The Maldives National University (MNU) has strengthened its efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into higher education through a professional development workshop titled “Leveraging NotebookLM AI for Engaging Teaching & Learning,” aimed at equipping academic staff with practical strategies to create interactive, inclusive, and student-centred learning experiences.
Facilitated by Ibrahim Adam from the Centre for Educational Technology and Excellence, the workshop highlighted the growing potential of AI-powered tools to transform traditional teaching materials into engaging educational resources. The programme focused on helping lecturers use emerging technologies purposefully to strengthen student participation, encourage critical thinking, and improve access to learning content.
A central focus of the session was introducing academic staff to NotebookLM, an AI-powered research and learning tool that enables users to organise source materials and generate resources based on uploaded content. Participants explored how instructional materials could be transformed into audio summaries, mind maps, and guided questions, offering students different ways to engage with academic information.
The workshop also examined practical approaches to integrating AI-generated resources into classroom instruction and independent learning activities. Audio summaries were explored as a means of supporting flexible content review, while mind maps offered opportunities to visualise relationships between concepts. Guided questions were introduced as tools for encouraging reflection, deeper understanding, and active engagement with course materials.
An important aspect of the programme was the emphasis on aligning AI-supported activities with clearly defined learning objectives. Rather than using technology solely for content generation, the workshop encouraged lecturers to consider how digital resources could support meaningful learning, stimulate inquiry, and strengthen students’ ability to analyse and interpret information.
The session further highlighted the importance of thoughtful and responsible AI integration in education. By encouraging academic staff to critically review AI-generated materials and consider their educational relevance, the programme reinforced the role of lecturers in maintaining academic quality and ensuring that technology complements effective teaching practices.
Beyond technical competencies, the initiative underscored the value of continuous professional development in preparing educators for an increasingly AI-enabled learning environment. Strengthening familiarity with tools such as NotebookLM can support more flexible instructional approaches and encourage innovation in the design of teaching and learning activities.
The workshop reflects MNU’s broader commitment to enhancing teaching quality through digital transformation and evidence-informed educational practices. By equipping academic staff with practical AI skills, the university aims to foster more engaging learning environments that accommodate diverse learning preferences and support meaningful student participation.
Aligned with priorities of quality education, inclusive and equitable learning, digital literacy, responsible artificial intelligence, educational innovation, lifelong learning, and professional capacity development, the initiative contributes to MNU’s efforts to advance technology-enhanced teaching and create more accessible, interactive, and future-ready higher education experiences.
