Research Subject Guides: Research Tutorials: Webinars

This page contains links to the recorded versions of webinars delivered by the library. To see our current webinar schedule, visit the Library Calendar.

Archives & Special Collections

Meet the Archives and Special Collections
Want to learn about activism in Boston’s neighborhoods? Curious about the history of Northeastern? Discover ways you can access the Northeastern University Archives and Special Collections which holds records about Northeastern as well as Boston’s African American, Latinx, Asian American, and LGBTQA neighborhood organizations.
Archives Online: Boston's Asian American Activism History
Discover how to search through the digitized collection to learn more about the movements and initiatives started by the Chinese Progressive Association (CPA). See the history of organizing in Chinatown as told through the archival records of the CPA, an organization which continues to advocate for labor, voting, and housing equity in Chinatown.
Archives Online: Honoring Black History Month across Boston History
Celebrate Black History Month and learn about two digitized collections from the Archives and Special Collections and the stories of Black history in Boston they hold. The Lower Roxbury Black History Project is an oral history collection that interviewed residents and leaders in the Lower Roxbury community and includes personal contributions and photos that tell the story of Roxbury from the late 1800’s through present day. The Freedom House Photograph Collection document Freedom House's early activities to create an integrated Roxbury. The photographs include images of well-known figures, local community activists, Freedom House events, and the Roxbury neighborhood.
Cracking the Finding Aid Code
Learn how to navigate the Northeastern University Archives and Special Collections’ finding aids catalog to find primary sources on Northeastern’s and Boston’s history. Find out what clues to look for in finding aids, how to browse subject guides, and where to find the information you need to research in archival collections.

Bite-Sized Webinars: 20 Minute Introductions for Researchers

How do I add a Creative Commons license to my work?
You’ve probably heard about copyright, but are you familiar with Creative Commons (CC)? CC licenses allow you to retain the copyright to your work, even while granting advanced permissions to others who may want to use or build upon it. In this session, you’ll learn the basics of the 6 Creative Commons licenses and how to actually apply a license to your work. We will also outline some considerations and questions to help you decide whether a CC license is right for you - and which one. Presented by Arts, Humanities, and Experiential Learning Librarian, Regina Pagani.
How do I navigate journal publication fees?
What can you do when a journal in which you wish to publish charges a fee? In this session you will learn what article processing charges (APCs) are and how to navigate APCs, including: where you can look for funds to pay for APCs, how the Library is helping to lower and eliminate APCs, and tools for searching for open access journals which do not require APCs.
How can I determine how impactful my research is?
Figuring out your research footprint can be challenging. While you know your work matters to your lab (and your family!), it can be interesting to look at the ripple effect of your work in the larger scientific landscape. In this 20 minute workshop, we’ll cover the basics of researcher metrics, including H-Index, and how they can be found.
How do I avoid predatory publishers?
Have you ever received an email from a journal asking you to submit your work? How can you tell whether the journal is predatory or legitimate? In this 20-minute workshop, you will learn how to recognize signs of deceptive publishing practices by examining solicitation emails and journal websites.
How do I design a better research poster?
Designing a poster to present your research? Want to make it look better but not sure how? We’ll share 10 design tips you can use to take your poster from drab to fab!
How do I design a better virtual poster?
Designing a virtual poster to present your research? Want to make it look better but don’t know where to start? We’ll share tips for how to design a digital poster differently from a physical poster so you can stand out in the digital crowd!
How do I know where to publish?
Feeling lost about how to choose where you should submit your research for publication? In this 20 minute workshop, we’ll cover a few strategies for how to find and vet journals where you may want to submit your work. We’ll also talk about a few key factors to keep in mind as you’re making your decision

How can I tidy my spreadsheet data?
Everyone uses spreadsheets, but not everyone sets them up in the same way. This short video will share some good practices to keep spreadsheets tidy by using standard, predictable patterns to record data. These tips can help you avoid getting bogged down in the logistics of entering your data, and instead focus your time and energy on analyzing it.
How can I organize and manage my digital stuff?
Getting your digital house in order is like writing a love letter to your future self. We’ll share a few quick file organization, naming, and documentation tips that can help you – and your collaborators – remember what you did and find your stuff 6 months from now.
How do I organize my data in a digital repository?
Do you need to store your research data in a digital repository, for publishing or grant requirements? In this 20 minute workshop, we will give an overview of Northeastern's Digital Repository Service and walk through how to deposit research data. We will also discuss strategies for how to best organize and package your data so that it can be easily retrieved by others.
What are persistent identifiers and why do they matter?
Persistent identifiers, or PIDs, are unique codes used to unambiguously identify people, places, and things. You should care about them because when you use PIDs, you can get credit for your hard-fought research outputs from papers to data and more. In this session, we'll give a quick overview of some of the more common PIDs in academia like ORCIDs, DOIs, RORs and RAIDs (oh my). Join us and become a PID Person!
What is this data management plan anyway?
If you’ll be working on a grant proposal, chances are you’ll have to write a data management plan (DMP). This session gives insight into what funders are looking for in DMPs, and walks (well, sprints) through the typical components of a DMP, including some examples from successfully funded proposals.

How can I use citation tracking to find relevant research?
This webinar is an introduction to ways of extending your research discovery using "cited by" and "highly cited" references found in Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scholar OneSearch. Supercharge your results with forward and backward citation tools, analyze the data in your results, and learn the strengths and weaknesses of each one of these resources for tracking scholarly conversations through time. Presented by Head of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities, Karen Merguerian.
How do I build context around a research article?
Ever read an interesting research article and want to know more about that particular area or field? Perhaps you’re preparing for an oral exam or thinking about pursuing a career in a particular area. Or perhaps you’re working on an assignment and need to find more articles similar to one you’ve already found. Join this webinar to learn how to build context around a research topic using a single article.
How do I get the standards I need?
If you're designing or testing a new product or process, you'll probably need to use standards. But standards can be expensive, and tough to find. This workshop will cover some tips for getting the standards you need, including how to find them, how you can access (some) standards for free through the library, and what to do when the standard you need is behind a paywall.
How do I text mine JSTOR/Portico collections?
Text mining is a great research technique, but it’s usually neither simple nor free to text mine scholarly resources. This session will introduce the Digital Scholar Workbench, an easy-to-use platform that lets you search across more than 100 years' worth of scholarly content in JSTOR and Portico, and download custom JSON datasets for your own text analysis.

How do I draw in PowerPoint?
Need to annotate a figure or create a basic visual such as a Venn diagram? Have no time to learn a new, artsy drawing tool? We’ll share tips for using PowerPoint’s Shape tools to get the job done! This webinar will be presented by Data Analysis and Visualization Specialist, Kate Kryder.
How to (responsibly) edit Wikipedia
At some point in your education, you’ve probably heard that you should never use Wikipedia “because anyone can edit it.” But have you ever actually tried editing it yourself? This webinar will provide an introduction to Wikipedia’s editing tools and its dedicated community of editors, who voluntarily cultivate and maintain the free encyclopedia according to a set of five “pillars of Wikipedia.” Learn how and why you can—and should!—contribute to the world’s largest reference work.
GIS is for everyone
Learn about Geographic Information System technology and various GIS platforms available through Northeastern University Library. This webinar will cover a general GIS project workflow, including data wrangling, visualizing, and spatial analyzing using both licensed and open source GIS programs. In addition, we will introduce ESRI Story Map and Story Map JS, which can be utilized to create inspiring, sharable stories by combining text, videos, images, and interactive maps.
What is ARC GIS at Northeastern?
In this session, you will be introduced to ArcGIS web maps and applications which are available through the ESRI license to the Northeastern Community. Join our GIS specialist in taking a glance at ArcGIS webmaps, storymaps, filed data collector, dashboard and business analyst.
How can I use the Recording Studios remotely?
Whether a budding sound engineer, musician, podcast enthusiast or digital storyteller, the Recording Studios looks forward to working with you in the fall. Yes, our creative production facilities will be closed, but Studios’ staff will help you remotely with a range of resources and expert technical and project planning advice. Jonathan Iannone, Supervisor of the Recording Studios, will describe the services and options that will be available to you.
How do I create a Podcast?
There’s never been a better time to create a podcast. Whether for a course or for your own enjoyment, this webinar will cover the basics on how to create a podcast.
How do I record a Podcast remotely?
Being socially distant doesn’t mean that you can’t record a great podcast with other people. This webinar will explain some tips and tricks for making your remote podcast sound like you are all in the same room.
How do I get started using BibTeX?
Having trouble formatting references that have symbols and formulas in MS Word or Google Docs? Learn how STEM researchers create well-formatted bibliographies and in-text citations in less time using BibTeX, in combination with a LaTeX system. The session will use Overleaf, an online cloud-based LaTeX editor. A basic understanding of LaTeX is helpful.
How do I find archival primary sources online?
Think you can't use archival material just because you can't visit it? Learn some tips on how to access archival material beyond the reading room and the tools available for finding archives from the comfort of your home. Discover the resources available in the Northeastern University Archives and Special Collections and how they can help connect you to other Archives across the globe.

Citation Management

Introduction to Citation Managers
Learn how to manage your references, organize your research and quickly create citations and bibliographies using a citation management program. The online session will cover: an introduction to EndNote, Refworks, Zotero, and Mendeley; similarities and differences between different citation management programs; and how to choose the right citation manager for you. You'll leave knowing the next steps for installing and using a citation manager.
Getting started with EndNote (PC version)
Learn how to use Endnote with Windows to increase your efficiency. Endnote will help with organizing your references and generating reference lists and in-text citations in your chosen style. This session will cover:

how to export references from a database to Endnote
how to organize your research information using groups
how to create an online account
where to download Endnote software
how to use Endnote on a Windows computer with Microsoft Word (Cite While You Write)
Getting started with EndNote (Mac version)
Learn how to use Endnote with a Mac to increase your efficiency. Endnote will help with organizing your references and generating reference lists and in-text citations in your chosen style. This online session covers:

how to export references from a database to Endnote
how to organize your research information using groups
how to create an online account
where to download Endnote software
how to use Endnote with Microsoft Word on a Mac (Cite While You Write)
10 Advanced EndNote features
This session briefly covers each of the following:
Creating Smart Groups
Importing/accessing Full Text & PDFs in EndNote
EndNote Export Shortcut (RIS export)
Sharing Libraries
Editing References in Word
Annotating PDFs
Manuscript Matching
Using Drag-and-Drop to Create an Instant Bibliography
Backing up Your EndNote Libraries and EndNote Files
How to Organize your References for a Systematic Review
Getting started with RefWorks
In this online session you will learn how to get started with RefWorks, an online citation management program that will allow you to collect and organize references and help you cite them in your papers. This session covers how to create a RefWorks account,
how to add references to your RefWorks library, how to organize and edit your library of references, how to add RefWorks citations to Word documents
Getting started with BibTeX
Learn how to use BibTeX to increase your efficiency. BibTeX helps you create bibliographies and in-text citations within a LaTeX system. BibTeX and LaTeX are often used together for preparing high quality documents for publication in STEM fields.
Getting started with Mendeley
Are you interested in learning how to better organize your PDFs and research sources? Using Mendeley can help you become more organized and efficient throughout the research process: from when you first begin to explore your topic to when you are adding citations to your paper. In this session, you will learn how to download Mendeley and set up an account, organize your research sources and PDFs, annotate PDFs, and create in-text citations and bibliographies.
Getting started with Zotero
Learn how to use Zotero to increase your efficiency. Zotero is a free, open-source tool that lets you quickly create bibliographies and in-text citations in your chosen reference style. This online session covers how to install Zotero, how to export references from a database to Zotero, how to create groups to organize your research information, how to create an online account, and how to use Zotero with Microsoft Word.

Leganto

What is Leganto?
Come and learn about Leganto, the innovative new software that simplifies creating course reserves lists, and offers the ability to link books, articles, and web resources to our Learning Management Software for easy access. This webinar will show you how to connect your Leganto to your course, begin building course reserve lists, as well as the Cite It! Tool, which allows you to cite directly from your browser. We will also be going briefly over the more advanced features of the software.

Recording Studios

How to mix a song
This workshop will focus on using Avid ProTools to mix music: helping each instrument shine through clearly with EQ, using compression to smooth out erratic dynamics, and the simple but crucial process of setting appropriate volume levels so that each sound sits just right in the mix.
Introduction to Podcasting
Get a grasp on basic podcasting techniques, inlcuding:
»» Best practices for recording settings and microphone placement.
»» The most conducive microphones for podcasting.
»» How to add intro and outro music and basic edits.
»» How to use Audacity, a free audio editing software, through a brief
tutorial.

For more programs and to learn more about the Recording Studios, please visit the Digital Media toolkit here.

Systematic Reviews

Basics of a systematic review
Systematic reviews are one of the most misunderstood review types and are often treated as a robust literature review, when in fact they are much more. Join this webinar to learn the methodology of a systematic review and how it differs from a literature review as well as an introduction to other advanced review types.
Creating the search for a systematic review
The search forms the foundation for a systematic review. All analysis done of the articles depends on the creation of a comprehensive and thorough search. If we think of the search as forming the basis of the project’s ‘dataset’, we know that good data is crucial to the success of a project. Join this webinar to learn where to search, how to structure your search, and how to build your search.
Tools and resources for a systematic review
Completing a systematic review is no small feat. In this webinar, we will focus on tools and resources available to you to help streamline the process of completing a systematic review.