Workshop Descriptions

The following workshops are currently taught at the J. Otto Lottes Health Sciences Library. Check the Workshop Registration page to see when a class is being offered. If you would like to arrange a workshop or if you have any questions, please contact Rebecca S. Graves by email or phone 573-882-0469.

Documenting Searches in the Sciences

Description: Learn why & how to document your literature searches in your proposals & manuscripts. This class is of particular interest for those conducting systematic reviews or meta analyses.

Objectives: Know when & why searches need to be documented; know what information about your literature review needs to be included in the method section; know how to document search information according to PRISMA guidelines.

Recommended prerequisites: familiar with basics of a literature search and with systematic reviews

Duration: 1 hour & 30 minutes

EndNote Basics –  make bibliographies a snap!

Description: Learn the basics of EndNote, including getting a copy storing references, and creating bibliographies in Microsoft Word.

Objectives: Know the benefits of EndNote; learn four ways to get references/information into your EndNote library; know how to organize your EndNote library; learn how to use Cite While You Write in Microsoft Word.

Recommended prerequisites: None; if you are bringing your own laptop, pre-install EndNote before the workshop.

Duration: 1 hour & 15 minutes

Finding the Best Evidence – Systematic Reviews & Other Studies

Description: Learn techniques to narrow your literature searches to research studies in MEDLINE/PubMed, CINAHL & Cochrane.

Objectives: Be able to apply MeSH and Limits to narrow your searches to systematic reviews and other research articles; know how to use Clinical Queries; know how to find Cochrane reviews.

Recommended prerequisites: Recommended that you have taken one of the following workshops: Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, or Research for Nurses.

Duration: 1 hour & 15 minutes

Ovid MEDLINE – getting better results

Description: Learn how to maximize your use of subject headings, limits, combined searches, & more.

Objectives: Be able to apply MeSH terms, including subheadings to searches; be able to apply limits to narrow searches; know how to combine search sets; know the difference between Basic Search and Advanced Search; be able to search by field.

Recommended prerequisites: none required, though previous use of Ovid is helpful.

Duration: 1 hour & 15 minutes

PowerPoint for Posters – using PowerPoint to create your conference posters

Description: Learn the settings and tools needed to create posters in PowerPoint.

Objectives: know how to change PowerPoint settings to create posters; learn tips for poster design.

Recommended prerequisites: basic familiarity with PowerPoint

Duration: 1 hour

Power Up Your PowerPoint – add animation, charts, images & more

Description: Explore ways to improve your slides with animation, images, shapes, and SmartArt. Discuss tips on good PowerPoint presentations.

Objectives: know how to add animation to your slides; know how to insert images & shapes and make basic changes to them; know how to add charts & hyperlinks;  

Recommended prerequisites: basic familiarity with PowerPoint helpful but not required    

Duration: 1 hour

  

PubMed – getting better results

Description: Explore the features of PubMed that increase the power and precision of your searching.

Objectives: Know the benefits of a My NCBI account and set one up; be able to apply MeSH terms, including subheadings to searches; be able to apply limits to narrow searches; use field searching; know how to combine search sets; be able to use details screen to troubleshoot searches.   

Recommended prerequisites: none required, though previous use of PubMed is helpful  

Duration: 1 hour & 15 minutes

Research for Nurses

Description: Learn how to effectively search CINAHL (EBSCO), the premier source for nursing and allied health literature. Other nursing resources might be included depending upon participant interest and time constraints.

Objectives: Be able to perform a basic search in CINAHL, utilize CINAHL subject terms and combine search sets; know the benefits of a My EBSCOhost account and set one up; be able to use folders feature.

Recommended prerequisites: none required, though previous use of CINAHL is helpful

Duration: 1 hour & 15 minutes

Who's Citing You? – Find your h-index & track who's citing you

  Description: Find and track references citing your work. Discuss the differences among impact metrics. This is especially useful for faculty preparing P&T dossiers.

Objectives: know the difference between Impact Factors, times cited, and h-index; know where to find citation and impact numbers; know how to find and interpret author information in Scopus.

Recommended prerequisites: None required

Duration: 1 hour

Zotero – managing your citations & references

Description: Learn how to download the free Firefox plug-in Zotero, how to use it for storing references and creating bibliographies in Microsoft Word.

Objectives: Know the benefits of Zotero; learn how to get references/information into your Zotero library; learn how to use Zotero to create in-text references and bibliographies in Microsoft Word.

Recommended prerequisites: None; attendees may want to bring their own laptop

Duration: 1 hour