Zotero as a teaching tool for independent study courses, honors contracts, and undergraduate research mentoring

Abstract

ABSTRACT Managing and evaluating the literature review process can be a time-consuming challenge when working one-on-one with students to teach scientific process skills, whether through an independent study, honors contract, or undergraduate research. In this article, I share my solution to address the pedagogical and organizational challenge posed by this type of teaching and mentoring: the citation management software Zotero used in conjunction with a template worksheet. Overall, this approach will save time, introduce students to a new multipurpose software tool, and lead to a set of reusable resources for future teaching.

Keywords

• scientific process skills
• independent study
• directed readings
• honors contracts
• Zotero
• citation management software