Beyond Web Search: Turning Your Mobile Device into a Complete Research Tool
The idea behind my personal development workshop is that over 80% of Americans own a smart phone or some other mobile device. This one instrument can become the Swiss Army knife of research tools when used the right way.
Here is a brief promo for the three-part virtual workshop series:
(1) Plan for Instruction: Who Do you Plan to Teach? Beyond Web Search: Turning Your Mobile Device into a Complete Research Tool Audience, Setting, and Purpose for Instruction
This training is geared toward a very wide audience. In short, it will be helpful for anyone interested in research that takes them into the “field” in some way, shape, or form. Specifically, it is geared toward members of the Coastal Carolina University community utilizing the Kimbel Library and Horry County Archives Center. Though this is the focus of KL’s patron base, this workshop series is flexible enough to be suitable for a broader community of anyone conducting humanities, social science, genealogy, or family history research. Class will be capped at 25 participants to ensure everyone gets the assistance they need throughout the workshop.
Needs of the Learners (ages, language, skills, special needs, possible modifications)
This workshop series will be presented in English. Participants should have some familiarity with mobile devices and how they work. This training is aimed at those 15 years old and up. A desktop, laptop, or second mobile device would be best for attending, as participants will putting into practice what is presented during the training. Instructional Objectives/Outcomes
These workshops will enable participants to use their cell phones and other mobile devices as research tools. Through use of free applications and built in features, smart phones can make research in archives or other locations much easier. Learn to scan documents, organize resources, digitally improve old photos, and read old handwriting using this all-in-one, pocket sized tech tool. Rationale (why should your learners need to know this information or skill?)
Pew Research reports 81% of Americans own smartphones, while around half of U.S. adults own tablet computers. Since these devices are so widely owned, it is likely that researchers already have some version and can utilize these tools to streamline research. It will save researchers time and money by using what they already own. (2) Plan for Instruction: What Do you Plan to Teach?
What will the participants learn in this training session?
Participants will learn how to use their mobile devices as research tools. The idea behind these personal development workshops is that over 80% of Americans own a smart phone or some other mobile device. This one instrument can become the Swiss Army knife of research tools when used the right way. Through the addition of free applications and built in features, researchers can get more from their smart devices than just web searches. Supplies
Participants will need to have a smart phone or other smart mobile device with either cellular data or wireless internet capabilities. Phones will also need to have enough free space to download apps and take/edit photos. This workshop series will be presented virtually to accommodate for social distancing. However, the library is home to a number of computers for guest use on a first-come, first-serve basis. Free guest WiFi is also available at the library. Activities
This will be a hands-on workshop. The presenter will introduce multiple applications during each session which can be used when conducting research outside of the home or office. Participants will be downloading and trying new apps throughout the presentation. Outcomes of the Activities
Participants will be introduced to multiple ways smart mobile devices and their apps can be used in research. As they interact with these features, participants will be able to decide what works best for them in the locations and areas of research they participate in. They will leave with new tools that allow them to consolidate what tools they take into the field to perform their research.
Feedback, Discussion, Etc.
Questions will be taken throughout the class as participants walk through the steps of the applications. A formal Q&A session will also follow, allowing for participants to ask any questions and offer up their own tips.
Upon registering, participants will need to provide their email. Following each workshop, they will receive a brief survey about their experience. Below is a picture of the survey sample (created in LibWizard).
To encourage survey engagement, participants will be offereda copy of all slidesand notes from the workshop uponsurvey submission.
Output from the Workshop
As a result of this workshop series, participants will be able to utilize their smart phones to assist with research outside of their home or office. They will be able to streamline what is needed to take with them to conduct research, as well as how everything is organized.
Evaluation for You
I will evaluate the workshop based on number of participants, participant feedback, and engagement throughout the series. I will also gage how successful various aspects are, such as registration process, virtual presentation, and survey response rate. If this will lead to other sessions in the future
While this is set up to be a three-part workshop series that focuses on which tools to use, there is opportunity for future workshops to go further into how to use these tools. For example, PhotoShop Express is an app that will be introduced in this series as a tool that can help researchers by repairing old photos or reading old handwriting. A future workshop could go further by teaching participants how to actually do those things. (3) Plan for Instruction: A Product from/for Class.
The following tools will be presented throughout the workshop series:
(For more info on these applications, check out this Wakelet.)
Workshop 1: Mapping Dates, Events, Places, and Lineages
Introduction to KnightLabs Timeline and Mapping; Ancestry; HEREDIS; Family Search; Find-A-Grave; GoogleMaps; ArcGIS Story Maps; Timeline Storyteller
Workshop 2: Organizing Resources, Information and Contacts
Introduction to GoogleDrive; EverNote; OneNote; GoogleDocs; EndNote; Google Keep; Trello; DropBox; Wakelet
Workshop 3: Scanning, Photography, and Recording
Introduction to Adobe Scan; Adobe PSX and PS Fix; My Heritage (photo colorization); Flip Board; Google Image Search; PicMonkey; Genius Scan; iMovies; Voice Memos; Sutterfly & Chatbooks; smart phone photo settings
Here is a link to the promotional video (created on PowToon) for the workshop series.
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