Workshop Topics
Brandeis Library offers workshops and sessions on citation management, research strategies, data analysis and management, GIS, software for quantitative and qualitative analysis, primary sources, subject-specific resources, media production, 3D printing, soldering and more. Check out our upcoming workshops!
In addition to our workshop series offered through the Library, we are happy to work with groups on campus who would like to request a workshop. Please explore a list of workshop topics and descriptions below. If you'd like to request a workshop for a group, please fill out our request form.
Citation
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Trying to finish up your reference list? Unsure how to cite that one paper? In this session, we'll focus on the mechanics of APA style in the reference list, covering standard stuff like books and articles, and funky stuff like white papers, NGO reports, government documents, and datasets. Join us, and bring your specific questions!
Learn the basic Chicago Style templates for commonly-used sources, such as books, journal articles, websites, and other online resources. We'll include time for citation Q&A and time to practice creating your own citations.
Learn the basic MLA style you'll need for your paper, including how to create citations for books, journal articles, websites, and more. Q&A and time to practice creating your own citations will be at the end of the session.
Tired of typing out bibliographies? Try EndNote or Zotero! They are citation management software programs that allow you to organize references and quickly create bibliographies. They are pretty similar, so we'll cover the pros and cons of each program so you can decide which one is best for your research!
Are you typing citations and bibliographies by hand? Having trouble keeping all your references organized? Why not try Zotero? Zotero is a free citation management tool that helps you stay organized, quickly format citations, and generate bibliographies for your research.
In this workshop, we'll show you how to import citations from library databases and other sources, organize and edit items in your Zotero library, add in-text citations to a Word document, and build an automated bibliography in the citation style for your discipline.
This workshop is designed to be a follow-up to the Intro to Zotero or for individuals who already have familiarity with Zotero. If you haven't used Zotero before, please attend one of our Introduction to Zotero workshops or schedule an appointment with our Zotero team, as this workshop will not cover the basics.
Are you working on a large research project like a thesis or dissertation? Or need to keep several different research projects organized but separated? Are you looking to keep your pdfs, notes, and references in one place? Do you need to collaborate on a research project with colleagues, classmates, or your adviser?
In this workshop, we'll show you how to use Zotero’s nifty organization features to sort and store your research effectively. We will go over Zotero’s note-taking feature as well as tags, sorting, and related references, as well as how to store and search pdfs. Additionally, this workshop will show how you can export your research into other useful formats and how to clean up your Zotero library. Finally, we will show you how to set up collaborative group libraries, send invitations, set privacy and user permissions, add citations and PDFs to your shared library, and more!
Do you need to use EndNote for your lab, class, or assignment? Are you typing your bibliographies by hand? Having trouble keeping all your PDFs and references organized? Try EndNote!
Learn how to create a reference library, import citations from library databases, apply footnotes in a Word document, and build an automated bibliography in the correct citation style for your discipline.
Data Services
Software
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This workshop is designed to introduce new users to SPSS, a user-friendly program that allows you to conduct statistical analyses through simple point-and-click menu items. You will learn how to enter data into SPSS and how to define, recode and create new variables. We will show you how to obtain univariate statistics and produce basic graphs.
This workshop will provide a hands-on introduction to Stata. You will learn how to navigate Stata's user interface, create log files, use do- files, enter data into Stata and how to define, recode and create new variables. We will show you how to do univariate statistics and produce basic graphs.
In this workshop you will learn some of the basic statistical analysis using Stata. We will cover correlation, chi-square, t-test, ANOVA and we will produce some graphics.
Learn the new Atlas.ti 8! This workshop is designed to introduce new users to Atlas.ti. It will provide an overview of this software designed to support your qualitative analysis. You will learn how to set up a project and start your analysis, how to create codes, memos, comments, families and networks.
Excel is a spreadsheet program that allows you to store, organize, and analyze information. In this workshop, you will learn how to enter and format your data. We will cover useful features such as conditional formatting, sort and filter and basic functions and formulas.
Do you want to use Excel more efficiently? We will show you some time-saving formulas (if, vlookup, text formulas...) and we will learn how to create pivot tables.
Qualtrics is a robust online survey tool for research or information-gathering needs. In this workshop we will learn how to create, edit and distribute a survey.
Programming
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R is very powerful free software environment for statistical computing and graphics.
In this workshop you will learn how to create R objects, install and load R packages, import and manage datasets, and conduct basic statistical analyses. We will use RStudio.
Various Topics Related to R, upon request
We can also provide R sessions on a variety of topics, such as data visualization, data wrangling, statistical tests/models, reproducibility tips, simulation modeling, web scraping, and text mining.
We can also provide R sessions on a variety of topics, such as data visualization, data wrangling, statistical tests/models, reproducibility tips, simulation modeling, web scraping, and text mining. Request your interests!
This workshop gives an introduction to programming in Python, with no previous programming experience required. We’ll cover assigning variables in Python, basic data types, lists, for loops,if statements, and writing your own functions.
Handle data structures and analyze data with pandas. Practice visualizing how variables in your data relate to each other with statistical graphics in seaborn. Implement different types of statistical models and more. Request your interests!
The best way to learn how to program is to do something useful, so this introduction to MATLAB is built around a common scientific task: data analysis. We will cover core programming concepts, and use MATLAB to interactively customize data visualizations, then automatically generate the MATLAB code to reproduce them with new data!
Version control is the lab notebook of the digital world: it’s what professionals use to keep track of what they’ve done and to collaborate with other people. Every large software development project relies on it, and most programmers use it for their small jobs as well. And it isn’t just for software: books, papers, small data sets, and anything that changes over time or needs to be shared can and should be stored in a version control system.
Bash Shell is a powerful tool that allows you to do complex things with just a few keystrokes, combine existing programs in new ways, and automate repetitive tasks. It is fundamental to using a wide range of other powerful tools and computing resources including HPCCs.
Databases include powerful tools for search and analysis, and can handle large, complex data sets. These lessons will show how to use a database to explore complex data with SQL.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
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Social Explorer is an online mapping tool that can be used to visualize data from a variety of sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau (1790-present), the Religious Congregations and Membership Survey, and many more. In this workshop, we'll use Social Explorer to visualize U.S. census data in an interactive online map. Participants will learn how to create and stylize a map based on a variable of interest, share a map, and use Social Explorer's built-in tools to compare maps, visualize changes over time, etc. No prior GIS or mapping experience is required for this workshop.
ArcGIS StoryMaps is an online storytelling tool that lets you integrate interactive maps from ArcGIS Online with multimedia content to create an immersive storytelling experience. In this workshop, we'll go through the steps of creating a multimedia narrative using story maps. No prior GIS experience is required for this workshop.
In this workshop, attendees will learn the basics of using desktop GIS software. We’ll cover common GIS terminology, how to add geospatial and spreadsheet data to a map, how to filter and merge data sets, and stylize a map based on a variable of interest. This workshop can be customized for ArcGIS Pro or QGIS users.
Georeferencing is the process of adding coordinate data to an image (e.g., aerial photograph, historical map) so it can be overlayed in a specified location on a map. In this workshop, attendees will learn the fundamentals of the georeferencing process and how to use the georeferencing tool in the GIS software of their choice. We’ll cover how to add and edit control points to an image; how to apply a transformation to an image if you need to shift, scale, or rotate it; and common issues that can occur when georeferencing. This workshop can be customized for ArcGIS Pro or QGIS users.
ArcGIS Online is an online mapping tool that can be used to create and share interactive maps and apps. In this workshop, attendees will learn how to add data to a map, filter and merge data sets, stylize a map based on a variable of interest, and export/share a map. No prior GIS experience is required for this workshop.
University Archives and Special Collections
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Come learn about the history of Brandeis University with a virtual visit to the Robert D. Farber University Archives & Special Collections! In this interactive and informative workshop, we will talk about the history of Brandeis, primary sources, and researching in the archives. This event will take place over Zoom. Registered participants will receive a Zoom link one day before the workshop.
This workshop is open to everyone.
In this engaging and informative workshop, come learn about all of the resources held in Brandeis's Univeristy Archives and Special Collections, ways in which to access and use those resources, and ways that your archivists can support your research.
This workshop is designed for undergraduate or graduate students doing research.
In this interactive workshop, come learn about the services offered by and the collections held in Brandeis's University Archives and Special Collections, as well as the different ways these rare and unique materials can be used in classes both virtually and in-person.
This workshop is designed for instructors/faculty.
Research Technology and Innovation
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In this hour, we will tour the MakerLab, Automation Lab, and the Digital Scholarship Lab and look at some of the toolsets available and examples of projects students, faculty and staff have created in the spaces related to teaching, learning and research.
In this training you will get a peek into the 3D Printing world, and learn how to operate a Flashforge CreatorPro.
We will start with a powerpoint to look at some use cases, possibilities as well as dangers of using 3D printers. Then we will move on to the hands on part, where we download a 3D model, slice it and start a 3D print.
This is the suggested training for MakerLab room access.
Join us for some simulator practice as we build our drone flying skills to prepare for monthly in-person races. All skill levels welcome!
Whether you've never flown a drone before in your life or you're trying to shave a couple milliseconds off your top leaderboard time we can get you the practice you need to improve. Weekly practice is held in the Digital Scholarship Lab on the Goldfarb Mezzanine (down the hall from the roman forum display). Nothing required, we will have all of the equipment you need to learn to fly on hand.
This is a multi-session training. Starting with theory, soldering and desoldering training. The next sessions are focused on working with the soldering kits, which you will complete at your own pace. Don't worry about which day is which session, we will get you going from wherever you left off! This training is designed for any skill level so come join even if you've never heard of soldering before.
This is the suggested training for AutomationLab access.
Sound & Image Media Studios
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Drop by for a guided tour of our labs and studios. Meet our student staff and take a look at some of their recent project work. Sit down at one of our workstations and learn your way around some of our editing software. Take a look at some of our camera and sound equipment and hear about all of the different kinds of projects you can create with them.
This intermediate-level workshop covers setup and operation of DSLR/mirrorless video cameras, framing and exposure techniques, how to work as a crew, sound recording and lighting options. Some previous experience with one of our entry-level camcorders (or any other basic camera) is recommended before attending this workshop.
Potential topics include digital photography, photo editing in Lightroom or Photoshop, poster, flyer, or logo design, audio production in Logic or Ableton Live, video editing, and advanced videography. A group of three or more is generally required to organize a workshop. One-on-one training is also always available upon request through the
SIMS website.
Library Research Skills
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This workshop will provide an introduction to the most highly used library resources and services at Brandeis, including:
- The catalog and locating books in the library
- Using your Library Account OneSearch
- Interlibrary Loan and Scan on Demand
- Library Databases
Looking to fund a research project? Want to know more about organizations that fund nonprofit work? Learn about three library databases that can connect you with the funders who could invest in your idea.
Starting a literature review can seem daunting. How many sources do you need? Where do you find them? What exactly is a literature review, anyway, and what makes it different from other research writing? We’ll show you how to break your project down into manageable steps, provide organization and writing tips, and connect you to library resources that will get you on your way. Co-taught with University Writing Center.
This workshop will provide an introduction to systematic reviews. In this session, you’ll learn how to:
- Articulate the purpose of a systematic review and the process for conducting one
- Distinguish between systematic and other types of reviews and identify the right method for a particular project
- Understand how the library can support researchers who are conducting systematic reviews and other types of synthesis projects
This workshop is appropriate for researchers and research assistants who are planning to conduct a systematic review or are interested in learning about the process.
Are you overwhelmed by finding items in the library catalog? Join us for an introduction (or a refresher!) on using OneSearch to get items from Brandeis Library and beyond.
You'll spend a lot of time thinking about, researching, and writing your dissertation. But beyond what you're writing on the page, there are complicated issues including copyright, embargoes, and open access. In this workshop, librarians will walk through definitions and implications of these factors, and answer questions about what options to consider when preparing your work.
Other Workshops
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Google Sites is a free wiki- and website-creation tool offered by Google. It offers collaboration between individuals to build the site, and can be displayed publicly, privately, or only to the Brandeis community. This introductory session will cover the basic editing tools of Google Sites, how to add/delete content, and demonstrate best practices to ensure accessibility. Google Sites is free to use.
LaTeX is a free typesetting program that you can use to format books, articles, slides, and other types of documents. LaTeX makes it easy to format things like mathematical formulas, symbols, and lines of poetry, which can be tricky to do in Word or Google Docs.
This workshop will introduce the basics of working with LaTeX, including:
- Setting up a LaTeX document
- Formatting basics (paragraphs, sections, tables, etc.)
- Using LaTeX for math & science*
- Using LaTeX for literature & linguistics*
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Note: The disciplinary focus will vary, depending on who signs up for the session. Subject-specific sessions can be arranged as needed.