Zotero
IT Skills for Students
Using Zotero
Zotero is an electronic manager for all of your academic references.
One of the challenges of academic writing is keeping track of all your reference sources and creating bibliographies. Zotero helps this process by storing bibliographic information for you so you can refer back to it when you need it. It also helps by formatting your references into the style your tutor may require, e.g. APA.
Activity 1
Introduction to Zotero
Allow 60 minutes
The tasks in this activity will get you started with Zotero.
Task 1: An Overview
Work through these resources to get an overview of Zotero, then have a go at the challenge.
Link: Tour of Zotero videos - choose one or two of the videos to watch from the list provided
Link: Zotero quick start guide
If you are having trouble playing these videos, check out this course's 'Frequently Asked Questions' tab for more information.
Challenge:
- Reflect on the question: What potential do you see Zotero having for your study?
- Refer to any of your course handbooks and/or assessment instructions. What referencing requirements are there?
Task 2: Let's install Zotero
Before installing Zotero work through the resources on this website, then have a go at the challenge.
Link: Installation instructions
Challenge:
- Create a Zotero account
- Decide on which option you will use
- Download and install the version required (see below for another option)
- Add a browser extension
- Add a plugin for Word
if you are not using your own device, your options may be limited. Try the following instead:
- Create an account
- Try installing a Bookmarklet instead of an extension
- Check out the options available on the 'My Library' tab
Activity 2
Becoming Productive With Zotero
Allow 120 minutes
This activity is where the fun begins. During the next tasks we will be adding content to your Zotero library for use in your written work.
Task 1: Let's Start Collecting
Work through the resources below and then have a go at the challenge.
Link: Adding Items to your Zotero Library
Link: Adding Files to your Zotero Library
Link: Retrieving PDF Metadata
Link: Manually creating items - choose one or two videos to watch
Link: Creating an item from a webpage - choose one or two videos to watch
Note:
- If adding items by their identifier, check that the bibliography data is actually correct
- Right -click on the item information (in the middle window) to see what other options are available, e.g. adding attachments like a file saved on your computer
Challenge:
Add a variety of items.
- Select one of your current courses and add items from the required and recommended reading lists
- Add a book using its ISBN
- Add the Zotero homepage
- Manually add a book, a webpage and an article
- Add a snapshot of a webpage
- Add a collection from Google Scholar
- Add an existing pdf by dragging it into Zotero and retrieving the metadata, if it is available, by right-clicking the item name in the library and selecting the appropriate option
Task 2: Citing
Work through the resources below and then have a go at the challenge.
Link: Using the Zotero Word Processor Plugins
Link: Zotero and Microsoft Word - choose one or two videos to watch
Link: Zotero and Google Products - choose one or two videos to watch
Challenge:
- Open a Word document
- Add in citations for the items added to Zotero in Task 1
- Experiment with adding page numbers to a citation
- Experiment with adding multiple references for a piece of text
Activity 3
Staying organised with Zotero
Allow 90 minutes
Like most other applications, some good 'housekeeping' principles will help to make your workflow smoother and save you time in the long run. The next tasks will help make your Zotero endeavours more productive.
Task 1: Sorting and Searching
Work through the following resources and then have a go at the challenge.
Link: Sorting
Link: Searching
Link: Organising your references - choose one or two videos to watch
Challenge:
- Experiment with sorting and searching items in your library
Remember to use the 'Restore Column Order' action in the dropdown menu, if you get stuck.
Task 2: Collections, Tags and Notes
Work through the resources below and then have a go at the challenge.
Link: Collections and Tags
Link: Notes
Link: Using Tags - choose one or two videos to watch
Link Using Collections - choose one to two videos to watch
Link: Using Notes - choose one or two videos to watch
Challenge:
- Create a collection called 'Practise'
- Create a collection for each of your current courses
- File the library content into the collections
- Create a tag called 'practise'
- Add the 'practise' tag to each item added for the purposes of this activity
- Create other suitable tabs
Task 3: Other Functionality
This is an optional task. You may wish to browse through these resources to find out what else Zotero can do.
Link: Screencasts for a variety of topics
Link: Relating Items
Link: Duplicate Detection
Link: Adding files to your Zotero Library
Link: Timelines
Checkpoint
Zotero Self-Assessment
Now that you've completed the activities in this module, take the time to complete this self-assessment of how competent you think you are in using Zotero.
Follow the instructions by clicking the link below.
Discussion
Zotero Forum
Using the forum below, click the 'Add a new discussion topic' button and perform the following tasks.
- Using a PNI format (Positive, Negative and Interesting) post something that you found useful, something that you found difficult or confusing, and something that you would like to find out more about relating to the activities in this part of the module.
- Share at least one additional resource (web link, video etc.) that you think would help any other students working through this module.