Module 3 - Using Your Notebook
With your structure in place, this module focuses on refinement and application. Learn how to craft effective prompts, adjust configurations, and evaluate outputs to ensure your Notebook supports clear, aligned, and purposeful design work.
Your notebook is now structured and configured. The next step is learning how to guide it.
Even a well-built system depends on the clarity of the instructions you give it.
That’s where prompting comes in.
A prompt is simply the written instruction you give the AI.
It tells the system:
Hold on. What is a prompt, exactly?
What to create
What boundaries to follow
What format to use
Why it Matters
AI responds to what you emphasize.
Vague instructions produce generic results.
Specific, structured instructions produce aligned outputs.
Clear input leads to clearer output.
What you ask shapes what you get.
Compare how vague and structured prompts lead to very different results.
A clear objective
Specific constraints
A defined format
Before moving on, try rewriting one prompt you’ve recently used. Be sure to include:
Then compare the outputs. Notice how small refinements can lead to dramatically different results.
Prompt Refinement Activity:
You’ve seen how the structure of a prompt directly impacts the quality of the output.
Small shifts in clarity, constraints, and format make a measurable difference.
Now, let’s watch this process in action.
In this real-time demo, I refine a lesson-planning prompt inside NotebookLM and compare it to a general LLM response. Notice how small changes to sources and structure improve alignment.
This is what iterative design looks like in practice.
FROM THEORY → PRACTICE
Ethical AI Use
A note about...
As you begin actively using your notebook, remember that AI is a support tool and not a replacement for professional judgment. Effective use means verifying outputs, protecting learner privacy, avoiding bias, and maintaining transparency about when and how AI is used. Always review generated content for accuracy, alignment, and inclusivity. Responsible AI integration strengthens instruction when educators remain the decision-makers.
Download: Ethical AI Tips & Best Practices (PDF)
Module 3 Takeaways
Prompt quality determines output quality.
Strong prompts clarify objectives, define constraints, and specify format. Refinement is not a correction — it’s a design strategy.
You now understand how to:
Compare weak and strong prompts
Improve outputs through iteration
Align NotebookLM responses with instructional goals
Check outputs for ethics and accuracy
