Understanding Student Experiences with NotebookLM: A Qualitative Study

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Source of Publication

2026 International Conference on Advancement in Data Science E Learning and Information System Icadeis 2026

Publication Date

6-1-2026

Abstract

Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have moved beyond basic text generation toward multimodal tools capable of presenting information through summaries, visuals, and conversational formats. As these tools gain a stronger presence in higher education, it becomes increasingly important to understand how students engage with them in their learning. This exploratory study examines students' experiences with NotebookLM, a recent example of a source-grounded multimodal AI tools developed by Google. Qualitative data were collected from 61 students during a course lecture through reflective prompts and open-ended responses that captured their perceptions, preferences, and challenges. The analysis identified four key themes that explain how students engaged with the tool, showing that they approached it with both curiosity and critical awareness, valuing its ability to condense information and present alternative representations aligned with their learning preferences. However, students also raised concerns related to accuracy, technical limitations, and inconsistent reliability. This study contributes to the understanding of student interaction with multimodal AI tools by providing a holistic view of how they are used and perceived in real classroom settings. These insights highlight practical implications and key design and pedagogical considerations for the effective integration of multimodal AI tools in higher education.

ISBN

[9798319533555]

Publisher

IEEE

Disciplines

Computer Sciences

Keywords

artificial intelligence, higher education, multimodal AI, NotebookLM

Scopus ID

105047886356

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

no

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