This document outlines the lesson plan for a session on keeping up to date with current research. The session is divided into sections covering different tools for alerts and updates, including Table of Contents alerts in Zetoc, search alerts in ISI Web of Knowledge, alerts in Google Scholar, discussion lists, following blogs using RSS feeds in Google Reader, and creating groups in Mendeley. For each topic, the lesson plan lists the duration, topic, content to be covered, and teaching method, which generally involves a presentation and hands-on exercises for participants to set up alerts or subscriptions. The session concludes with a question and answer period and review of resources for further help and support.

1. Humanities Module - Session Five: Keeping up to date
Lesson plan
Duration Topic Content Method
5 mins Opening • Allow a little time for late arrivals • Brief talk
• Introduction of trainers
• Housekeeping:
o fire exits
o planned alarms
o toilets
o expected finish time
o When questions can be asked
• Ensure everybody logs into the computers
• Show of hands for anybody not logged-in
5 mins Introduction and • Purpose of the session • Brief talk with supporting PowerPoint slides
background to the • Learning outcomes
session • Organisation of the session
• Exercises, Take-home exercises, Demos
• Reasons for different formats of exercises
10 mins Introduction to • Benefits of CA services • Talk with supporting PowerPoint slides
current awareness & • Methods of being alerted (email, RSS) • CommonCraft video: RSS in Plain English
alerts • Types of alerts (saved search, …) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0klgLsSxGsU)
• Warning! Information Overload: receiving too many alerts • Keeping up to date page on Library website
• Highlighting several tools, should not try to use
them all
15 mins Table of Contents • Introduction to Zetoc • Talk with supporting PowerPoint slides
(ToC) alert • Introduction to ToC alerts within Zetoc • Initial guided demonstration,
• Exercise 1: Course participants will be asked to set up a ToC • Course participants to carryout subsequent exercise using
alert session workbook, tutor support
• Show of hands to ensure attendees have completed exercise /
practice

2. 15 mins ISI alerts • Introduction to ISI Web of Knowledge • Talk with supporting PowerPoint slides
• Reasons for selecting ISI Web of Knowledge • Initial guided demonstration,
• Exercise 2: Course participants will be asked to set up one • Course participants to carryout subsequent exercise using
search alert designed to retrieve articles that are relevant session workbook, tutor support
to the attendee • Show of hands to ensure attendees have completed exercise /
practice
15 mins Google Scholar alerts • Introduction to Google Scholar alerts. • Talk with supporting PowerPoint slides
• Exercise 3: Course participants will set up a Google Scholar • Demonstration by tutor
Alert • Course participants to carryout subsequent exercise using
• Citation and author alerts in Google Scholar session workbook, tutor support
10 mins Discussion lists • Definition and purpose of discussion lists • Talk with supporting PowerPoint slides
• Positive and negatives of using discussion lists • (Take-home) Exercise 4: Subscribing to a relevant list on
• Identify leading lists, such as those below: JISCMail. Using session workbook
• H-Net
• JISCMail
• Google Groups
• Explanation of take-home exercises
10 mins Using RSS to follow • Introduction to blogs • Talk with supporting PowerPoint slides
blogs in Google • Introduction the use of blogs in research • Demonstration by tutor
Reader • Google blogs • (Take-home) Exercise 5: Following the jrul researchers blog
• Following blogs and twitter using RSS using Google Reader. Using session workbook
• Issues around different browsers
10 mins Special feature: • Introduction to Mendeley • Talk with supporting PowerPoint slides
Creating and Using • Overview of Groups feature • Supporting video
Groups in Mendeley • Sources for further information, help and support • Mendeley YouTube channel
15 mins QnA & Closing • Review of content covered in this session • Talk with supporting PowerPoint slides and relevant
• Identify sources of further help and support websites/pages
• Mention Mendeley session: 15/04/12