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Feature Slides

  • PubMed ® for Trainers

    Do you train others to use PubMed? If so, join us for PubMed for Trainers, a hybrid class with 3 online sessions and 1 in-person session (eligible for 15 MLA CE credits). The class is an in-depth look at PubMed and a chance to share training ideas with your fellow participants.

    PubMed ® for Trainers

    PubMed ® for Trainers Picture
  • TOXNET® and Beyond

    This course is designed to convey the basics of searching the NLM's TOXNET®, a Web-based system of databases in the areas of toxicology, environmental health, and related fields.

    TOXNET® and Beyond

    TOXNET® and Beyond Picture
  • Teaching with Technology

    Learn how to take advantage of online tools to offer distance education classes and enhance face to face classes! Join us for this "asynchronous" (on your own time) class. The class is taught over 5 weeks and is eligible for 8 MLA CE credits.

    Teaching with Technology

    Teaching with Technology Picture

Visualizing Data

You’ve done the work; you’ve collected the data; now what? In recent years, there has been an outpouring  of tools to corral data and present it in a human-friendly format (ex. Infographics). A recent article in Information Today provides a run down of many different options based on the type of information you are trying to present. http://goo.gl/rf1mt

Teacher Disposition

In a recent presentation I attended there was a discussion was about about two groups of students, one undergraduate, the other graduate, who were asked to name the 10 most important qualities of behavior of the teacher during an online course. The top two qualities named they named?

Number one: Communication (that we understand)
Number two: Instructor disposition (we might need help with that)

Teacher disposition can be defined as having empathy, positive view of self, positive view of others, honesty, genuineness, meaningful purpose and vision.

Teacher disposition may lead to better student success with increased learning outcomes.

How do we make sure we are demonstrating the desired disposition during an online course?

Some key qualities:
• Be very present from the start.
• Personalize to each student.
• When a question is asked respond as quickly as possible, if possible immediately.
• Use the person’s name when communicating and if possible write a personal note.
• Provide positive feedback.
• Your tone can and will be detected. Present with positive, high-energy.

Don’t Let this be Your Presentation

A very humorous (and sad) look at PowerPoint presentations.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIABo0d9MVE&feature=player_embedded

2013 Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) Now Available

The Introduction to MeSH 2013 is now available, including information on its use and structure, as well as recent updates and availability of data. Read more about it: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/introduction.html

Fall Session of Online Class “Teaching with Technology” Available for Registration

Join us for an online class taught from October 8 – November 9, 2012: “Teaching with Technology: Tips, Techniques and Tools”!

In this class, you will learn about using technology tools for teaching distance learning courses. We will discuss options and best practices for asynchronous and synchronous distance classes, as well as “blended” classes that offer both in-person and online options. Adult learning principles will be reviewed. We will examine and discuss examples of software and website tools in teaching.

The class is taught “asynchronously” using the Moodle course management system, so you can complete the classwork at a time convenient for you. Allow approximately 2 hours per week for independent classwork. There are 4 weeks of assignments, readings, and discussions, with the 5th week saved for a “catch-up” week. Upon completion of the class you will receive 8 MLA CE credits.

The class is free and open to residents of the U.S. Class enrollment is limited, so we do ask that you check your schedule to be sure you have time to complete the class.

To register: http://nnlm.gov/ntcc/classes/schedule.html

MEDLINE/PubMed Year-End Processing Activities

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) is currently involved in MEDLINE year-end processing (YEP) activities. These include changing the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and Substance Names on existing MEDLINE citations to conform with the 2013 version of MeSH, and other global changes.

Important Dates
November 14, 2012: NLM expects to temporarily suspend the addition of fully-indexed MEDLINE citations to PubMed. Publisher-supplied and in process citations will continue to be added.

Mid-December 2012: PubMed MEDLINE citations, translation tables, and the MeSH database will have been updated to reflect 2013 MeSH.

For details about the impact on searching from November 14 to mid-December, see: Annual MEDLINE/PubMed Year-End Processing (YEP): Impact on Searching During Fall 2012.

For background information on the general kinds of changes made annually, see: Annual MEDLINE/PubMed Year-End Processing (YEP): Background Information.

Conference Season

I recently came across a blog post that offered 10 tips for maximizing your experience at a conference. Bottom line…be prepared. Follow this link to read the tips: http://www.missiontolearn.com/2012/08/conference-learning-tips/

New Genetics Education Resource from NLM

The National Library of Medicine is pleased to announce the release of a new educational resource, GeneEd. Developed in collaboration with the National Human Genome Institute (NHGRI), teachers and experts in genetics and genetic counseling, GeneEd is a safe and useful resource for students and teachers in grades 9 – 12 to learn genetics. GeneEd allows students and teachers to explore topics such as Cell Biology, DNA, Genes, Chromosomes, Heredity/Inheritance Patterns, Epigenetics/Inheritance and the Environment, Genetic Conditions, Evolution, Biostatistics, Biotechnology, DNA Forensics, and Top Issues in Genetics.

Visit the new site at: http://geneed.nlm.nih.gov

Teachers can use the site to introduce topics, supplement existing materials, and provide as a reliable source to students conducting research. The site links to categories such as research articles, animation, games, videos, interactive tutorials, and labs and experiments. 3D images, illustrations and text from NHRGI help to enrich the user experience by providing vivid imagery to reinforce genetic concepts.

Text varies from easy-to-read to advanced reading levels, which makes this a versatile tool both in and out of the classroom. Specialty pages including Teacher Resources and Labs and Experiments highlight those tools that teachers may find particularly helpful. Other specialty pages such as Careers in Genetics and Highlights allow students to see what is new and noteworthy in the field of Genetics along with links to different careers related to the science of Genetics.

To stay up to date with all of NLM’s K-12 resources subscribe to the K12NLMRESOURCES listserv: https://list.nih.gov/cgi-bin/wa.exe?SUBED1=K12NLMRESOURCES&A=1

Tools for Better Presentations

The American Evaluation Association [http://www.eval.org/] is creating a resource with presentation guidelines to help you “prepare, develop, and deliver awesome presentations that will better engage your audience and make your content stick.”

To view the tools they have posted, visit http://p2i.eval.org/index.php/p2i-tools/

Designing a Presentation: Seven Steps

Wondering how to get started when first designing a presentation or training class?  This April 4, 2011 Bob Pike blog post by Marc Ratcliffe, “Seven Steps to Knowledge Transfer,” briefly describes “seven easy steps for success when session planning.”   The seven steps are:

  1. Objective
  2. Content
  3. Sequence
  4. Delivery
  5. Time
  6. Resources
  7. Assessment

Filling out a spreadsheet with each step as a column header could be useful before you begin creating that first PowerPoint slide!