Notebook for Genealogy Four Week Class

Due to several requests, we’ve developed this class on using Notebook for Genealogy.

Notebook for Genealogy–A Four Session Pick Your Own Problem Course

With Michael John Neill

Our focus is on being practical, exhibiting sound genealogy methodology, and demonstrating responsible use of Notebook (Google’s suite of AI tools) in genealogy research. This course is for those who would like guidance and suggestions in how to use Notebook and have a place to get feedback and additional direction.

An overview of NoteookLM

NotebookLM (often simply Notebook) is Google’s suite of AI-driven tools to analyze data from files and information you provide it. . 

Notebook uses sources of your choosing, not what it found online. You upload your own materials—including PDF files, text files, Google Docs, slides, or web links—and the AI creates a private workspace built exclusively around that data. You can upload any genealogy information to it tht you wish , but it is recommended that only deceased people be included and that you not upload DNA information on living people.  

Capabilities

• Answers with Citations: When you ask questions or search your uploaded files, every response includes citations to your uploaded documents, allowing you to double-check sources. 
• Synthesis & Content Creation: Notebook automatically generates concise summaries, outlines main themes, and identifies connections or conflicts across dozens of sources at once. You do need to validate its summaries and conclusions.
• Audio-visual Outputs: Beyond text answers, Notebook can create study guides, briefing documents, timeline charts, slide decks, podcast interviews, and videos based on your content. Even if you never share the created materials, just viewing them and interacting with them may give you some insight into your genealogical problem.

Course Prerequisites & Required Materials You should have digital records for one ancestor or a father-mother-children family, including every extant record available.

• Format: PDF or JPG for images; PDF, Word, or raw text for transcriptions.
• Preparation: Be familiar with the specific ancestral research problem you plan to work on to get the most from Notebook LM and AI concepts. Gather all materials between registration and the start of class.

Course Format & Zoom Sessions

• Pre-Recorded Lectures: Students will view two hours of presentations before group sessions begin.
• Live Zoom Sessions: Held on Sunday nights (and recorded for later viewing). Sessions combine live demonstrations by Michael working through a set of family records alongside group discussions where students share prompts, results, challenges, and questions.

Class Focus & Weekly Assignments

• Weekly Assignments: One assignment per week focused on Notebook’s media outputs using your own research problem.
• Scope: The course focuses on mastering the tools and capabilities of Notebook rather than providing individual research advice, making it accessible to participants working on problems from any region.

Community Discussion & Communication

• Private Google Group: Used for asynchronous discussion, peer interaction, Q&A, and prompt sharing outside of live sessions.
• Email Requirement: A Gmail account is strongly recommended. Accounts with AOL, Yahoo, or Hotmail frequently experience delivery issues with group emails.

Sections of this class–two options–take the class on Sunday nights or on Tuesday mornings.

Sunday sessions

Important Dates

• 1 September: Pre-recorded lectures become available for download, and the private Google Group opens.
• Live Zoom Discussions (Sunday Nights): 13 September, 20 September, 27 September, and 11 October. Time: 7 pm US Central Daylight Time.

Tuesday Sessions

Important Dates

• 1 September: Pre-recorded lectures become available for download, and the private Google Group opens.
• Live Zoom Discussions (Tuesdays at 10:00 AM Central US time): 15 September, 22 September, 29 September, and 13 October. Time: 10 am US Central Daylight Time.