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Category: Courses

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Himmelfarb Library has an extensive collection of online books, journal articles, and multimedia materials. These resources can be accessed from both on- and off-campus locations. To ensure consistent access to e-resources from off-campus locations, a durable link may be required. Durable links provide consistent access to electronic journals, articles, books and other materials by ensuring that GW users are recognized and can access library collections. If you are a faculty member preparing for the start of a new semester, Himmelfarb Library’s Durable Link Service can assist you with embedding durable links into your syllabus and other course materials which will provide your students with reliable access to course materials. 

Durable links are URLs that directly connect users with Himmelfarb Library’s electronic resources. These links are reliable and allow faculty members to share resources with students and avoid copyright violations. 

There are four ways to create durable links:

  • Attach a proxy prefix
  • Use a permalink
  • Link by PMID, DOI, ISBN or ISSN
  • Link to databases

 You can attach a proxy prefix to a resource’s URL which will route the link through GW’s systems and authenticate users as needed. Himmelfarb’s proxy prefix quick tool will automatically generate a link with the required proxy prefix. The tool also allows you to test the link prior to adding it to your syllabus or Blackboard course so you are confident that the URL works. 

Himmelfarb’s catalog records have an option to create a permalink for a resource. Search for the resource in the catalog and select the ‘Permalink’ button under ‘Send to.’

This option will direct your students to the resource in the catalog where they can open the item’s full text. Databases such as EBSCO, Ovid and Proquest also have ‘Permalink’ features that can be given to students. 

If you have the PMID, DOI, ISBN or other unique identifier for a resource, you may use this to create a durable link. For example, if you have the DOI for a journal article, you may append it to http://himmelfarb.gwu.edu/doi/ to link directly to the article (e.g. http://himmelfarb.gwu.edu/doi/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.11.035). For more examples please see the ‘Link by PMID, DOI, ISBN or ISSN’ section on our Linking to Electronic Resources: Creating Durable Links guide. 

Last, you may link directly to databases. Visit the A-Z List: Databases page, search for the specific database and click the connected dots symbol to the right. A small window will open with a durable link which will connect users to the database’s homepage. 

If you have questions about durable links or if you would like assistance with creating links, Himmelfarb Library is here to help! Our Linking to Electronic Resources: Creating Durable Links guide provides examples and additional information about durable links. Additionally, library staff members will check for broken links, generate new links and embed them onto your syllabus or Blackboard course. Send your syllabus or question to himmelfarb@gwu.edu and a staff member will provide more information.

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Bates' Visual Guide to Physical Examination logo

Bates' Visual Guide to Physical Examination now includes access to OSCE Clinical Skills Videos!  

These videos are designed to prepare you for Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) by testing your clinical reasoning skills.  Each video allows you to observe a clinical encounter, and then develop an assessment or differential diagnosis, and provide an appropriate diagnostic workup.  The videos include both pediatric and adult cases with ages ranging from ten to seventy years old and a range of complaints including back pain,headache, and shortness of breath.  

Screenshot of OSCE video with navigation menu

Bates' Visual Guide to Physical Examination and the OSCEs are available from on- and off-campus locations.  If you're in an off-campus location, login to GW’s VPN prior to accessing the Bates’ Visual Guide.  If you have questions about this resource or access, please ask us!

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The School of Medicine and Health Sciences has a Premium Institutional Membership with the AMEE - Association of Medical Education Europe for staff and faculty. SMHS welcomes faculty and staff from the schools of Nursing and Public Health and the MFA to also use these resources. All that’s required is registering here using your GW or MFA email address.

Image from AMEE website

Things you’ll have access to once registered include MedEdWorld, an online community with newsletters, interest groups, webinars, and online courses. MedEdWorld includes medical education-focused textbooks and journal articles. There are also links to video clips, images, diagrams and websites for personal use and teaching.

AMEE membership provides discounts to their annual conference and other conferences, and their publications, including MedEdPublish, an open access e-journal. The journal Medical Teacher is provided free to members in an online format.

To see all the benefits of membership, visit the GWSMHS AMEE Premium Institutional Membership web page.

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If you’re a faculty member in the midst of fall semester preparations, consider using Himmelfarb’s Durable Link Service and let us create durable links your students can use to access their course readings on and off campus. 

What is a durable link?

A durable link is a link that will provide reliable access to electronic reading materials, i.e. e-books, e-journals, articles, etc. Whether students access the resource while connected to GW’s network, via their home network, in a coffee shop, at the airport or any other location with internet, they’ll be able to open and read the material. If you’re worried about copyright issues when adding course materials as PDFs to your syllabus, then consider using the Durable Link Service 

The Linking to Electronic Resources: Creating Durable Links libguide offers tips and quick tutorials on how to create your own durable links. If you know the article’s PMID, DOI, or an e-book’s ISBN or ISSN, then you can easily create a durable link for your course material. Or check out our Quick Tool where you can input the URL and create a proxy link that can be added to your syllabus or reading list. Worried that the link may be broken? Use the ‘Test Link’ button to ensure that the link works. 

This quick tool allows you to create a new durable link from an existing URL.

The Durable Link Service is available throughout the year. Once you have your reading list or syllabus for your courses, feel free to use the libguide to create your durable links. If you’ve created your own links, but want someone to check that they’re not broken or if you’d like someone to create and add links to your syllabus, please contact a staff member at Himmelfarb library by sending an email to himmelfarb@gwu.edu. We’ll be happy to check any links you’ve already created or add new durable links to your syllabus! 

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Someone filling in multiple choice test question bubbles.
Image by Alberto G. on flickr.

In Wednesday’s blog post we shared Himmelfarb Library’s electronic clinical case study resources to incorporate in your online instruction. Today we’d like to share some of the electronic question banks Himmelfarb provides access to. While Himmelfarb provides access, in order to unlock all features you must create a personal account. Instructions for doing so are provided.

Exam Master Medical Subject Review provides over 9,000 questions and explanations to prepare for the USMLE Steps 1, 2, and 3. Exam Master tries to emulate the board exams, helping students build confidence by identifying strengths and improving on weaknesses. In order to use Himmelfarb’s Exam Master, you must make a free Exam Master account, then access Exam Master while on campus or when logged in to the VPN.

USMLEasy offers questions and answers to prepare for Steps 1, 2 CK, and 3. Their customization feature allows you to select topic coverage and the number of questions. You’re also able to annotate exam questions and answers. In order to access USMLEasy, access the webpage through the provided link and create a personal profile.

BoardVitals provides test banks for NBME Shelf Exams in seven different medical subjects. Features include timed test conditions, study tips, and individualized study recommendations based on practice test performance. In order to register, connect via the VPN and create an account at the link provided. After you’ve logged in once while connected to the VPN, you’ll be able to access your account from anywhere.

PA Exam Prep offers practice questions for PANCE and PANRE, as well as customizable features like topic coverage, number of questions, and annotation. In order to unlock these customizations, create a free account at the provided link.

For additional online instruction resources, check out Himmelfarb’s Online Instruction Research Guide. Our librarians are happy to assist with any questions you might have as well. Email us at himmelfarb@gwu.edu, or connect via our Ask Us chat.

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Access Medicine & Case Files Collection LogoTeaching online can pose its share of challenges. Finding clinical cases to include in your online instruction doesn’t have to be one of them. Using clinical case studies, especially during a time when students are not able to have first hand clinical experiences, can help your students hone their clinical decision making, critical thinking, and clinical reasoning skills. Himmelfarb Library provides access to cases with supporting text and multimedia materials. All materials are licensed for use in instruction. 

AccessMedicine Cases provides access to more than 900 basic sciences and plus selected clinical cases drawn from the Case Files series. AccessMedicine’s clinical case collections include: 

  • Family Medicine Board Review 
  • Internal Medicine drawn from Resident Readiness Internal Medicine
  • Vanderbilt Internal IM/Peds
  • Case Files (note: selected cases available in AccessMedicine and complete collection available via Case Files Collection)

Himmelfarb also provides access to the complete Case Files Collection which includes more than 1,150 cases, explanations, and quizzes. In addition to basic science cases, the Case Files Collection provides full access to clinical rotation cases for anesthesiology, cardiology, emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, medical ethics & professionalism, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, and surgery. Case Files Collection also provides additional cases at the post-graduate level on cardiology, geriatrics, gynecologic surgery, and orthopaedic surgery.  The Case Files Collection ebooks are also available through Himmelfarb’s catalog.

Case File book covers

To integrate cases into your online instruction, start with a relevant patient case. Students can use cases to practice taking a patient history using Smith’s Patient-Centered Interviewing. Students can expand their physical exam skills in an online instruction setting through physical exam videos. Students can then do additional research by looking up current recommendations and reading article summaries on relevant topics. Students can then decide on appropriate next steps for the patient case including diagnostic tests to be ordered, and creating a treatment plan by looking through mini-textbooks, and the provided drug monograph library. Quizzes are available at the end of cases and can be emailed to instructors when completed.

Do you want to explore topics beyond specific medical conditions? Cases in Medical Ethics and Professionalism include opportunities to explore communication, conflict resolution, ethics, and professionalism skills in addition to the medical case at hand. 

Himmelfarb provides full-access to both AccessMedicine and Case Files collection although some features are accessible only after users create a free personal MyAccess Profile. To create a MyAccess Profile, click on Sign In in the upper right corner of AccessMedicine or Case Files Collection.

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Summer.pngJoin the Milken Institute School of Public Health for an exciting opportunity to engage in key public health issues in the GW SPH Summer Institute!

From July 29-August 1, the Milken Institute SPH will offer short, graduate-level courses in a flexible format and taught be leading research and global health faculty.  The courses will incorporate experiential and skills-based learning and are perfect for current students and working professionals.

The courses offered will include:

  • Understanding Commercial Determinants of Health taught by Nino Paichadze: Monday, July 29 - Friday, August 2, 9 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., 1 credit hour
  • Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) taught by Paul Ndebele:  Monday, July 29 - Friday, August 2, 1:30 - 5 p.m. 1 credit hour

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bookshelfIt’s easy to think of fair use as the domain of authors. But as faculty face increasing pressure to provide students with cost-free course materials, they often turn to course reserves as an inexpensive alternative to requiring students to purchase costly scholarly materials. Himmelfarb's librarians are responsible for advising faculty on best practices related to copyright and fair use for both print and electronic course reserves.  Himmelfarb's librarians can help to ensure that educational content distribution in your courses adheres to the spirit of fair use.

In recent years, the growth of electronic course reserves has created new challenges related to observing copyright. As we see an increasing shift towards electronic reserves, here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Reserve materials should only be made available for faculty and students users while a course is currently being taught.  Electronic reserve materials must be promptly taken down after a course is no longer in session.
  • Electronic course reserves that are reactivated in future semesters may require additional copyright permissions. Permissions policies may be changed by publishers or copyright holders.  Use of an excerpt in a past course reserve does not guarantee use in future semesters.
  • Electronic course reserves require the same permissions as printed coursepacks. Rights must be secured for materials that cannot be utilized under fair use.
  • When using materials for electronic course reserves under fair use, remember to include copyright notices where necessary and include citations to the original material. Also caution users against further electronic distribution.
  • Under fair use criteria, electronic course reserve materials should be limited to small excerpts.  General guidelines include:
    • Book selections for works under copyright should not exceed 10% of the total page count of the book.
    • When using journal articles, you should not use more than two articles from any issue of a publication.
    • Unpublished materials require written permissions for items that are not the intellectual property of the instructor.
    • These limits are cumulative over the course of a semester, so taking down materials and adding new materials from the same source is a violation of fair use.
  • Access to electronic course reserves should be restricted by using passwords or other forms of authentication to help avoid copyright violations.

For the vast majority of cases, observing fair use guidelines should allow faculty users to include desired materials in electronic course reserves.  But when permissions are denied, Himmelfarb Librarians can help you in the following ways:

  • Help locate an excerpt in an alternate source. Materials from collections or anthologies can often be found in alternate sources with different copyright restrictions.
  • Place a hard copy of the item from which the material was excerpted on reserve.
  • Recommend alternate materials.

Despite its complexities, fair use ultimately presents unique opportunities for the distribution of educational content.  When used effectively, fair use standards can help to support electronic course reserves that provide students with the opportunity to obtain cost-free course materials. Consequently, adhering to best practices related to fair use and copyright standards can help to preserve educational models that foster the distribution of content for educational purposes.

For further information on Fair Use and Electronic Course Reserves, see Electronic Reserve Guidelines from the Copyright Clearance Center.

 

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creativity-402828_960_720A new article by Himmelfarb Librarians Tom Harrod and Alexandra Gomes describes how they developed FOSCE sessions for medical students as part of the revised medical school curriculum.

The article was just published in Medical Reference Services Quarterly and describes the evolution of this project - from it's basis in instruction in the old curriculum through the process of developing and implementing the instruction.

Read the full article:
Tom P. Harrod & Alexandra W. Gomes (2017) Creative Curriculum:The Experience of Writing and Teaching Formative Objective Structured ClinicalExaminations (FOSCEs), Medical Reference Services Quarterly, 36:2, 111-119, DOI: 10.1080/02763869.2017.1293968

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You can now search for print books on course reserves in Health Information @ Himmelfarb.

hihreserves

 

 

 
Input the instructor name, course number or course name in the Health Information @ Himmelfarb search box.  Matching print reserves will display in a box at the top of search results.  You can click on the title to display the record in the Library Catalog to see if the item is available.

Course reserves can also be searched directly in the Library Catalog.

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