Category Archives: Training Sessions

Bodleian iSkills workshops taking place in 5th Week, Michaelmas Term (10th – 14th November)

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Image shows a laptop displaying the text: BODLEIAN i.Skills. On the left of the laptop is a a pile of 4 books and above the books there is a clock.

Build your confidence with the Bodleian iSkills programme, a series of free workshops that empower students, researchers, and staff at the University of Oxford to develop essential skills in discovering, critically evaluating, managing, presenting and sharing information in an evolving digital and physical world.

Workshops taking place in 4th Week Michaelmas Term

Tuesday 11 November

Discovering archives and modern manuscripts at the Bodleian Libraries
🕘 10:00-11:30 |📍Weston Library
Explore key catalogues and finding aids for post-1800 archives and manuscripts at the Bodleian Libraries.

Open monographs
🕘 11:00-12:00 | 💻 Online
Understand the benefits and challenges of open access publishing for monographs and other longform works.

Presentation on the UN Archives Geneva platform (League of Nations Archives)
🕘 12:00-13:00 | 💻 Online
In this presentation by UN Archives staff, learn how to access the UN Archives Geneva platform and search its rich collections.

Newspapers and other online news sources from the 17th-21st centuries
🕘 14:00-15:30 | 💻 Online
Understand the value of using newspapers in your research and learn effective search techniques when consulting historical and contemporary newspapers from across the world.

Research metrics and citation analysis tools: Part 3 researcher metrics
🕘 15:00-16:00 |📍Radcliffe Science Library
Discover how to measure and understand research impact using tools such as Web of Science, Google Scholar and Scopus.

Thursday 13 November

Using Scopus for your research
🕘 13:00-14:00 | 💻 Online
Unlock the full potential of your literature review with Scopus, a vital abstract and citation database for social sciences, medical sciences, and physical and life sciences.

Friday 14 November

Zotero for referencing
🕘 13:30-16:30 |📍IT Services
This session covers the main features of Zotero and comprises a 45-minute presentation followed by practical exercises at the computers. You can leave at any point once you have tried out the software.

To view a full list of this terms workshops go to the Bodleian iSkills website or take a look at the iSkills Michaelmas Term Card below. All workshops must be booked in advance via the Bodleian iSkills website.

Blue information booklet with the heading: iSkills Michaelmas 2025. Features the Bodleian Library logo. The subheading reads: Free training for students, researchers and staff to become confident, capable and ethical users of information data.

Bodleian iSkills workshops taking place in 4th Week, Michaelmas Term (3rd – 7th November)

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Image shows a laptop displaying the text: BODLEIAN i.Skills. On the left of the laptop is a a pile of 4 books and above the books there is a clock.

Build your confidence with the Bodleian iSkills programme, a series of free workshops that empower students, researchers, and staff at the University of Oxford to develop essential skills in discovering, critically evaluating, managing, presenting and sharing information in an evolving digital and physical world.

Workshops taking place in 4th Week Michaelmas Term

Tuesday 4 November

Working with sensitive research data
🕘 14:00-16:00 | 📍Social Science Library
Learn key principles for handling sensitive or restricted research data, including confidentiality, consent, cybersecurity, and data management. The session welcomes real examples from participants and highlights the support available at Oxford

Wednesday 5 November

Getting started in Oxford libraries
🕘 13:00-14:00 | 💻 Online
New to Oxford or need a refresher on using the Bodleian libraries? Join this session to learn how to access the library network and use their services and resources.

Research metrics and citation analysis tools: Part 2 article metrics
🕘 15:00-16:00 | 📍Radcliffe Science Library
Discover how citation counting can help identify influential papers and how altmetrics provide a different perspective on research output.

Thursday 6 November

Copyright the card game
🕘 09:30-12:30 | 📍Radcliffe Science Library
This fun, interactive, games-based session will introduce the key concepts of copyright law and help you to apply them in practice.

Undergraduate critical thinking with academic sources
🕘 09:30-11:30 | 💻 Online
Enhance your critical thinking and research skills in this practical workshop. Learn to question assumptions, analyse sources, and develop effective search strategies to excel in your studies.

Systematic reviews, scoping reviews and other evidence reviews in medicine: getting started
🕘 11:00-12:00 | 💻 Online
Learn how to plan and structure literature searches for systematic, scoping, and other evidence reviews in this introductory session.

Fundamentals of open access
🕘 14:30- 16:00 | 💻 Online
Understand what open access really means — decode the jargon and explore how publishing open can benefit your research.

Find out more and book your place via the workshop titles above.

To view a full list of this terms workshops go to the Bodleian iSkills website or take a look at the iSkills Michaelmas Term Card below. All workshops must be booked in advance via the Bodleian iSkills website.

Blue information booklet with the heading: iSkills Michaelmas 2025. Features the Bodleian Library logo. The subheading reads: Free training for students, researchers and staff to become confident, capable and ethical users of information data.

Bodleian iSkills workshops taking place in 3rd Week, Michaelmas Term (27th – 31st October)

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Desk with a laptop on it displaying the text: BODLEIAN i.Skills. On the left of the laptop is a notebook and pen, on the right of the laptop is a coffee mug and saucer, alongside an iphone

Build your confidence with the Bodleian iSkills programme, a series of free workshops that empower students, researchers, and staff at the University of Oxford to develop essential skills in discovering, critically evaluating, managing, presenting and sharing information in an evolving digital and physical world.

Workshops taking place in 3rd Week Michaelmas Term

Tuesday 27 October

Preparing for your literature review in the social sciences
🕘 10:00-11:45 | 💻 Online
Learn how to build a successful search strategy, source highly cited papers and stay up to date with new research.

Preregistration and registered reports: What, why, and how
🕘 13:30-15:00 | 💻 Online
Gain practical experience writing an effective preregistration and learn which format and platform will work best for your research.

Managing research data and Data Management Planning (DMPs)
🕘 14:00-16:00 | 📍In person
Take control of your research data! Find out how to manage, store, and share it effectively, understand Oxford’s data policy, and make the most of the support on offer.

Wednesday 29 October

Foundations of copyright for teaching
🕘 11:00-12:30 | 💻 Online
Confused about what you can (and can’t) use in your teaching? This workshop will help you to understand different licence types and follow the CLA requirements with confidence.

Research metrics and citation analysis tools: Part 1 journal metrics
🕘 15:00-16:00 | 📍In person
Learn how to locate and interpret journal level metrics and discover the strengths, limitations, and pitfalls of these metrics so you can use them responsibly.

Find out more and book your place via the workshop titles above.

To view a full list of this terms workshops go to the Bodleian iSkills website or take a look at the iSkills Michaelmas Term Card below. All workshops must be booked in advance via the Bodleian iSkills website.

Blue information booklet with the heading: iSkills Michaelmas 2025. Features the Bodleian Library logo. The subheading reads: Free training for students, researchers and staff to become confident, capable and ethical users of information data.

Undergraduates: Enhance your critical thinking and research skills at our new Bodleian iSkills Workshops

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In an era of clickbait headlines and algorithm-driven feeds, critical thinking is essential. Sign up for the free Bodleian iSkills workshops below, which will help you to assess the credibility of information you encounter.

Undergraduate critical thinking with academic sources

Thursday 6th November 🕘 9:30-11:30 | 💻 Online

Enhance your critical thinking and research skills in this practical workshop designed for undergraduate students. Learn to question assumptions, analyse sources critically, and develop information discovery and search strategies that will set you apart in your academic studies. By the end of this session, you will be able to:

  • Describe what critical thinking is
  • Understand a critical thinking method
  • Apply the method to your academic work
  • Explain the fundamentals of conducting research, including how to evaluate information sources in SOLO

Undergraduate critical thinking with newspaper and social media sources

Wednesday 19th November 🕘 13:30-15:30 | 💻 Online

In a world of clickbait headlines and algorithm-driven feeds, thinking critically about the information we consume is more vital than ever. This interactive workshop aimed at undergraduates will help you to evaluate the credibility and bias in today’s news and social media. Through hands-on activities and real-world examples, you’ll learn how to assess sources, identify misinformation, and trace claims and quotes to their original context. By the end of this session, you will be able to:

  • Describe what critical thinking means in the context of news articles and social media sources
  • Identify different forms of bias in news and social media
  • Recognise misinformation and ‘fake news’
  • Understand and apply the SIFT Method to evaluate claims in news and social media sources

Both courses are free but booking is essential, sign up via the workshop titles above.

To view a full list of this terms workshops go to the Bodleian iSkills website or take a look at the iSkills Michaelmas Term Card below. All workshops must be booked in advance via the Bodleian iSkills website.

Bodleian iSkills workshops taking place in 2nd Week, Michaelmas Term (20th – 24th October)

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A hand holding up a sign which says 'Bodleian iSkills.' In the background is a slightly blurred image of a group of people sat talking in a room.

Build your confidence with the Bodleian iSkills programme, a series of free workshops that empower students, researchers, and staff at the University of Oxford to develop essential skills in discovering, critically evaluating, managing, presenting and sharing information in an evolving digital and physical world.

Workshops taking place in 2nd Week Michaelmas Term

Tuesday 21 October
 
Data sources for research – discovery, access and use
🕘 14:00-16:00 | 📍Social Science Library
Explore Oxford’s data sources — from archives to business data — and learn how your work can become part of the research discourse.

Systematic reviews, scoping reviews and other evidence reviews in medicine: getting started
🕘 15:00-16:00 | 💻 Online
Learn how to plan and structure literature searches for systematic, scoping, and other evidence reviews in this introductory session.

Thursday 23 October

REF open access policy briefing
🕘 10:00-11:00 | 💻 Online
Make sure your research meets the new REF open access requirements. Get up to speed on what’s changed and where you can find help at Oxford.

Friday 24 October
 
Choosing and using software for referencing
🕘 09:30-12:30 | 📍IT Services
Learn to format citations, footnotes and bibliographies with ease. Try RefWorks, EndNote, Zotero and Mendeley to find the best reference management tool for you.

Find out more and book your place via the workshop titles above.

To view a full list of this terms workshops go to the Bodleian iSkills website or take a look at the iSkills Michaelmas Term Card below. All workshops must be booked in advance via the Bodleian iSkills website.

Bodleian iSkills workshops taking place in 1st Week, Michaelmas Term (13th – 17th October)

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A hand holding up a sign which says 'Bodleian iSkills.' In the background is a slightly blurred image of a group of people sat talking in a room.

Build your confidence with the Bodleian iSkills programme, a series of free workshops that empower students, researchers, and staff at the University of Oxford to develop essential skills in discovering, critically evaluating, managing, presenting and sharing information in an evolving digital and physical world.

Workshops taking place in 1st Week Michaelmas Term

Tuesday 14 October

Fundamentals of open access
10:00-11:30 | Online
Understand what open access really means — decode the jargon and explore how publishing open can benefit your research.

Introduction to online resources for historians: show and tell
11:00-13:00 | Online
Discover a wealth of online resources for all periods of British and Western European history.

Wednesday 15 October

Foundations of copyright for researchers
11:00-12:30 | Online
Understand how copyright affects your research and your rights and responsibilities in an age of open scholarship.

Find out more and book your place via the workshop titles above.

To view a full list of this terms workshops go to the Bodleian iSkills website or take a look at the iSkills Michaelmas Term Card below. All workshops must be booked in advance via the Bodleian iSkills website.

Bodleian iSkills: Free training workshops for Oxford University students, researchers and staff

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A hand holding up a sign which says 'Bodleian iSkills.' In the background is a slightly blurred image of a group of people sat talking in a room.

Build your confidence with the Bodleian iSkills programme, a series of free workshops that empower students, researchers, and staff at the University of Oxford to develop essential skills in discovering, critically evaluating, managing, presenting and sharing information in an evolving digital and physical world.

This established programme has been revamped for the new academic year with a thoughtfully crafted timetable of workshops to equip you with the essential information and data skills you need to excel this year and beyond.

Some of the workshops are in person and some online via Teams.

To view a full list of this terms workshops go to the Bodleian iSkills website or take a look at the iSkills Michaelmas Term Card below. All workshops must be booked in advance via the Bodleian iSkills website.