Research software, managing information, & keeping up with technology workshop, 2-25-09
Amanda French, instructor

Initial questions

  1. How do you manage your research? In other words, how do you keep track of interesting articles, primary sources, websites? How do you produce bibliographies for the papers you write?
  2. How do deal with the fact that you are mobile -- that you're likely to work in different places at different times? Do you collaborate with other people on your work? How do you manage that?
  3. Do you keep up with technology trends and tools? If so, how?

Glossary

  1. Extension (also "plug-in" or "add-on") -- a small mini-program that can be added to an existing program to make it do more or different things
  2. Cloud computing -- the practice of creating and storing your data on the Internet instead of on your own computer's hard drive (example: using Google Docs instead of Microsoft Word)
  3. Sync -- short for "synchronize." To keep files and data the same on different devices.

Research software

Using bibliographic software to keep track of your research has at least two different advantages. First, you can re-use and reformat the information, and you can build your own personal annotated library that you can use throughout your career. Second, some of these software packages and sites allow you to collaborate with other scholars on bibliographies and to discover new information.

Managing information across multiple computers or with multiple users

In both large and small institutions, collaboration and mobility are common. These tools allow you to keep your bookmarks and files organized and current on different computers; to write documents with people in another room, building, city, or country; and to share files with others.

Keeping up with technology: a few sources

The "Digital Campus" podcast is the work of three historians who meet to discuss the effect of new technologies on universities, libraries, and museums; it lasts about 40 minutes and comes out every two weeks. TechSoup is a technology information portal for nonprofit organizations (lots of lessons and seminars, plus help with obtaining and maintaining equipment). LifeHacker is a blog that covers new software and new Firefox extensions as well as providing innumerable tips and tricks about technology and other topics. CNET is a Computer Network with rich editorial and user reviews of both hardware and software, with podcasts and videos about technology news and technology tips, and with download.com for finding all kinds of free and non-free software.

Created on February 25, 2009