Appy Hour: Health Sciences Professionals Learn About Apps

Abstract

Appy Hour is a recurring event hosted by an academic health sciences library featuring apps that are informally presented and demonstrated by invited speakers. The audience is encouraged to ask questions during the presentation of the featured app(s). This event provides learning and networking opportunities for health sciences faculty, staff, students, and health care professionals. This article illustrates the process for hosting the event, shares lessons learned, and discusses possible future directions to gain a wider audience.

Health Sciences Librarians’ Instructional Engagement in Continuing Education: A Scoping Review

“…As part of the discussion surrounding purposeful instruction, Lauseng et al’s recent scoping review of health informatics training conducted by libraries or librarians included practicing HCPs in their data, and within their conclusions they noted that the “paucity of included studies and activities demonstrates the need for more libraries to report on these educational activities, with sufficient details on the interventions and evaluation” [ 5 ]. While that review excluded evidence of teaching on “bioinformatics, data management or data science, literature/database searching, evidence-based practice, or general mobile apps” [ 5 ], other literature demonstrates that these topics are being taught by HSLs in a CE context [ 6 – 9 ]. There is also evidence that chronicles the more intricate nuances of HSL instruction to practicing HCPs, such as unconventional settings [ 10 ], a pilot project where measurable objectives were employed [ 11 ], or librarians’ considerations for how to ensure their teaching was suited to the online environment [ 12 ].…”