For the one-hour student orientations at the Chemistry & Chemical Engineering Library:
I wrote a library guidebook explaining how to use the library and the reasons for it. Additionally, the guide outlines the chemical information resources available – with flow charts for finding these sources.
Because details on library use is available via the guidebook, more class time was granted for an ice breaker game (human bingo) and a discussion on tips for academic success at Berkeley.
To reinforce student learning, an online library quiz was developed where participants had a chance of winning a $50 gift certificate to the Cal Student Store.
Dates and attendance
August 18 – 34 Chemistry graduate students (1 hour)
August 20 – 18 Chemical Engineering graduate students (1 hour)
August 23 – 22 Chemistry and Chemical Engineering undergraduate transfer students (1 hour)
August 24 – 23 Chemistry graduate students (1 hour)
PURPOSE: To make online instructional videos for PubChem, a free database of the biological activities of small molecules developed by NCBI at the National Institutes of Health.
METHODS: Develop modular videos that address research problems and tasks in chemical informatics. This arrangement encourages remixing, reuse, and sharing that can be tailored to different learning needs. The videos are stored in and delivered through YouTube – a popular, video-sharing website that offers social media features for commenting, voting, and video sharing.
This pilot project demonstrates that online video development is not cost prohibitive when using software and services that are free, open source, readily available at academic libraries, or cost five dollars.
For details of why and how these videos were developed, please visit: