Poll Everywhere, including Madison!

 

Looking for something to give a creative boost to your end of semester presentations? Poll Everywhere offers a great resource for anyone looking to stand out with a unique way of engaging audiences. Poll Everywhere is an online application that allows you to create poll questions for students or audiences and display responses in real time. It has many great editing features so you can customize visual appearances, display themes, font and color options. It is totally free for up to 40 responses at a time, which makes it a perfect resource for class presentations, discussions, and group meetings. Poll Everywhere allows for multiple methods of response, from texting, to on the web, and even twitter. This helps make Poll Everywhere very accessible and feasible in most educational settings.  

Poll Everywhere can be utilized in many different capacities, such as opinion questions, tests of knowledge, and determining an audience’s wants or preferences. It is a great way to incorporate technology into a classroom because it can be fun, entertaining, and even help encourage a lively debate. Because responses are recorded immediately, there is a tangible result to actions taken in the classroom, helping it to be a good tool for grabbing and keeping the attention of participants. Poll Everywhere can incorporate pictures, and even has the capability of being integrated directly into a PowerPoint presentation, making its use easy and seamless. It even has a fantastic Poll Everywhere User Guide to help you along the process. 

Poll Everywhere offers a great way for students to improve their class presentations, instructors to engage their students, and is a great alternative to costly clickers. It is truly a versatile resource that allows creativity to open the door to almost limitless possibilities. 

Steenbock Library is offering a Poll Everywhere Tech Talk on February 20 at 12 pm. Poll Everywhere is the perfect way to enhance your presentations and teaching opportunities. Tech Talks are completely free and take just 30 minutes, so it’s the perfect time to stop on by and learn something between classes. Steenbock offers many instruction opportunities and we encourage you to check out the Steenbock Workshop Schedule. We hope to see you at one soon!

A special thank you to Information Specialist Internship Program student Lucas Nicholson, for writing this guest post and designing the PollEverywhere workshop! 

Spring Semester Workshops

Learn more about the library resources and services that can make your work easier. Campus Libraries offer free workshops to satisfy many interests and needs--whether that is to use citation management software effectively, to identify sources of funding for your research, or to incorporate a variety of Web-based productivity tools into your workflow.

Plan to attend any of the workshops on the current spring schedule. If you cannot attend one of these particular workshops, Steenbock librarians can work with you to arrange additional individual or small group sessions. Send us your request using our online form.  As need or interest warrants, our library staff can come to your office, lab, or instructional space.

Workshops will include hands-on time to explore the resource or technology tool.  And, apart from selections within the "Graduate Support Series", advance registration is not necessary for most workshops.

Graduate Support Series, Fall 2013

UW-Madison campus Libraries have teamed to offer a series of free workshops for graduate students. Each workshop is designed as a "stand-alone" presentation; students can choose to attend any number of these workshops, in any combination.

Visit the library workshop site or view the flyer (PDF) for the listing of workshops in the series. From "Finding Funding for your Graduate Education" to "Using Special Collections and Archives"--there is something for you.

Do note date, time and library location. (Click here to view Steenbock Library offerings in the series).

Registration is recommended; register with the Graduate School—links from its site to come.

Graduate Support Series, 2013

UW-Madison campus libraries offer a series of free workshops for graduate students. Each workshop is designed as a "stand-alone" presentation; students can choose to attend any number of these workshops, in any combination.

Visit the library workshop site or view the flyer (PDF) for the listing of workshops in the series. From "Finding External Funding..." to "Data Management Planning"--there is something for you.

Do note date, time and library location. (Click here to view Steenbock Library offerings in the series).

Registration is recommended; register with the GSC (GraduateStudent Collaborative).

Library Workshops, 2013

Steenbock Library offers free drop-in workshops for students and staff!

Come learn about library resources and services that can make your work easier. We offer a variety of workshops to satisfy many interests, whether that is to harness a citation management product, to manage your research data, or to search our catalogs and databases more effectively.

Plan to attend any of the workshops on the current spring schedule (printable PDF). If you cannot attend one of these particular workshops, we can arrange individual or small group sessions. Send us your request using our online form.  See also the campus libraries’ workshop calendar for workshop opportunities at all campus library locations.

All workshops are free and include hands-on time to explore the resource.  Save for choices within the "Graduate Support Series", reservations are not necessary for most workshops.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Electronic Lab Notebooks (Nov 14)

Save the date for this new drop-in workshop!  UW-Madison Chemistry alumna Kristin Briney will discuss your options for electronic lab notebooks, the pros and cons of switching to an electronic notebook, and the important features to consider when choosing a product. The workshop will include demonstrations of available notebook software.

What:  Electronic Lab Notebooks Workshop
When: Wednesday, November 14, 2012, (12:00 - 1:00 PM)
Where: Chemistry Building Room 9341 (9th Floor Lounge)

With thanks to the Chemistry Library for the content of this blog post.

Manage Your Research Data, Workshop

Are you frustrated by the challenge of organizing your research data?  Do you need to submit a data management plan as part of your grant application?  If you can say yes to either query, then save the date for a free, drop-in workshop at Steenbock Library devoted to examining some practical solutions that you can implement immediately.  

What:  Manage Your Research Data

When:  Thursday, October 25 (4:00 PM)
Where:  Steenbock Library, Room 105 (first floor instruction lab)

All workshops are free and generally include hands-on time to explore resources.  No reservations are necessary in order to attend. Questions encouraged.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Wisconsin Science Festival 2012

'Unleash your curiosity and discover your inner innovator' with the Wisconsin Science Festival, September 27-30!
Visit the festival website to plan your day.  While most events and programs will take place at the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery, there are several other area venues including the Chazen and the Madison Children’s Museum that will be hosting special events. 
The festival affords an amazing opportunity to dabble creatively in the sciences with hands-on activities, demonstrations, exhibits, films, lectures, workshops, and more.  Importantly, too, you will meet the individuals behind the art and science who will share an infectious enthusiasm for what they do—whether that is their work in the lab, field or studio.  Ask plenty of questions!

And, do look for your campus librarians! They will be staffing an "Ask a Science Librarian" table during the Town Hall Street Fair.  What with our interest in the sciences and science literacy, how could we resist but to be there where the action is—we look forward to seeing you there!

Follow the fun via Facebook and Twitter.

Graduate Support Series, Spring 2012

UW-Madison campus libraries have teamed to offer a series of free workshops for graduate students. Each workshop is designed as a "stand-alone" presentation; students can choose to attend any number of these workshops, in any combination.

Visit the library workshop site or view the flyer (PDF) for the listing of workshops in the series. From "Keeping Current with the Literature" to "Data Management Planning"--there is something for you.

Do note date, time and library location. (Click here to view Steenbock Library offerings in the series).

Registration is recommended; register with the GSC (Graduate Student Collaborative).

Free Drop-In Workshops, Fall 2011

Steenbock Library offers free tours and drop-in workshops for students and staff!

Come learn about library resources and services that can make your work easier. We offer a variety of workshops to satisfy many interests, whether that is to harness a citation management product or to search more effectively using Google or the research literature databases.

Plan to attend any of the workshops on the current fall schedule (printable PDF). If you cannot attend one of these particular workshops, we can arrange individual or small group sessions. Send us your request using our online form.

All workshops are free and include hands-on time to explore the resource. No reservations are necessary. We look forward to seeing you there!

Graduate Support Series, Fall 2011

UW-Madison campus libraries have teamed to offer a series of free workshops for graduate students. As each workshop is designed to be a "stand-alone" presentation, students can choose to attend any number of them, in any combination.

Please visit the library workshop site or view the flyer (PDF) for the listing of workshops in the series. From "Keeping Current with the Literature" to "Finding Datasets"--there is something for you.

Do note date, time and library location. Registration is recommended; register with the GSC (Graduate Student Collaborative).

SciFinder Scholar Web, Workshop (July 25)

Save the date! Steenbock Library is offering the following workshop:

SciFinder Scholar Web
Monday, July 25 (11:30-12:30 PM)
Room 105 (first floor lab)

The workshop will provide an overview of the SciFinder Web interface, its databases, and search features (structure, substructure, reaction, and research topic).

The use of ANALYZE/CATEGORIZE/REFINE for improved retrieval, remote access, and downloading for citation management will also be covered. Come ready for hands-on practice.

Note: The workshop will emphasize text-based searching; information on structure-based searching will be provided in a handout.

Please contact librarian Barbara Sisolak if you plan to attend.

Plan an Orientation

Are you new to campus or do you have new staff or incoming graduate students? If so, you may wish to consult with your Steenbock library liaison to plan an orientation to library collections and services.

Steenbock librarians are happy to meet with new staff and students--be it for an individual consultation, small-group workshop, or as participant in a department welcome event. Complete a request form.

Additionally, library liaisons can provide the following services:

• Assist with library services and policies (e.g., Interlibrary Loan, faculty runner cards, UW System search and retrieval…etc.)

• Customize email alerts to keep you informed about new articles matching your topic criteria or with tables of contents to your favorite journals

• Provide in-depth reference consultations--at our office or yours--(e.g., help with strategy and database choices, customize your own alerts…etc.)

• Supply customized instructional sessions and course Webpages for your students

• Consult on questions related to publishing your research (e.g., identify target journals, manage copyright, measure research impact, open access publishing options)

Watch for our Steenbock Drop-In Workshops & Tours (fall schedule to be posted soon!)

Or see the campus-wide libraries’ Workshops/Classes/Tours | September Tours

Transfer Students and UW-Madison Libraries, Workshop (Feb 15)

Transferring from another college or university has its challenges, but using library collections and services shouldn’t be one of them!

This workshop, designed for the transfer student who has recently-arrived at UW-Madison, covers an introduction to the many things that UW-Madison libraries offer: MadCat (the library catalog), journal literature databases, convenience services (such as book retrieval and your online library account), and all the means by which to get help finding and using campus library resources. There will be ample opportunity to ask the questions you may have about UW-Madison Libraries.

Transfer Students and UW-Madison Libraries: What You Really Need to Know
Tuesday, February 15 (10:00 - 11:00 AM)
Room 105 (first floor, Steenbock Library)

See the listing of this semester’s library workshops!

Free Library Workshops, Spring 2011

Steenbock Library offers free tours and drop-in workshops for students and staff!

Come learn about library resources and services that can make your work easier. We offer a variety of workshops to satisfy many interests, whether that is to harness a citation management product or to search more effectively using Google or the research literature databases.

Plan to attend any of the workshops on the current spring schedule (printable PDF). If you cannot attend one of these particular workshops, we can arrange individual or small group sessions. Send us your request using our online form.

All workshops are free and include hands-on time to explore the resource. No reservations are necessary. We look forward to seeing you there!

Graduate Support Series, Spring 2011

UW-Madison campus libraries have teamed to offer a series of free workshops for graduate students. As each workshop is designed to be a "stand-alone" presentation, students can choose to attend any number of them, in any combination.

Please visit the workshop site or view the flyer (PDF) for the listing of workshops in the series. From "Keeping Current with the Literature" to "Using Patents and Technical Reports"--there is something for you.

Do note date, time and library location. Registration is recommended; register with the GSC (Graduate Student Collaborative).

10 Days of Career Services (Jan 17-28)

CALS Career Services is pleased to offer ten days of career-oriented events in anticipation of the Spring Career and Internship Fair, Tuesday, January 25 at the Kohl Center (4:30-8:00 PM).

Visit the CALS Career Services site (or its flyer and blog) for a listing of each event designed to make you comfortable with the resume-writing and interviewing process.

The Spring Career and Internship Fair is a collaborative effort between CALS, the Wisconsin School of Business, the College of Letters and Sciences, the School of Human Ecology and the Wisconsin Alumni Association. This fair is free and open to all UW-Madison students.

For more information, contact CALS Career Services (116 Ag Hall), phone 608-262-3460 or email.

Get Assistance from the Writing Center

The Writing Center can help you with the mechanics of organizing your thoughts and resources to complete writing assignments for your classes. The Center offers several options for individual consultation including email, face to face instruction, and live chat conferencing.

The Writing Center office is located in Helen C. White Hall, Room 6171. Drop-by assistance is offered at several campus locations including College and Memorial Libraries and several residence halls (including Lakeshore). The Center website also features a handy "Writer’s Handbook" that provides examples, strategies and tips for getting started, avoiding common grammatical errors and citing your resources accurately.

The Center may also have a free class that fits your needs. Click here to view the fall 2010 class list.

Job Hunting on the Internet, Workshop (Nov 12)

Discover resources and strategies for job hunting on the Internet/Web. The workshop will cover resume writing resources, databases for job postings, tips for finding non-advertised jobs, and methods for researching potential employers. There will be time for hands-on exploration.

Job Hunting on the Internet
Friday, November 12 (noon – 1:15 PM)
Steenbock Instruction Lab, Room 105 (first floor, downstairs!)

No registration is necessary in order to attend.

Of related interest:

College Library also maintains a Career Collection of more than 1,000 books on writing resumes and cover letters, preparing for interviews, job hunting, and choosing and preparing for a career. This collection is located in the center area of the third floor of College Library.

In addition to College Library’s Career Collection, there are many other career guides to particular fields that can be found in the various libraries. Steenbock Library has career guides in its book stacks that are in keeping with the other collections we support for CALS, SOHE and VetMed.

Speak with your librarians for assistance locating these resources OR try using the MadCat catalog, "Words Anywhere" or "Title Words" searches.

CALS Career Services, Workshops

CALS Career Services offers a series of workshops, for undergraduate and graduate students, about the job-seeking process. Consult the Career Services events calendar for these and other opportunities.

• November 16, (1:20-2:10 PM): Freshman Resume/No Experience Resume, Room 116 Ag Hall

• December 1, (9:55-10:40 AM): Closing the Sale: Selling Yourself in an Interview, Room 116 Ag Hall

• December 10, (3:30-4:20 PM): BuckyNet Unleashed!, Animal Sciences Computer Lab, Room 204