RDMLA: free training course for librarians now offers the opportunity to earn CE credits

Does the term research data management intrigue you? Do you want to deepen your engagement with the research lifecycle of your institution? Do you want to refresh or learn data management skills? If you answered yes to any of these questions, the Research Data Management Librarian Academy (RDMLA) is for you!

In October 2019, RDMLA, a free, global online professional development program designed by librarians for librarians and information professionals was launched

The RDMLA consists of eight self-paced, asynchronous units that focus on the knowledge and skills needed to collaborate with researchers and other stakeholders on data management. The content has been thoughtfully designed to be practical and easily applied to a librarian’s daily data management workflow.

The eight units include:

• Foundations of Research Data Management (RDM)

• Navigating Research Culture

• Advocating for RDM in Libraries

• Launching Data Services

• Project Management and Assessment

• Data Analysis and Visualization Tools (R and Tableau)

• Overview of Coding Tools (Python and Jupyter Notebooks)

• Overview of Platform Tools (OSF, Figshare, Mendeley Data opens in new tab/window, and others)

The RDMLA curriculum is based on an extensive needs-assessment and existing training inventory survey. In a continued commitment to bridging learning gaps, three additional units – data copyright, data ethics, and data curation - are under development. While the course is currently available to English-speaking individuals, there are future plans to provide translated versions to serve a broader audience.

In February 2020, the RDMLA partnered with the School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) at Simmons University to offer continuing education (CE) credits to interested learners!

The optional CE credits assessment test is available to those who have completed the entirety of the RDMLA course and have paid the $100 USD CE administrative fee. Learners will have two attempts to achieve a passing grade to earn three CE credits in the subject of research data management. Successful test-takers will receive a certificate from Simmons SLIS recognizing their CE credits.

The leadership and faculty of the RDMLA is a unique partnership and collaboration between a library and information science academic program, six academic health sciences and research libraries, and an information analytics company – with Elsevier funding the program. The co-leaders are Elaine Martin, MLS, DA, Director and Chief Administrative Office, Countway Library, Harvard Medical School, and Rong Tang, Ph.D., Associate Professor, School of Library and Information Science, Simmons University.

With over 3,451 active learners from 130 countries, the RDMLA is already making an impact in meeting the needs of its community.

Don’t delay, visit the RDMLA opens in new tab/window website and take a few moments to explore what the big fuss is about!

Would you like an RDMLA poster to share with your colleagues?

You can download one here  opens in new tab/windowtoday!