Stop by the the Nexus Library Instruction Space on the Main Floor of Gutman Library on Thursdays from 12-2pm to get research help and chat with librarians. You can win prizes like gift cards, and we’ll provide free coffee and snacks. Bring your laptop for help with your work. Thursday, September 21 – Thursday, November 30.
Check out our 25 additions to our eBook collection this September. Topics range from hemp sustainability to emergency nursing and internet security. Explore the list of new eBooks below or browse the complete collection at Center City/Scott Library,Horsham/Dixon Library, or East Falls/Gutman Library.
Jefferson’s Research as Art Competition celebrates all Jefferson faculty, students, and staff who have an eye for the beauty in their research or scholarship. Submit your images through Friday, October 6, for a chance to win a $250 gift card in each of two categories, and have your work featured in Jefferson research publications and online.
Categories include a) cellular and molecular, or life under the microscope and b) conceptual – renderings of research observations, experiences and concepts in various media.
The Gutman Library is thrilled that Annika chose to create signage for the library for her Experiential Graphic Design course. Annika’s project will be on display at the Gutman Library, on the Main Floor, in the display cases across from the Check Out Desk for the Fall 2023 semester.
We sat down with Annika to learn more about her project and what excites her about graphic design, wayfinding, and libraries.
What is your name, major, and class year? My name is Annika Zitto. My pronouns are she/they. I’m a Visual Communication Design major in the Class of 2025.
What made you decide to become a Visual Communication Design major? Even before I knew what graphic design was, I was paying attention to it in the world. I loved infographics as a kid and I was always taking notice of the typography on signage. Graphic Design is my concentration within Visual Communication Design.
Could your project be implemented in real life? This project is purely hypothetical but I was very intentional to ensure the design was feasible. Consider, for example, the blade signs, used to show the range of books available in each aisle. Since library collections often change or move around, the Dewey call numbers on the blade signs feature removable vinyl. As the collection is moved around, the numbers can be removed and adjusted to reflect the aisle’s new contents. Shelf dividers can also be arranged based on the library’s collection. To ensure that the signs would look clean with a variety of dewey numbers, lining numerals were used to keep the numbers spaced evenly.
What inspired you to do this project? When I was asked to choose a location on campus to make signage for, I immediately chose the library. During the school year, I am constantly visiting and borrowing books from the library. One of my professors even called me the “Library Advocate,” because of how often I am sharing resources and cool finds with other students in my major. I knew this project would allow me to use my design skills to conceptualize an ideal library experience.
What’s your favorite thing about libraries? My favorite thing about libraries is the visual and physical exploration of finding new books. Actively browsing the shelves leads me to finding books I would have never thought to search for digitally. The tactile experience of browsing and flipping through books really peaks my curiosity.
Why is wayfinding so important? Good wayfinding is so important because it allows us to access and navigate the world we live in. Signage that facilitates efficient wayfinding is an essential component to creating accessible spaces. It makes it possible for people to find their destination. It also enables people to discover new parts of a place they often visit. Since wayfinding is constant in our lives, it’s important to give it proper attention when designing a space. Bad wayfinding can be stressful, time consuming, confusing, and inaccessible to many. Good wayfinding flips this around, creating an accessible and enjoyable user experience on each front. Efficient design utilizes identifiable, consistent, patterns so people can predict the experiences they will have in the space and navigate accordingly to access what they’re looking for. To provide accessibility to a variety of users, it will utilize differing cues, such as type, color, and multisensory elements, to guide people through the space. It can also evoke a sense of the place’s identity, connecting users to the place through its wayfinding design.
What career paths are you interested in pursuing after graduation? After graduating, I plan to pursue a career in information design with a focus on sustainability. I want to use information design to increase accessibility to and awareness of environmental knowledge that when known by many, has the power to change our world, legislation, and quality of life for generations.
This past year, I was a research assistant for Dr. Radika Bhaskar, where I designed visual information about bioplastics for educational outreach. Working under Dr. Bhaskar, I engaged my intellectual curiosity for the intersections between user experience, accessibility, environmentalism, and urban design. I hope to explore these topics more in my future research and career.
How can people get in touch with you to collaborate? If you want to see more of my work, be sure to check out my design Instagram which is linked on my Link Tree. Feel free to reach out to my Jefferson email to connect.
I am also the President of Jefferson’s AIGA Professional Association for Design chapter. Any student is welcome to drop by one of our meetings to connect. If you’re interested in collaborating with AIGA, direct message our official Instagram account!
Is there anything you’d like to mention that we didn’t ask? I’m grateful to have the opportunity to showcase my work and share my passions. I am so thankful to everyone who helped me bring this project to life!
I want to thank Renee Walker for teaching this course. I really enjoyed it! I also want to thank Jess Jahnle and the rest of the team at the Surface Imaging for their help with creating this display. We were able to get some incredible prototypes printed through the Surface Imaging Lab that truly elevated the project. Finally, biggest thanks to the Gutman Library organization for hosting my display and to Megan Donnelly, Outreach and Engagement Librarian, for collaborating with me to create it.
The Gutman Library is thrilled that Annika chose to create signage for the library for her Experiential Graphic Design course. Annika’s project will be on display at the Gutman Library, on the Main Floor, in the display cases across from the Check Out Desk for the Fall 2023 semester.
We sat down with Annika to learn more about her project and what excites her about graphic design, wayfinding, and libraries.
What is your name, major, and class year? My name is Annika Zitto. My pronouns are she/they. I’m a Visual Communication Design major in the Class of 2025.
What made you decide to become a Visual Communication Design major? Even before I knew what graphic design was, I was paying attention to it in the world. I loved infographics as a kid and I was always taking notice of the typography on signage. Graphic Design is my concentration within Visual Communication Design.
Could your project be implemented in real life? This project is purely hypothetical but I was very intentional to ensure the design was feasible. Consider, for example, the blade signs, used to show the range of books available in each aisle. Since library collections often change or move around, the Dewey call numbers on the blade signs feature removable vinyl. As the collection is moved around, the numbers can be removed and adjusted to reflect the aisle’s new contents. Shelf dividers can also be arranged based on the library’s collection. To ensure that the signs would look clean with a variety of dewey numbers, lining numerals were used to keep the numbers spaced evenly.
What inspired you to do this project? When I was asked to choose a location on campus to make signage for, I immediately chose the library. During the school year, I am constantly visiting and borrowing books from the library. One of my professors even called me the “Library Advocate,” because of how often I am sharing resources and cool finds with other students in my major. I knew this project would allow me to use my design skills to conceptualize an ideal library experience.
What’s your favorite thing about libraries? My favorite thing about libraries is the visual and physical exploration of finding new books. Actively browsing the shelves leads me to finding books I would have never thought to search for digitally. The tactile experience of browsing and flipping through books really peaks my curiosity.
Why is wayfinding so important? Good wayfinding is so important because it allows us to access and navigate the world we live in. Signage that facilitates efficient wayfinding is an essential component to creating accessible spaces. It makes it possible for people to find their destination. It also enables people to discover new parts of a place they often visit. Since wayfinding is constant in our lives, it’s important to give it proper attention when designing a space. Bad wayfinding can be stressful, time consuming, confusing, and inaccessible to many. Good wayfinding flips this around, creating an accessible and enjoyable user experience on each front. Efficient design utilizes identifiable, consistent, patterns so people can predict the experiences they will have in the space and navigate accordingly to access what they’re looking for. To provide accessibility to a variety of users, it will utilize differing cues, such as type, color, and multisensory elements, to guide people through the space. It can also evoke a sense of the place’s identity, connecting users to the place through its wayfinding design.
What career paths are you interested in pursuing after graduation? After graduating, I plan to pursue a career in information design with a focus on sustainability. I want to use information design to increase accessibility to and awareness of environmental knowledge that when known by many, has the power to change our world, legislation, and quality of life for generations.
This past year, I was a research assistant for Dr. Radika Bhaskar, where I designed visual information about bioplastics for educational outreach. Working under Dr. Bhaskar, I engaged my intellectual curiosity for the intersections between user experience, accessibility, environmentalism, and urban design. I hope to explore these topics more in my future research and career.
How can people get in touch with you to collaborate? If you want to see more of my work, be sure to check out my design Instagram which is linked on my Link Tree. Feel free to reach out to my Jefferson email to connect.
I am also the President of Jefferson’s AIGA Professional Association for Design chapter. Any student is welcome to drop by one of our meetings to connect. If you’re interested in collaborating with AIGA, direct message our official Instagram account!
Is there anything you’d like to mention that we didn’t ask? I’m grateful to have the opportunity to showcase my work and share my passions. I am so thankful to everyone who helped me bring this project to life!
I want to thank Renee Walker for teaching this course. I really enjoyed it! I also want to thank Jess Jahnle and the rest of the team at the Surface Imaging for their help with creating this display. We were able to get some incredible prototypes printed through the Surface Imaging Lab that truly elevated the project. Finally, biggest thanks to the Gutman Library organization for hosting my display and to Megan Donnelly, Outreach and Engagement Librarian, for collaborating with me to create it
Join us Tuesdays this fall at Gutman Library to watch riveting documentaries, enjoy snacks, and connect with others. Each film centers on themes of ancestry, identity, and home. These events are open to all; registration isn’t required but encouraged to ensure we have enough snacks! RSVP at jefferson.libcal.com/calendar/academiccommons/documentary
Tuesday, October 17, 7pm: Descendant Descendant tells the story of the descendants of survivors of The Clotilda, the last known ship to bring enslaved people from Africa to the United States. Descendants celebrate their heritage and take command of their legacy in this moving portrait of a community actively grappling with and fighting to preserve its heritage while examining what justice looks like today. The first five people to register will receive a free copy of Barracoon by Zora Neal Hurston. Barracoon is an oral history of Cudjo Lewis, the last survivor of the Atlantic slave trade.
Join us after the film for a discussion facilitated by Slade Roff, LCSW, East Falls Student Counseling Center.
Tuesday, November 14, 7pm: Blind Ambition Blind Ambition is an underdog story for the ages that follows an unlikely team of Zimbabweans turned sommeliers who shake up the international wine establishment when they compete in the World Wine Tasting Championships.
Tuesday, December 5, 7pm: Flee December’s documentary film night will be run in conjunction with the LGBTQA+ Film Nights program and together we’ll watch Flee. Flee tells the extraordinary true story of a man, Amin, as he reveals his hidden past, one that threatens to derail the life he has built for himself and his soon to be husband.
We hope to see you at one or all of our documentary film nights! RSVP here.
New at Gutman Library: Fidget spinners, play therapy toys, and resources! If you’re needing a moment to decompress, feeling distracted and want to focus, or interested in learning more about play therapy, check out these two new collections.
The Play Therapy Collection Donated by the Community & Trauma Counseling department, the collection offers a wide range of books, workbooks, and play examples for practitioners, researchers, and those with a general interest in play therapy.
Where is the collection? The collection is stored in the popular books section across from the Circulation Desk on the Main Floor.
The Fidget and Stim Toy Collection The collection includes a wide variety of fidget and stimulation toys (fidget cubes, wacky tracks, slugs, and more), that allow for students to decompress, engage in play, and regulate their emotions. This collection aims to normalize the practice of fidgeting and stimming.
Where is the collection? Behind the Main Floor’s Circulation Desk! Students can check out one item for four hours by leaving their Jefferson ID with us.
What is stimming? Stimming (or self-stimulation) is a self-regulatory behavior that includes movements such as hand flapping, finger-flicking, rocking, speaking phrases, sounds, and other repetitive motions in order to keep oneself calm. Often done in times of stress, this behavior is usually seen in people with autism or those who fall under the neurodivergent umbrella.
Fidget and stim toys allow for this behavior to be carried out in a safe and consistent way that will often not disrupt the person’s daily life. While neurodivergent individuals often use these tools, it is completely normal behavior for everyone to engage in, especially when feeling stressed or distracted.
This month’s new eBooks cover brain injury medicine, a history of textiles in twentieth-century Yoruba communities, a guide to neurodiversity, and more. Check out the list below or browse the complete eBook collection at Center City/Scott Library,Horsham/Dixon Library, or East Falls/Gutman Library.
View the workshop calendar in a card view (default), monthly view, or weekly view. Choose your preferred view from options in the upper right-hand corner.
Default card view, viewing options in right-hand corner
Browsing Events
Search for a specific event by title or filter workshops by category (topic), audience, or campus location.
Filters and search are found on the left-hand side of the calendar
Canvas: Register for Canvas Lightning Sessions, 15-30-minute online workshops focused on a tool or feature within Canvas, and Canvas Clinics, informal drop-ins where you can ask instructional designers questions or get assistance with your Canvas courses.
Writing: If you’re looking for “me time” to focus on your scholarly writing, join the Office for Professional Writing, Publishing, and Communication for First Fridays Writing Retreats. We’ll meet (virtually) on the first Friday of the month from October to December, where you’ll get quiet time to research literature, write, and get answers to your questions from our editors and librarians.
The new design makes it easier to find what you need, whether learning about our services and helpful resources, registering for workshops, or completing self-paced learning in your own time.
Consultation Form:Fill out the consultation form for help with instructional design and educational technologies or professional writing, publishing, and communication.
Self-Paced Programs: Explore our growing library of self-paced learning modules on information literacy, universal design for learning, effective group assignments, and more.
Our Services: Connect with our teams for help with audio-visual classroom support, website and database development, and more. View samples of our photography, videography, and graphic design projects to see how we can help you!
Thomas Jefferson University Libraries: Quickly access the Jefferson Libraries websites by clicking the Thomas Jefferson University Libraries link in the upper-right corner, found throughout our website.
We hope our website helps you learn more about who we are, what we do, and how we can support you. Check it out now: academiccommons.jefferson.edu.
Volume four of Evanescent asked the question: where is our empathy? The Jefferson community responded with brave, honest, and heartbreaking personal stories. We in healthcare bear witness to nearly every emotion of the human experience.
Evanescent seeks to chronicle, communicate, and celebrate this richness of experience. Submissions are welcomed from all members of the Jefferson community. For inquiries regarding submissions, please email evanescent@jefferson.edu.
Special content includes:
· Select essays from the 2022 Theresa and Charles Yeo Prize, focused on gun violence
· Artwork from the Souls Shot Project, which pairs local artists with loved ones who have lost family to gun violence
Join experts from Thomas Jefferson University, University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, Drexel University, and Vanderbilt University for The Qualitative Institute, October 5-7, 2023, in Jefferson Alumni Hall. Attendees will learn new skills and expand on prior strengths in qualitative and mixed methods research.
Overview:
The Qualitative Institute (TQI) is a comprehensive educational program hosted by Thomas Jefferson University with speakers from Jefferson, University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, Drexel, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Vanderbilt University.
Agenda:
Philosophical Foundations of Qualitative Inquiry
Conventional & Alternative Data Collection Approaches
Ethnography & Observation
Visual Methods & Arts Informed Research
Developing Interview & Focus Group Guides
Social Media: A Data Gold Mine
Community Engaged & Participatory Research
Concept Mapping
Mixed Methods Research
Research Dissemination
Interview Skills Workshop
Focus Group Skills Workshop
Coding & Analysis Skills Workshop Who should attend:
Healthcare, public health, education, & social work researchers
Students & trainees
Members of community, non-profit, & government organizations
Join LabArchives, Jefferson’s electronic research notebook, throughout the week of June 26 for sessions tailored to help you prepare to use LabArchives in your Fall courses.
The fall semester is nearly upon us, and LabArchives is here to help you begin to plan fall courses. LabArchives online tools make it easy to build, organize, and manage your course whether you’re teaching in-person, online, or a combination of the two. Whether you’ve been using LabArchives for years or are just getting started, the Education Boot Camp is a great place to begin planning your next course.
During these special training sessions, you’ll learn everything you need to know to prepare for Fall semester. Attend the sessions to learn how the LabArchives Education Edition can help you and your peers to easily manage student lab work and course content.
June 26:Setting up your Course Notebook for Student Success Learn how to build the instructor course notebook. Whether you have your course materials ready or you are using the repository of 500+ prebuilt OER labs & eBooks, this session is for you. Learn how to convert existing course materials to an interactive LabArchives notebook and set up templates for easy course management.
June 27: Grading and Feedback: Improving student outcomes with real time collaboration Learn the ins and outs of grading student work and measuring success throughout the semester. The session will cover qualitative and quantitative methods for providing feedback for students in your course. The session will also cover ways to manage semester long projects and techniques to help identify students at risk.
June 28: Leverage LabArchives ELN in your Lab Courses This session will cover your needs to use LabArchives ELN as a digital lab notebook. Learn how to integrate your STEM material into LabArchives for introductory and/or upper-level courses, organize and create templates, manage your course, and facilitate grading.
This summer, expand your teaching and learning skills with the Academic Commons’ self-paced learning modules. Topics include information literacy, universal design for learning/accessibility tools, the scholarship of teaching & learning, and more.
Browse the modules below and click on a program title to begin. Sessions will track your progress, allowing you to complete a program at your own pace in multiple sittings.
And stay tuned for our live workshop schedule for Late Summer/Early Fall 2023, which we’ll share later this summer.
Information Literacy (resources from Jefferson Libraries)
Learn to incorporate databases and point-of-care tools into your clinical and teaching practices.
Course Design 101 (email EdTech.Support@lists.jefferson.edu to request access) Learn the ins and outs of Canvas, Jefferson’s learning management system (LMS).
Science of Learning Learn about how “brain-based learning” came to be, what happens in the brain when we learn, and what practices you can implement to facilitate learning.
Learner Engagement
Effective Group Assignments Gain best practices in designing, implementing, and assessing group assignments.
A Guided Tour of Ally Go on an in-depth tour of Ally, a usability and accessibility tool found within Canvas you can use to improve your course materials.