Complete Mendeley Course for Researchers & Students

All lessons are 30-90 seconds long so that you can develop yours skills when and where you need to.

Created byDr. Christina J van Staden

Last updated 7/2017

English

What you'll learn

build their personal libraries both on- and offline
filter their libraries both on- and offline
use the group function of Mendeley to network with other researchers
use the search tools to find specific references
use the filter tools to organise their libraries on- and offline
use folders to organise their libraries on- and offine
use Mendeley to cite in Word Documents
use Mendeley to create bibliographies
use Mendeley to change the referencing style of a document.
submit well-referenced academic papers.

Course content

12 sections • 74 lectures • 1h 5m total length

Welcome to the Complete Mendeley Course for Researchers & Students0:48
A welcome note to all students. I do hope that you will enjoy this course.
Course Overview0:51
A 30-90 second approach to demonstration videos1:50
The demonstration videos were made with the intention to be watched whenever you need to revisit the videos after completion of the course. Therefore, I have added soft music, a large mouse pointer, click sounds and text to accompany the screencasts while I guide you towards developing the skills to use the Mendeley reference manager.

I have also developed written lessons, available at http://odel.co.za and click on the link Mendeley to see all lessons available. Have fun, I am sure you will use this reference manager for all documents that requires that you cite your resources.

Create your free Mendeley account.1:13
In this demonstration video you are guided towards creating your own Mendeley account. Please create your account after watching this video.
Install Mendeley Desktop Application.1:10
In this video, I demonstrate how to download and install the desktop application.
Install Chrome web importer.0:52
This demonstration video will guide you towards installing the Chrome web importer. In the following lectures you will be guided towards installing the web importers for Safari and Firefox, but I do recommend using Chrome when you want to import references from websites such as Google scholar. Both are Google products; therefore, web importing is a much smoother process when you use Chrome when you surf the internet to find literature.
Install Safari web importer.0:55
In this video, I demonstrate how to install the Safari web importer.
Install the Firefox web importer.1:05
If you are a Firefox fan, you can import this web importer. However, I am recommending using Chrome since documents are not quickly since between Firefox and Mendeley.
Installing the tools.
Introduction

Methods to build your personal library online.1:12
In this section, you will learn how to build your personal library when you are online. My favourite is to drag and drop documents from my own computer, but Google Scholar and Mendeley suggestions are also favourites. I would like to know which of these methods you favour. Please discuss it with the others in the Facebook group. I will meet you there.
Import a document from your computer.0:35
In this video I demonstrate how you can import a document from your computer online into you personal library.
Edit an incomplete reference immediately.1:56
It is so frustrating if references are incomplete; therefore one of the best practices you need to develop is to take time to edit a reference as soon as it has been uploaded into your personal library.
If you follow this route, your bibliographies will be perfect. If not, you will edit reference later or you will have to manually edit your citations and bibliographies after being inserted into documents. I know it does require some effort but it is worthwhile.
Drag, drop and edit a reference online.2:01
In this video I demonstrate how you drag and drop online a reference from your computer into your personal library. To ensure that you understand the need to edit a reference as soon as you have added it to your library, I demonstrate again how you edit a reference after you have added it to your library.
Use Google scholar to find and import references online.1:47
One of the most wonderful features is that Mendeley allows you to find and import references directly from Google scholar. In this video I demonstrate how easily it is to import references with attached PDF's as well as those without attached PDFs.
A best practice is to check if the references were imported!
Add references manually online to your library.2:06
In this video I demonstrate how you can add references manually in your personal library while you are online. Please note that, as soon as you select a type of reference, certain fields open. Make sure that you provide as much details as possible since these details are important when you use Mendeley for citations and bibliographies.
Use Mendeley's suggestions to expand your library online.0:57
Mendeley loves helping us to build our personal libraries. As soon as you have added some references, Mendeley can suggest related literature. In this video I demonstrate how you can use these suggestions to build your library online.
Learning Task 2: Build your library online0:13
Building your personal library online

Import documents via top menu.0:34
In this video I demonstrate how you can use the top menu of the desktop application to import a document offline into your personal library.
Import documents via icon.0:38
In this video I demonstrate how you to use the icon to import a document offline into your personal library.
Drag and drop documents in your library.0:35
In this video I demonstrate how to drag and drop documents offline into your personal library. Use this skill to add a document to your own personal library.
Create a watch folder to add documents automatically.0:52
You can create a watch folder on your computer where you add all new documents. The content of this folder will be automatically imported into your personal library. In this video I demonstrate how to create such a watch folder.
At the end of this video you have to create a watch folder on your own computer.
Add documents to the watch folder.0:44
In this video I demonstrate how a document added to a watch folder is imported automatically. At the end of this lesson, you have to add a document to your own watch folder and ensure that it was imported in your library.
Add references manually via the top menu.0:36
In this video, I demonstrate how you use the top menu to add documents offline to your personal library.
Add references manually via the icon.0:38
In this video, I demonstrate how you can use the icon to add documents offline to your personal library.
Use Mendeley's suggestions (coming).0:25
Mendeley is busy working on the idea to make suggestions even when you are offline. In this video, I demonstrate where the function is located, but it is not yet available. If it is in operation before I have changed this video, please let me know via the Questions and Answers tab at the bottom of the page for this video.
Sync the desktop library with the online version.0:32
Mendeley automatically syncs with your online library when you open the desktop application. However, it might be necessary to sync manually if you see that some of the references does not show offline in your personal library. In this video I demonstrate how to sync your personal library manually when you are using the desktop application.
Learning Task 3: Build your desktop library.0:08
Building your personal library on- and offline.

Create a folder online.0:53
In this video I demonstrate how to create folders to organise your library online.
Use the icon to add references online to a folder.0:47
In this video I demonstrate how you can use the icon to add references online to a folder in your personal library.
Drag and drop references online into a folder.0:38
In this video I demonstrate how to drag and drop references online into a folder in your personal library.
Create folders offline.0:45
You can also add references to folders when you are using the desktop application. In this video, I am demonstrating how to create folders when you are offline.
Drag and drop references offline in a folder.0:39
The desktop application allows you to drag and drop references in a folder. In this video I am demonstrating how to drag and drop documents in a folder when you are using the desktop application.
Organise your library.

Finding your favourite references.0:37
In this video I demonstrate how to filter your library online to find your favourite references. A best practice would be to mark your favourite literature.
Finding your own publications.0:22
In this video I demonstrate how you can filter your library online to find your own publications.
Finding literature you have read recently.0:31
In this video I demonstrate how you can filter your library online to find the literature you have recently read. In order to be effective, a best practice would be to add literature to thsi folder as soon as you have read it.
Finding references you have added recently.0:31
Mendeley can filter your library according to the references you have recently added. In this video I show you how to find the literature you have added recently.
Filter online from newest to oldest added references0:35
You can filter your library according to the newest additions to your library. In this video I demonstrate how you filter the library according to the newest added references.
Finding the first references added to your library.0:37
You can also ask Mendeley to sort your references since you have started using the technology. In this video I show you how to find the oldest added references.
Sorting references from A-Z.0:28
In this video I demonstrate how you can sort your library online from a-z.
Sorting references from Z-A.0:28
In this video I demonstrate how references in your online library can be sorted from z-a.
Learning task 4: Methods to filter online library0:14
Filter library online

Find the references you have recently added.0:36
In this video I demonstrate how to filter your desktop library to find the recently added references.
Find the literature you have recently read.0:34
Your desktop applications also allows you to filter references according to the one you have recently read. In this video I show you how to find the ones you have recently read. Remember, you have to add to this folder after you have read it.
Find your favourite literature.0:42
In this video I demonstrate how to find your favourite references offline.
Find your own publications.0:28
You can filter your library offline to show only your own publications. Remember, you have to add your work to this folder. In this video I demonstrate how you can find your work in your desktop library.
Find references according to author keywords0:30
Mendeley imports literature with author keywords as well. In this video I show you how to filter your desktio library according to author keywords.
Find references according to the names of the authors.0:38
Mendeley can sort your library according to the last names of authors. In this video I show you how to filter your library so that you can find a specific author easily.
Find references according to your tags.0:37
I have showed you how to add tags when you import literature. In this video I demonstrate how to filter your library according to keywords so that you can find the references you have tagged.
Find references according to publications (journals, etc).0:36
In this video I demonstrate how to filter your desktop library according to publications so that you can find all the references that were published in a specific journal etc.
Find and sort unsorted references offline0:42
In this video I demonstrate how to find and sort unsorted references when you are using your desktop library.
Learning Task 5: Filter library offline0:11
Filtering your library on- and offline.

Search for a specific reference online.0:51
In this video I demonstrate various methods to search for a specific reference in your online library.
Search for a specific reference offline.0:38
In this video I demonstrate various methods to search for a specific reference in your desktop library.
Use the search tab to find more papers.0:36
You can search the Mendeley catalogue to find papers. In this video I demonstrate how to use the search tab to find papers.
Search and add related literature in Mendeley's catalogue.0:56
Mendeley allows you to search related literature when you are offline as well. In this video I demonstrate how you can use this function to find related literature and add it offline to your personal library.
Search

Finding research-related groups to join.0:48
In this video I demonstrate how you can use keywords to find research groups that you would like to join.
Drag and drop references online in Library Tab to share with a group.0:42
In this video I demonstrate how to drag and drop a reference to share it with a group while you online in your own personal library.
Attach a document to a post in your group.1:04
In this video I demonstrate how you can attach a document to a post to share it with your group.
Using the Documents Tab to share references with your group.0:42
In this video I demonstrate how to use the Documents Tab of a group to share documents with the group.
Drag and drop a reference to share with a group offline.0:32
In this video I demonstrate how to drag and drop a reference offline to share it with a group.
Group learning

Annotate your documents online2:01
OK, you have uploaded a few documents, but did you know that you can read and annotate them as well? In this video I demonstrate how to open and read a document online, how to highlight text and how to add comments. I also demonstrate how to download and print the document. Have fun!
Annotate documents offline1:14
In this video I demonstrate how to annotate documents when you are using your desktop library.
Annotation tools

Requirements

Basic knowledge of computers
Basic knowledge of Microsoft Word
Basic knowledge of citing and referencing, but it is not compulsory.

Description

The aim of this course is to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and techniques to use the Mendeley referencing system when you are writing academic papers. It is a fantastic tool as you can focus on the content of your academic papers, while Mendeley looks after the references and the referencing style.

I have made 30-90 second videos to guide you to use this referencing tool effectively. As you need only 30-90 seconds to view a lesson, and thus to learn a new skill, you can watch these videos on the go. While you are waiting for a document to download, while you are on a bus, while you are waiting in a doctor's room, while you are waiting for the school to close for the day. But also while you are wondering how to reference a specific resource in your paper.

Research shows that people do not pay attention when videos are too long. I prefer to put the focus on you, my students, rather than being the sage on the stage.

I do not use anything else as I do not have time to struggle with references, I prefer to focus on the content of my academic papers.

Please note that Mendeley have made changes since the course have been published online. I am busy with new video material to include these changes.

Who this course is for:

Any student, faculty member, author, and person who wants to learn how to use the Mendeley referencing manager to cite references, create bibliographies and change the referencing style of their papers.

Complete Mendeley Course for Researchers & Students

What you'll learn

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Course content

Introduction3 lectures • 3min

Getting ready5 lectures • 5min

Methods to build your personal library online.8 lectures • 11min

Build you personal library offline.10 lectures • 6min

Organise your library5 lectures • 4min

Methods to filter your personal library when you are online.9 lectures • 4min

Filter your desktop library offline.10 lectures • 6min

Using the search functions4 lectures • 3min

Spread your wings - join a research group and share documents5 lectures • 4min

Annotate your documents2 lectures • 3min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: