Mastering Google Docs, APA Style Guide, and Zotero: A Comprehensive Introduction for PhD Scholars and Faculty Members

On Monday, March 27, 2023, at 2 p.m., the librarian at the East Campus Learning Resource Centre (ECLRC), Mr. Mahesh Palamuttath, conducted a session on the Introduction to Google Docs, the APA style guide, and reference management tools with special reference to Zotero for newly enrolled PhD scholars and faculties from the Campus. The session was held at the library, and it was an excellent opportunity for participants to gain insight into the different tools and resources that can make their academic work more efficient.

 

The session began with an overview of Google Docs, one of the most popular word processing tools used by students and researchers. Mr. Mahesh Palamuttath highlighted the various features and benefits of Google Docs, including its collaborative features, ease of use, and real-time editing capabilities. Participants were able to follow along with the presentation, learning how to create and format documents, insert images, and collaborate with others in real-time.

After the introduction to Google Docs, the session shifted towards discussing the American Psychological Association (APA) style guide, which is commonly used for academic writing in the social sciences. Mr. Mahesh Palamuttath provided a overview of the APA style, explaining its guidelines for formatting papers, citing sources, and creating reference lists. Participants learned how to use the APA style guide to create accurate citations and references, avoiding plagiarism and academic misconduct.

Finally, the session covered reference management tools, with a special focus on Zotero. Participants were introduced to the various features and benefits of Zotero, including its ability to automatically generate citations and references, organize research materials, and collaborate with others. Mr. Mahesh Palamuttath demonstrated how to use Zotero to create a bibliography, add references to a document, and organize research materials into folders.

Overall, the session was informative and engaging, providing participants with a solid foundation in the use of Google Docs, the APA style guide, and reference management tools with special reference to Zotero. The newly enrolled PhD scholars and faculties from the East Campus who attended the session came away with a better understanding of the tools and resources available to them, and how they can use them to make their academic work more efficient and effective.