Help with Studying and Organizing

Text Help with Studying and Organizing

Introduction

In school, the process seems straightforward: you receive the information, learn it, take a test, and pass the class. However, it's often more complex. How exactly do you learn the material? How do you prepare so you can do well on the test? How do you find the time to study when your schedule is so busy? Mastering these skills is crucial for success in any course and is a skillset you will use throughout your life. Let's see how AI can help with organizing, planning, and studying to enhance your learning experience.

Using AI To Create Study Materials

Canvas in Gemini

Gemini's Canvas can be a great study partner for students. It helps you create your own study tools, like quizzes and study guides, from your class notes or other materials. This makes it easier to review and test what you have learned. You can also use Canvas to make your own infographics or other visuals. This can help you see and understand difficult ideas in a new, clearer way. It's a useful space to turn your notes into fun and helpful study materials.

CAUTION!

Canvas in Gemini is different from the Canvas LMS (Learning Management System) that you are taking your courses in. Try not to confuse them and remember they do not communicate with one another.

Notebook LM

NotebookLM is a special tool for students that helps them study better with the help of AI. You can upload all your schoolwork, like notes, class recordings, or articles, and NotebookLM will read everything for you. After you upload your documents, you can ask it questions about the material, and it will give you answers using only the information from your sources. This is a great way to check what you know and learn new things. It can also create different study aids for you, like a podcast-style audio summary of your notes that you can listen to, or a mind map to help you see how different ideas connect. It is like having a personal study helper that is an expert on your school materials.

Examples

Here is a podcast Notebook LM made to teach you about itself.

And here is a video it created to teach you about itself.

If you prefer to learn material in an auditory or visual way, these tools from Notebook LM can be very helpful. But remember you can also use it to interact with your notes on your course. NotebookLM is designed to be grounded, meaning it is specifically built to use only the information you provide. This makes it far less likely to "hallucinate" or invent information compared to a general-purpose large language model that pulls from a vast, un-citable knowledge base.

Watch this video to see a demonstration of how to use Notebook LM.

Click for video transcript.

SPEAKER: Welcome to NotebookLM.

This is where you can start exploring

the power of generative AI.

The first thing you need to do is start a new notebook.

Select the Create button here to get started.

Once you do that, you'll be prompted to add some source

documentation.

NotebookLM supports PDFs, text files, markdown,

or audio files like MP3.

You can also add documents from Google Drive,

you can add links from websites or YouTube,

and even paste in text.

Let's try this out and upload these documents--

McKinsey's report on the economic potential

of generative AI and Google Cloud's

whitepaper on building an effective AI strategy.

OK, and once those documents are uploaded,

this text box at the bottom is where you'll enter your prompts.

Think of it similarly to Gemini as having a conversation

with a super smart assistant.

But think of NotebookLM as a research assistant

that relies only on the documents you

provided for context.

There you go.

NotebookLM will create a concise summary drawing directly

from the uploaded documentation and provides

citations for easy reference.

You can ask NotebookLM questions about the source material,

give it creative tasks, or have it summarize

highly complex information.

You'll also notice, in the right panel, the Studio panel,

you'll see two sections, an Audio Overview and a Notes

section.

The Audio Overview section will actually

generate a podcast from two hosts based

on the source documentation.

And the Notes section will auto generate

a note or a study guide, a briefing doc, an FAQ,

or even a timeline.

So now it's your turn to explore and see

what things you can unlock with NotebookLM.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

ChatGPT

One of the best ways to prepare for an upcoming exam and help alleviate test anxiety is to take practice tests in the same format your exam will be. ChatGPT can help you with this. Copy and paste the material you need to review and ask ChatGPT to create a practice test for you.

For example:

Image of student using ChatGPT to create study questions for test.

Prompt Library

Executive Functioning

Executive functioning is a set of mental skills that help you manage your time, stay organized, focus, and make good decisions. Think of it as the brain's "control center" that helps you plan, prioritize, and complete tasks effectively. Good executive functioning skills are important because they make it easier to stay on top of schoolwork, sports, and other activities, especially when things get busy or challenging. Studies have shown that strong executive functioning skills can lead to greater success later in life, from getting good grades to reaching career goals. By practicing these skills now—like managing your time well, keeping track of assignments, and staying focused—you’re setting yourself up for a successful future. Let's take a look at how AI can help us with our executive functioning skillset.

Using AI to Help with Executive Functioning

In this section, we will explore how to use ChatGPT to help with EF skills. You can sign up for a free account with ChatGPT at OpenAI.com Links to an external site.

Creating To-Do Lists and Prioritizing Tasks

Prompt Example: “I have a lot of homework and a test this week. Can you help me make a to-do list and suggest which tasks to focus on first?”

ChatGPT can help students break down tasks, organize them into a manageable list, and prioritize them based on deadlines and importance.

Planning and Scheduling Assignments

Prompt Example: “Can you help me make a plan to complete my project on [topic] by Friday?”

ChatGPT can help students outline a step-by-step schedule to meet deadlines, including milestones for long-term projects, so they can avoid last-minute stress.

Setting and Tracking Goals

Prompt Example: “I want to improve my grades in math. Can you help me set some specific goals and ways to track my progress?”

Students can use ChatGPT to set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) and create a tracking plan, making goal-setting more actionable and easier to monitor.

Managing Time and Avoiding Procrastination

Prompt Example: “I keep putting off my assignments. Can you give me some tips to start working on things earlier?”

ChatGPT can suggest time management techniques, like the Pomodoro Technique or setting small, achievable tasks, to help students avoid procrastination and build effective routines.

Breaking Down Large Tasks into Smaller Steps

Prompt Example: “I have a big essay to write. Can you help me break it down into smaller tasks?”

ChatGPT can help students divide large tasks into manageable steps, making it easier to approach challenging assignments and reducing overwhelm.

Developing Effective Study Strategies

Prompt Example: “What are some study techniques that can help me remember information better?”

ChatGPT can recommend study methods, like using flashcards, summarizing notes, or practicing active recall, which can improve focus and retention.

Building Organizational Systems

Prompt Example: “Can you help me set up a system to organize my school papers and assignments?”

ChatGPT can suggest systems for organizing materials, whether physical (like binders or folders) or digital (such as using specific apps or calendar tools). The most important part of an organizational system is finding one that works for you and that you will utilize regularly.

Improving Focus and Reducing Distractions

Prompt Example: “I get distracted easily when I do homework. Can you give me tips to stay focused?”

ChatGPT can provide practical advice for improving focus, such as creating a distraction-free workspace, using time-blocking techniques, and taking regular breaks.

Learning Self-Monitoring Techniques

Prompt Example: “Can you help me figure out ways to check my own work before I turn it in?”

ChatGPT can suggest ways to review and double-check work, such as creating a checklist for common errors or setting aside time to read through assignments slowly.

Setting Reminders and Establishing Routines

Prompt Example: “Can you help me set up a daily routine for my schoolwork and free time?”

ChatGPT can assist students in building a balanced routine that includes time for homework, study, breaks, and personal interests, helping them build structure into their day.

Sources

"Kandarp and the Canvas Adventure." Gemini, Storybook feature, August, 2025, gemini.google.com/Links to an external site..

Google. Gemini for editing assistance. Accessed August, 2025.

Google. Notebook LM for podcast and video. Accessed August, 2025.

Microsoft Copilot. AI-Powered Bing Image Creator for images. Accessed June, 2024.

Open-AI. ChatGPT for editing assistance. Accessed June, 2024; October 2024.