Where Innovation Is Tradition

Tips + Taps: Integrating Apps in the Research Process

April Kelley and Mary Oberlies

VLA Annual ConferenceSeptember 27, 2013

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Who & Why

http://techinell.blogspot.com/2012/04/advantages-and-disadvantages-to.html

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Objectives

1). Create a workshop for students to evaluate and utilize mobile applications for research

2). Survey user needs to plan workshops

3). Develop criteria relevant to audience

4). Find resources to identify relevant apps

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Our Final Products

3 Workshops

Infoguide

Appy Hour

http://www.cartoonscrapbook.com/l-p/002/yogis-space-race_L11.htm

Where Innovation Is Tradition

DIY in 4 Easy Steps

• Survey• Investigate• Focus • Assess & Adapt

http://www.millionaireplayboy.com/mpb/index.php/gi-joe-season-1-1-dvd/

Where Innovation Is Tradition

SURVEY

Image from: http://www.angelahagebusch.com/2013/06/life-lessons-from-phineas-and-ferb-1

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Purpose of Survey

How do students and faculty interact with libraries via social media?

Is there interest in an apps workshop?

What kinds of apps interest students and faculty?

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviews all research activities involving human subjects.

Surveys need to go through IRB to determine whether exempt prior to being distributed.

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Survey Tools

Survey MonkeyLimited options for free version - 10 questions/100 responses

Confidential

Google FormsFree – no limitations on number of questions or responses

Confidential

Graphs and charts available

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Marketing and Distribution

• Focus on Arlington Campus students and faculty

• Advertised on listservs, library blog, social media, flyers, bookmarks and campus news

• Survey link converted to a bit.ly and QR code

Survey ran from January 14 – February 28, 2013

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Survey Questions

• What types of social media do you use?

• What devices do you use for your academic needs?

• Would you attend a workshop that demonstrates how you can use apps on your smartphone or tablet to access library resources or to help you with your research needs?

• What type of apps would you be interested in learning about?

Where Innovation Is Tradition

RESULTS

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Where Innovation Is Tradition

Demographics

Gradu

ate

Docto

ral

Staff

Admin

istra

tion

Facul

ty

Under

grad

32

9

4 4 40

Mason Affliation

Arlington Fairfax Prince William

Distance Edu

45

62 0

Campus Location

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Social Media Preferences

Facebook41%

Twitter25%

Blogs20%

Tumblr5%

LinkedIn3%

Other5%

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Mobile Device Preferences

Apple67%

Droid26%

Blackberry4%

Other2%

Tablets

Phones

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Areas of App Interest

Productivity32%

Sharing/Storage24%

Research40%

None3%

Zotero1%

Where Innovation Is Tradition

DIY Tips: Survey• Effective, detailed questions• Google Forms = Happiness• Incentives to increase participation

http://collider.com/captain-planet-season-1-dvd-review/

Where Innovation Is Tradition

INVESTIGATE

Image from: http://bestofthe80s.wordpress.com/2011/02/17/inspector-gadget/

Where Innovation Is Tradition

App Identification

• Friends• Blogs (reviews)• Libraries• E-Courses (Udemy, ALA, ACRL)

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Testing = Playing

What do the apps do?

Features, bugs, quirks, uses and failures

Become familiar with the apps

Play to your hearts content

http://soundcinemas.wordpress.com/2011/03/02/posible-precuela-sobre-los-origenes-de-peter-pan/

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Selection

Criteria Customizable to the needs of your patrons

What have you observed about your patrons?

Pit your apps against each other!Multiple rounds of evaluation is good (and necessary!)

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Before committing to an app consider:

Ease of use

Shareability

Practicality

Functionality

Included Features

Synchronization

Cost

Reviews

Rinse and repeat as necessary

Where Innovation Is Tradition

DIY Tips: Investigation

• Have uninterrupted time to play with the apps• Start with many apps and winnow• Don’t settle for bad apps - read reviews!

http://collider.com/captain-planet-season-1-dvd-review/

Where Innovation Is Tradition

FOCUS

Image from: http://www.comicsocialclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Cyclops.jpg

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Audience

Graduate students and faculty who are:iOS mobile device users

Interested in apps for research and collaboration

Where Innovation Is Tradition

First Incarnation

Research, Productivity, Storing & Sharing

Weakness: Too broad

When: Pre-workshop

Where Innovation Is Tradition

What it Included

Super Note

Mindmeister

WorldCat Mobile

Redlazer

m.gmu.edu

Article Search

ebrary

GoodReader

Ebsco

Bluefire Reader

TED Talks

Dictionary.com

Flipboard

CampusBooks

Feedly

Jotnot Pro

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Weaknesses

Process started off with gathering every app that potentially assisted with research.

60 apps identified

40 apps tested

23 apps selected

16 apps made final cut

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Second Incarnation

Research, Read, Write

Good: Helped target specific apps

Weaknesses: Too ambitious

When: First workshop

Where Innovation Is Tradition

What it Included

Dictionary.com

SSRN

WorldCat Mobile

Flipboard

Pocket

Bluefire Reader

GoodReader

Evernote

Mindmeister

CloudOn

Honorable Mentions:

Super Note

RedLazer

Congressional Record

Blackboard

Where Innovation Is Tradition

How it Succeeded

Whittled list to 10 apps with 4 “honorable mentions”

No duplication

Workshop had a purpose and focus

Where Innovation Is Tradition

How to Whittle

Vs.

Vs.Vs.

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Make a List

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Weaknesses

Discussing 14 apps in an hour is too ambitious.

Some apps required too much troubleshooting or had limited features.

Assumption of everyone following same process when researching.

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Third Incarnation

Find, Read, Write, Present

• Follows research process from start to finish• Works for faculty and students• Simple, identifiable categories

Where Innovation Is Tradition

What it Included

SSRN

SpringerLink

Flipboard

Pocket

Bluefire Reader

GoodReader

Evernote

CloudOn

Slide Shark

Honorable Mentions: Blackboard RedLazer

Where Innovation Is Tradition

How it Succeeded

Highlights apps most in-line with research

Increased participation of attendees

Knowledge sharing, questions, etc.

Can easily cover 9 apps in an hour

Where Innovation Is Tradition

DIY Tips: Focus

• Trial & error develop your focus• Keep your audience in mind• Embrace mistakes

http://collider.com/captain-planet-season-1-dvd-review/

Where Innovation Is Tradition

ASSESS & ADAPT

http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/193/3/c/Powermaster_Optimus_Prime_by_darksage78.jpg

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Workshop Evaluation

Five short answer questions follow learning objectives

What apps they would recommend (knowledge sharing)

What apps they really liked (benefits gained)

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Adaptation

• Workshop adjusted to fit research process• Revamp survey and redistribute• “Appy Hour” on Facebook• Subject specific app workshops• Infoguide (infoguides.gmu.edu/researchapps)

Where Innovation Is Tradition

DIY Tips: Assess & Adapt• Customizable• Strong assessment questions enhance

workshop evaluation• Apps become living organisms

Need constant update and attention

http://collider.com/captain-planet-season-1-dvd-review/

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Today’s Take-Aways

• Take time into account • Think outside the screen

Who else can join the conversation? How can apps be used/highlighted?

• Have fun!

http://collider.com/captain-planet-season-1-dvd-review/

Where Innovation Is Tradition

Our Favorite Apps!

Where Innovation Is Tradition

QUESTIONS?

http://www.toonzone.net/forums/drawing-board/96861-twinkie-theatre-artwork-bic-19.html#.UiYLipLQk3s