Zotero, SFX,Libx,GoogleDocs,WebQuest and more

Today's hands-on at Healey Library Brittanie and I met Jeremy who was about to give a presentation on the uses of SFX, Libx, and Zotero that are electronic services and databases. Along with Ellie, Michael, Lisa, Ashley and a few librarians who also wanted to be up-dated, we were all amazed at, once again, how technology has advanced. For example, according to my notes, SFX links citations to databases and allows you to get the full article from any interlibrary that SFX can run through. This service works really behind the scenes with Libx. I was very interested to join this site through firefox to access to search Healey Library for any article or book I request for my students for next fall. It contains abstracts and full catalogues and e-journals but open access is not allowed to alumni unless they come to UMB and use the computers. This site can drag key words from an article and drop them to the toolbar and it searches for you any world wide catalogue for related information you may need. Isn't that amazing? World news can arrive at an instant but is is also a way to easily stretch your thinking by including international authors that could add another perspective on pertinent issues that concern the society, such as, 'reducing the carbon footprint' or better known to non-chemies "going green".
Zotero is a storage house, organizational service, and researcher that not only can keep a record of your books, articles, pdfs, images, and webpages, but also can pull subject headings for your on-going research. For example, when you find a particular article with the topic you are researching, it will list other current/past authors who have contributed works on the same topic. This research service also provides a space where you can "tag" the material and even create or compose notes as you access a reading. It will export citation to word processing programs, and even access your library from anywhere, so you don't have to lug your laptop. All you need to do is get a "Zotero" account and log in your user name and password. That's routine! Creating a Zotero Sync allows you to group memebers who are collaboratively working on the same project in a public form or private by sharing your password to a selected group. To install this miracle,you just type "Lib.Webpage/Zotero or email Jeremy for a "widget" (I remember that), but(there is always a glitch) you need the newest version of 'firefox' installed. If you don't know if you have an up-dated version, go to the 'help' icon and check 'updates and if you are running a current one, it will tell you! Then download HLFF(I think this means Healey Library Fire Fox) onto your firefox. Open "TOOLS", check on 'add-ons and drag HLFF there. You will then be asked, "Do you want to install? After all that work, you say YES. Hit 'restart and VIOLA! It is installed! Now you have Zotero and you can also program it to clean your house too!
Delicious is similar to Zotero in that it saves information from the web to your account. Therefore, you can visit this site and find whatever you have stored inside. Jeremy has his 'trout', Ellie has her hiking ideas (of course, we know that's not all), and I will begin to store my Greek authors, music, newspapers, books, magazines, theatrical and cultural events and latest real estate listings! Wow! All this can instantly be found and accessed from this "delicious" place. In a way, this service is sorting and cleaning out all my cluttered bookcases . Supposedly this is a quick and easy place to store and download. You can keep track easily , tag right away and is a great way to social network too since you can share your sources and notes with anyone.
Finally, WebQuest was fascinating in that this tool has great learning potential for students. It looks like an organizer where you can add 'buzz' words to help the student along with his research process. I visited a few sites and the possibilities are endless. I just need to go exploring some more so I can figure out how to lead students through a certain task and build material, videos and written assignments effectively. It was a great afternoon once again. Total Hours:3