If you would like to explore the various Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELN) available visit the Research Data Service guide to E-Notebooks and workflow tools. To request ELN training please contact us to discuss your requirements - detailed below is an example of training content developed for the online electronic notebook RSpace.
RSpace training programme
In 2019, the University of Edinburgh RSpace training programme was developed in collaboration between CMVM research representatives, DRS Facilitator, Tahira Akbar, BioQuarter IT support and RSpace. The training was delivered across two sessions - Beginners and Advanced. The Beginners course guided users through initial set-up and common features (e.g. content creation, sharing and exporting), and the Advanced course was tailored for those interested in applying RSpace features to support workflows and deliver lab data management. The topics for each are detailed below.
Beginners topics
1. Introduction
- Benefits of using ELN in a digital world incl. lab data management (e.g. organize, track, demonstrate compliance, collaborate, archive etc).
- How to register with RSpace
- How to integrate RSpace with DataStore and OneDrive
2. Definition and purpose of main RSpace tabs
- Workspace > definition of its purpose
- Workspace > definition of RSpace documents, Notebooks and Folders
- Gallery and files, definition of gallery purpose and how it differs from the workspace
- Tabs: Messaging, Apps, My RSpace, Help
3. Basic overview of GUI including
- Tools on the main workspace toolbar
- Tools in main RSpace Text editor
- Common features tools seen in popups
4. Basic process of creating and editing RSpace documents
- Ways to create an RSpace document
- Overview of RSpace text editor toolbar
- Creation of text, images, tables and snippets
- Creating links to resources inside and outside of RSpace
5. Sharing
- Overview
- Sharing documents with lab members
- Sharing Gallery files, explanation of why RSpace documents are used as vehicles for sharing Gallery files
- Sharing with people who do not have RSpace accounts, at Edinburgh and external collaborators
6) Exporting
7) Closing remarks including reminder of where to access guides/FAQs/Help
Advanced topics
- Introduction: lab data management principles, roles/responsibilities, compliance
- Creating, and managing users/user permissions
- Creating and working with Forms and Templates, with examples
- Round-trip editing of data files and offline editing of RSpace documents
- Advanced text editing features and tips including scientific tools and html source editing and snippet management
- Advanced sharing and organization of shared data
- PI and Lab Admin oversight and lab management tips, role of LabAdmin in sharing
- Advanced search and tips for maximizing traceability
- Advanced data import, export and archiving of data cohorts
- Tips for compliance and security
Webinar Series
Information about the Webinar Series entitled “An Introduction to RSpace ELN and digital research
records” which ran in July 2020 is available here (link opens pdf document). Three sessions were run tailored to each of the three colleges. This series was organised by the Research Data Services.