access to Gemini Notebook or have other questions regarding your order. If you are granted access to Gemini Notebook, you will simultaneously gain access to Google's chatbot, Gemini.

How to get started with Gemini Notebook?

We recommend using workspace.google.com/dashboard. There you will find applications including Gemini Notebook and Gemini. We also recommend uploading files to the "Drive and Documents" app, allowing you to retrieve files from there when working in Gemini Notebook and Gemini.

How to create a FORSK Notebook?

Click the "Create new notebook" button.
Skip adding sources to the notebook for now by closing the initial pop-up box.
An untitled notebook will now appear.
Under the "Chat" section, click the customise button:

- Here you can change the title of the notebook. Name the notebook using your FORSK course code followed by "-PENSUM" (e.g. FORSK-B-LAND-SYLLABUS, FORSK-M-HH-SYLLABUS, etc.).

- You can also write your own short description of the notebook instead of the auto-generated summary. For a bachelor’s level FORSK course, you could write: "This notebook contains compulsory course literature/references for all students taking a bachelor’s level FORSK course. You can use the notebook to explore questions related to the compulsory course literature."

Which sources should you add?

In the source panel, add the sources you will be using:

Links to shared compulsory course literature for your FORSK course (see the syllabus in the course description).

If you wish to add literature that your supervisor(s) regard as compulsory and that you have listed in your FORSK contract, you may also do so, but you must check for any restrictions before doing so. Among other things, you must evaluate the following:

1. At NMBU, Gemini Notebook is only approved for green and yellow data. Data is classified to ensure information is given the correct protection across IT systems and IT services at NMBU. Classifying information helps prevent unauthorised access, data loss, or regulatory breaches, as well as ensuring that information is handled in line with organisational needs and national requirements.

Green data is often described as data that can be shared publicly without risk. This may include programme descriptions and admission requirements, publicly published research, information about open events, or general guidlines without personal data.
Yellow data is data and information that, for various reasons, cannot or should not be shared publicly or with a wider audience. It should only be shared with a limited internal group at NMBU or select external parties. Yellow data may include draft internal plans and strategies, budget drafts and internal financial reports, meeting minutes without sensitive personal data, preliminary project descriptions and analyses, or internal room and resource overviews at the University. The reason this data and information is classified as yellow is that sharing it externally could cause unfortunate situations, misunderstandings, or reputational damage.
Red data is data containing information that carries some form of vulnerability. This may include sensitive information or information that could harm individuals or the University. Examples include student matters involving health information or special needs, whistleblowing cases, personnel matters, salary details, research data containing personal data (interviews, health, genetics), passwords, system keys, details about vulnerabilities or examination questions and assessments before publication. Improper handling can lead to severe privacy breaches, financial loss, identity theft, or breach of confidentiality.

2. Some sources cannot be added to Gemini Notebook (or other chatbots) due to copyright issues.

How / for what purpose can you use the notebook?

You can use the notebook to find out about things you are wondering about that are covered in the compulsory course literature. You can summarise content, ask questions, and identify connections in the material you upload.

It is possible to share a notebook with your supervisor(s) and other students who have a Google Workspace account through NMBU. If you wish to discuss your chat with your supervisor or other students, you can save your chat as a note and send it to them.

NB! Even though Gemini Notebook works with your chosen source material—making it more accurate and delivering higher quality work—it can still hallucinate and make errors.

An extra tip is to use GEM, a specific chatbot within Gemini. This chatbot uses both what you have uploaded yourself and what it finds online as sources. By using GEM, you therefore do not have as much control as with Gemini Notebook.

Text translated with the help of AI.