Zotero workshop
Teaching approach. This page describes an idea for a participatory workshop, to get started with Zotero. The workshop mainly focusses on why you want to use Zotero, rather than the technical details of Zotero. However, in preparation, participants do some self-guided exercises to develop basic familiarity with Zotero. At the workshop, we'll discuss
- Collecting references for an academic publication in any discipline.
- Collecting text from blogs for social science research.
- Setting up a shared group on Zotero, for sharing references and files.
- Using Zotero for research synthesis and systematic literature review.
We'll relate these ideas to the concrete research interests of the participants. For those participants in academic positions, we'll also discuss how to use Zotero in undergraduate and graduate teaching and research.
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| Resource details | |
| Title | Zotero Workshop |
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| Teaching approach | |
| Learning Objectives | The objectives of this workshop are to get started with Zotero. |
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| Useful information | |
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Zotero workshop
Preparation
In order to prepare for the workshop, please do the following four "ACTIONS".
Note: The tasks below might seem like a lot of tasks. However, depending on your overall familiarity with web browsers and productivity applications, it should only take you around one hour to do these tasks. It's important for you to prepare, in order to get the most out of the workshop.
Action 1: Download Zotero
Please go to the web site for Zotero http://www.zotero.org and
- Either download Zotero for Firefox, or
- download "Zotero stand alone" and the "Zotero connector" for your preferred browser (e.g. Chrome).
To use Zotero for Firefox may be easier initially, and it's also the method described in the Zotero Self-Paced Study Guide, so that may be the better option.
ACTION 2: Create a login on the Zotero site.
You will need this for synchronising your references online, and for sharing them with others.
ACTION 3: Some exercises
Download the Zotero Self-Paced Study Guide, and do tasks 1-9 and 21:
- Section 1: Installing the software/Basic Features
- TASK 1: Download & install Firefox (You don't need to do this if you've already done ACTION 1. Firefox is not necessary, you can use another browser.)
- TASK 2: Download & install Zotero (Again, should have been done in ACTION 1.)
- TASK 3: Download & install the Word plug-in
- TASK 4: Take a quick tour of Zotero
- TASK 5: Set Zotero’s Preferences
- TASK 6: Left-hand column: create a collection
- TASK 7: Middle Column: Find & store references
- TASK 8: Right Column: Check/Edit Individual Reference Information
- Section 2: Searching, Sorting, Reports & Creating Bibliographies
- TASK 9: Search Google Scholar
- Section 4: Backing up & importing/exporting
- TASK 21: Sync your library online
For the last task, the manual doesn't have a lot of information, but refers you to https://www.zotero.org/support/sync, where you find the following instructions:
The first step to syncing your Zotero library is to create a Zotero account (which is also used for the Zotero Forums). Then, open Zotero's Sync preferences tab and enter your login information in the Zotero Sync Server section. By default, Zotero will sync your data with the server whenever changes are made. To disable automatic syncing, uncheck the “Sync automatically” checkbox in this section.
You've already created a Zotero account in ACTION 2, so the only thing that remains is to enter the details in your preferences.
If you get stuck with the above tasks, ask for help from your colleagues or the workshop leader prior to the workshop. However, don't worry if you don't manage to do everything - it's important though that you try, and spend about 1-2 hours on this.
ACTION 4: Think about how you would use Zotero
Once you've explored the above three ACTIONS, spend a few minutes thinking about using Zotero for your own research tasks. How will you use Zotero?
Extra tasks
If you find the above tasks easy, try to install two powerful add-ons to Zotero:
- Zotfile: http://zotfile.com/
- Zutilo: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/addon/zutilo-utility-for-zotero/
Note
The workshop will start with hearing how the above tasks went, and your thoughts from ACTION 4. So make sure you do them!
The workshop
During the workshop, we will discuss any issues arising with the above tasks, and explore some further tasks from the work book. Because you've already done the basics as preparation, we'll be able to discuss a number of use cases of Zotero, such as
- Collecting references for an academic publication in any discipline.
- Collecting text from blogs for social science research.
- Setting up a shared group on Zotero, for sharing references and files.
- Using Zotero for research synthesis and systematic literature review
Note that while Zotero doesn't have as many advanced features as the specialised review software (e.g. EPPI-Reviewer software, http://eppi.ioe.ac.uk/cms/er4), it's perfectly possible to use Zotero highly effectively to create research syntheses and systematic literature reviews.
