Author: kendraha

In my year-long Vollstedt intern position, I served as a Learning Resources Specialist with the library’s Data Services department. In this position, I’ve gotten the opportunity to create many different learning objects. For example, I got to create LibGuide pages on how to download and install software and integrated development environments (IDEs) like R and R Studio. I also had the opportunity to create modules in Articulate Rise on how to use databases’ clipboard functions or how to add items to a Zotero library. Culminating in all that I learned was my creation of a module on how to use Microsoft Support to find documentation on converting or saving a file as a PDF. Through all of these projects, I learned a lot about instructional design.

Instructional design, in short, is the creation of learning objects. To create learning objects, I’ve realized that you have to be ready to conduct research, effectively communicate with subject matter experts (SMEs) and clients, and have a desire to help others. By communicating with my SMEs and clients, I conducted needs analyses by asking insightful questions about the learning gap I was trying to fill. I also learned to make the information I provided clear and concise. I was not able to speak with students directly to get a good idea of their gaps, so I had to make sure I was asking the right questions of my SMEs and clients. Because of this, I realized early on that feedback was an essential part of the instructional design process, and one I appreciated greatly.

I am incredibly grateful for the skills I have developed, and traits I have strengthened, through this internship. I have become a much more effective communicator, I can take feedback with grace and push back as needed, and I have much more empathy for the end user/learner when creating learning objects. I have also learned how to use the popular ID tool Articulate Rise to create modules and courses from templates and from scratch. This internship has helped me crystallize that I am passionate about instructional design. I am very proud of the work I’ve been able to produce thus far and am excited to see what I will be able to create in the future.

During my Vollstedt internship as a Data Services Learning Resources Specialist at UO, I found myself immersed in the dynamic world of research data management. My primary responsibilities included preparing Dryad launching at UO, creating LibGuides on best practices for data management, and curating and organizing learning resources related to research data. I really appreciate this internship opportunity as I gained hands-on experience and kept up with the latest trends and advancements in the field of data services.

In the initial weeks, I familiarized myself with the research data services provided, the library data infrastructure, and the various tools employed for data management. Meetings with my mentor, Gabriele Hayden, and other seasoned librarians provided me with valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities within research data management. Based on my interests and expertise, I contributed to developing LibGuides to help researchers understand and master research data management, including Dryad data repository, data publication, how to use DMPTool, and how to write data management plans. These LibGuides have been published on the Research Data Management website.

Another highlight of my internship was the opportunity to help the Graduate College track new publications published by UO’s amazing graduate students and advertise their works in their newsletter during a specific period. The challenge of this project is to track the publications of graduate students as they might not use any author IDs (e.g., ORCID) and might have wrong affiliation information in their works. By using the powerful OpenAlex API, I wrote some Python codes to automatically achieve the goal. I was so excited that I could address an actual problem in the academic setting. The codes have been shared on GitHub so that anyone can reuse the codes for their purposes.

Overall, this experience as a Data Services Learning Resources Specialist provided me with a comprehensive understanding of research data management and also equipped me with valuable skills and insights into this evolving field, which provided a solid foundation for my future endeavors in research data services. I am grateful for the opportunities for growth and learning that this internship has afforded me.