To discover the use of your non-educational related research output in education you can run a Google search:

  • syllabus “publication name” / syllabus “publication name” ID, (like the ISBN or DOI)
  • “reading list” “publication name” / “reading list” ID
  • “course description” “publication name” /  “course description” ID

You can use many other synonyms but keep in mind that this can be very time consuming and use this strategy only if educational uptake is important for your work.

Another strategy to discover the use in education is using the Open Syllabus Explorer or Altmetric Explorer who tracks this source as well, and where mentions can be filters on syllabi. However, many syllabi are not available online.

Other kinds of educational related outputs are those that you specially created for your courses, varying from something as small as a class handout or image to something as large as a textbook or online course. If it’s available online, the strategy for discovering its use in someone else’s courses is similar to that for finding it in syllabi​.

When you uploaded educational related outputs to Zenodo or Figshare, you can use their usage indicators.

However, be cautious when using usage data, and only use them when they are exceptionally high which is often difficult to judge.

Powerpoint presentations

How to track references to your PowerPoint presentations

Google: “first few words of publication name” “first author last name” “publication year” filetype:ppt / filetype:pptm / filetype:pptx. However, references to the PowerPoints need to be checked manually for their actual educational use.

The main drawback of presentations is that many are also available in generic formats, such as PDF or HTML, and many others. It may not be practical to identify presentations in such formats.

SlideShare: the search bar at the top allows you to search for SlideShare presentations and users. When searching for a specific title, include quotation marks around your search terms, i.e. “Slideshare101”.  When looking at slide decks from others only views and likes are visible, but when logged in to your own account and clicking Slideshare Analytics, it discloses much more information on your uploaded presentations. Slideshare provides data on; when and from where you are getting views and downloads (geographical locations), comments, likes, emails and clicks on embedded links.

Open Educational Resources (OER)

A third kind of educational related outputs are Open Educational Resources. Using your OA-publication in a course you teach is one example, but an OER can be any type of educational material that you uploaded to an OER-platform with an open license. Many platforms also provide indicators, like views, downloads or comments that you could use if educational uptake is important for your work.

If you are using OER created by others you might specify this as well, as re-use of existing outputs is an Open Science effort.

For more guidance on creating OER and finding existing OER, visit Open Educational Resources on the University Library website.

When uploaded to Zenodo or Figshare, you can use their usage indicators.

However, be cautious when using usage data, and only use them when they are exceptionally high which is often difficult to judge.