Every successful student knows the importance of good organizational skills. I have prided myself often in this area. However, learning how to organize my research has taken things to a whole new level!
In our first orientation class, current doctoral students encouraged us to use RefWorks, which is a tool provided for all UA students. They showed us the basics of how to use it and said, "It will be your best friend." I'm using RefWorks and learning it as I go. BUT I'm finding that it's not all together perfect. Or perhaps I'm not using it properly. While it's great at collecting the information from an online article or book, it does not always provide the link back to the source. So it's not a bookmarking tool. Is it?
Then I found RefMe through an Apple for Students advertisement. It offers an app and a desktop feature. I REALLY like it for a few things, but it's not all inclusive either! Again... maybe I'm not using it to it's full potential.
UA also provides access to EdITLib Digital Library. I created a log in for it so I could save my discoveries. Great resource and easy to use. However, I can only save articles that are found within the database.
Of course, I use my Chrome and Firefox bookmarks. I could use Pinterest to bookmark, too.
So what's the BEST method of bookmarking, gathering, and organizing my research? I wish I had the answer! Since two current grad students highly suggested RefWorks, I'm focusing more attention there. I requested a one-on-one session with a librarian to help me out with not only RefWorks, but other resources available to UA grad students. Fingers crossed I get this figured out quickly. I've been collecting a lot of articles and just pray I can find them all when I get started writing!
In our first orientation class, current doctoral students encouraged us to use RefWorks, which is a tool provided for all UA students. They showed us the basics of how to use it and said, "It will be your best friend." I'm using RefWorks and learning it as I go. BUT I'm finding that it's not all together perfect. Or perhaps I'm not using it properly. While it's great at collecting the information from an online article or book, it does not always provide the link back to the source. So it's not a bookmarking tool. Is it?
Then I found RefMe through an Apple for Students advertisement. It offers an app and a desktop feature. I REALLY like it for a few things, but it's not all inclusive either! Again... maybe I'm not using it to it's full potential.
UA also provides access to EdITLib Digital Library. I created a log in for it so I could save my discoveries. Great resource and easy to use. However, I can only save articles that are found within the database.
Of course, I use my Chrome and Firefox bookmarks. I could use Pinterest to bookmark, too.
So what's the BEST method of bookmarking, gathering, and organizing my research? I wish I had the answer! Since two current grad students highly suggested RefWorks, I'm focusing more attention there. I requested a one-on-one session with a librarian to help me out with not only RefWorks, but other resources available to UA grad students. Fingers crossed I get this figured out quickly. I've been collecting a lot of articles and just pray I can find them all when I get started writing!
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