Autoalerts for Research

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) allows you to "subscribe" to updates from Web resources such as e-journals, newspapers, blogs and other regularly updated sites. Learn how to send your selections to a single "aggregator", and save yourself from having to visit many Web sites to keep up on your favorite sources. Class handout is at http://courses.lib.umn.edu/page.phtml?page_id=2297

Getting ready to do a poster at an upcoming conference? Learn pointers about using PowerPoint to create the poster as one giant slide, and send it to a large-scale printer.

Formatting Your Dissertation in *Word 2007*

Cut time spent sitting at your computer toiling away at Microsoft Word! In this workshop, you'll learn how to use Word features effectively and efficiently, including: creating a basic template, inserting footnotes, images and page numbers, generating tables of contents and figures; and more! Participants should have basic experience using MS Word. Note this version of the workshop specifically uses Office 2007. We will be using a template and not be working with individual dissertations.

Google for Researchers

With Google, you already search the web, share photos/movies/music, map directions and discover new things...but there are some tools you may have missed. This web search engine is on a mission to "organize the world's information and make it universally accessible." So let's explore the new tools and technology that pair Google-efficient tools with library-quality results to weave together a rich information web that goes beyond just the World Wide Web.

We'll look at tools such as, Google Docs, RSS Reader, Google Scholar, and iGoogle Research Gadgets that will help you access, evaluate, and share information in an easy collaborate environment.

Grant Funding for Graduate Students

Find out more about funding opportunities available to graduate students. Learn how to use IRIS, SPIN, and Community of Science and the Foundation Directory to search for grant opportunities. Setting up e-mail updates on specific subjects will also be covered, as well as how to find internal U of M funding sources.

Resources for the course are listed on the Web site of the Office of the VP for Research, http://www.research.umn.edu/opportunities/

Grant Funding -- Search Tools and Resources

Learn how to use IRIS, SPIN, and Community of Science and the Foundation Directory to search for grant opportunities. Setting up e-mail updates on specific subjects will also be covered, as well as how to find internal U of M funding sources.

Resources for the course are listed on the Web site of the Office of the VP for Research, http://www.collaborate.umn.edu/explore/searching.html

How do I Know I Found Everything?

Working on a new research project, a thesis or dissertation? Need to be comprehensive in your literature search? Learn techniques to improve your searches.

Journal Impact Factors, Who is Citing Whom, and How Often

Learn more about 1) impact factors, which is a scheme for rating journals and 2) sources for finding out who has cited an individual journal article, and how many times a given article has been cited. We will explore Journal Citation Reports, Web of Science, Essential Science Indicators, and Google Scholar.

For RefWorks users who would like to learn more about linking to full text documents, editing styles, and other specialized tasks. Attendees are encouraged to bring their RefWorks questions to the session. A list of advanced features may be found at http://courses.lib.umn.edu/page.phtml?page_id=2603

Learn the basics of using RefWorks, the Web-based citation manager that is available to all U of M Faculty, students and staff. Adding references to RefWorks will be covered, as well as exporting them to Word, and selecting a style (MLA, APA, etc) for your bibliography. See http://www.lib.umn.edu/indexes/refworks for more details about RefWorks.

This workshop will give you an introduction to the copyright alternative, Creative Commons. During the time we will discuss the various licenses, how you can use Creative Commons materials and why you may want to license your own work!