Workshops

We want to meet your needs! If there is a workshop you would like the library to offer, please let us know.

Join presenters from the Writing Center and the Mansfield Library for a four-part workshop series addressing specific challenges of writing and research in graduate school, and providing tips and strategies for becoming a stronger, more organized and productive writer.

October 7. Workshop 1: Get rolling on your writing. Strategies for managing your writing process and staying organized. Join us for a presentation and discussion on challenges of writing in graduate school, steps to making good writing decisions, the merits of a writing schedule, and tips on how to keep your research and readings organized.

October 14. Workshop 2: Literature reviews are hard, Part 1. Strategies for finding, analyzing and using sources. Join us for the first of two workshops on literature reviews. This first workshop discusses the purpose and process of a lit review, including effective search strategies, ways to keep track of what you’re reading, using patterns to build an argument, and how to make sense of the chaos! 

October 21. Workshop 3: Literature reviews are hard, Part 2. Strategies for organizing and synthesizing your research. Join us for the second of two workshops on literature reviews. This workshop will move from process to product, diving into the structure of a lit review. Topics covered will include strategies for synthesizing information, pointing out gaps in the literature, bringing in your voice, and identifying organizational patterns. 

October 28. Workshop 4: Publishing demystified. Strategies for writing journal articles and exploring publication options. Join us for an overview of manuscript preparation and the publication process. We will discuss often-confusing online publication options including Open Access and copyright issues that may come up as you prepare to publish your research.

We are hosting both in-person and online versions of each workshop. All workshops will take place on Tuesdays, with the in-person workshop from 12-1pm and the online workshop from 5-6pm. An additional half-hour will be available for questions and discussion after each workshop. Zoom link will be shared with registrants via email prior to the online workshops. Register here.

AI for Instructional Planning. Wondering what generative AI means for your own classroom? Discuss the ways in which you can leverage AI tools for instructional planning. This workshop focused on crafting informed syllabus statements for your class and identifying ways in which generative AI can be used in brainstorming and drafting lesson plans, class activities, and more.
AI in Teaching. Strategies for (re)designing assignments and in-class activities in an AI context, as well as best practices for communicating with students about generative AI tools in the classroom. Drawing from critical information literacy praxis, this workshop examined various frameworks used to assess and analyze generative AI tools and their output.
Cite It Right with RefWorks. Learn how to use RefWorks to organize, cite, and share your research. RefWorks is a research tool that allows you to store your electronic articles and citations in one place for easy access.  It also creates citations and references automatically.
Electronic File Management. Strategies and best practices for organizing and preserving your personal digital archives. The workshop covered archival file formats for digital photos, videos, audio files, and personal records. You will learn about file naming techniques, folder organization, migrating your digital objects to new devices, backing up your files, managing your social media archive, and general data management.
Government Information: More Than Just A Bill on Capitol Hill. Discover the wide world of government information and learn how to leverage government resources in your research! More than just legislation and speeches, government information encompasses a wide range of subject areas and includes maps, datasets, digital resources, technical reports, agency publications, research papers, and more. An overview of the government information landscape, identifying access points to jumpstart your research, and how to cite government information resources.
Grant Research 101: Using the Foundation Center Online. Do you need to find information on grants or nonprofits? Learn how to use the Foundation Center's database to locate grantmakers and their grants.
Information Ethics. Using information, creative, and cultural works comes with responsibilities—both legal and ethical. An introduction to copyright, plagiarism, and locating authoritative resources on each.
Jumpstart Your Research. Get to know your library and learn how to use the library's resources for academic research. How to use OneSearch, the library’s databases, e-journals, research guides, and much more.
Literature Review: Finding and Evaluating Sources. Improving the quality and efficiency of your research. How to select where to search, advanced search strategies and tips, how to address finding too few or an overwhelming number of sources, literature appraisal methods, and keeping up to date on new information in your research area.
Publishing Demystified. Strategies for writing journal articles and exploring publication options. An overview of manuscript preparation and the publication process, including the often-confusing online publication options including open access and copyright issues that may come up as you prepare to publish your research.
Search Strategies for Music Resources. Tips and tricks for searching music resources in the Mansfield Library, and help interpreting your search results.
Who Can You Trust? Decoding websites and social media, the importance of net neutrality, search engine bias, and provide tools for identifying clickbait, like-farming, viral news, miracle cures, and echo chambers.