Mendeley
What is Mendeley
Mendeley is a desktop and web-based program for managing, sharing, reading, annotating, and citing references.
What is the purpose of Mendeley
Mendeley allows you to create a personal library of citations for managing, reading, annotating, reading, and citing digital works such as journal articles, books, reports, articles, and more.
How to use Mendeley
To get started, you’ll need to create an account with Mendeley. An account can then be used to access your library through Mendeley Desktop, Mendeley Web, or through a mobile app for iOS or Android. Within an account, users can save citations, access PDFs and make annotations, or use a citation manager for inserting citations into written works. Folders can be created to better organize the user’s library. Group features allow for private, public, or by-invitation groups for sharing their work in Mendeley with others.
Where to find Support
This tool is not centrally supported
Help and Documentation
For help, please refer to the Mendeley documentation
Tool Evaluation
Functionality
| Rating | Rationale |
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ScaleEach user creates their own account with Mendeley so the tool can be scaled to accommodate any class size. Groups can be created for courses or for smaller course sub-groups/communities of practice. With a free account, 5 private groups can be created. Private groups have a collaborator limit of 25, public or invite-only groups allow for unlimited members. |
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Ease of UseMendeley has a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate and personalize |
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Tech Support/Help AvailabilityTechnical support and help documentation is available in the form of web pages or videos |
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HypermedialityMendeley enables users to engage in various forms of media related to their saved entries including metadata, notes, PDF storage and markup functions |
Accessibility
| Rating | Rationale |
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AODA FriendlyMendeley has some limited capacity to be fully accessible for users or for materials to be made AODA-friendly. The tool is not compatible with screen readers and there is little documentation on the tool’s compatibility with accessibility standards |
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User-focused participationMendeley has some limited capacity to address the needs of diverse users, their various literacies, and capabilities |
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Required EquipmentProper use of Mendeley does not require equipment other than a computer and access to the internet |
Technical
| Rating | Rationale |
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OWL IntegrationPublic group pages can be embedded in OWL while personal accounts or private group pages cannot. A link to Mendeley login could be provided. |
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Operating SystemsMendeley desktop is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. See What browsers and operating systems are supported for Mendeley products? |
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Web BrowserUsers can effectively utilize the tool with any standard, up-to-date web browser (i.e. Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer 10 etc.). See What browsers and operating systems are supported for Mendeley products? |
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Additional Tech RequirementsMendeley Desktop requires a software download from the internet, however, desktop download is not required for effective use of Mendeley Web. |
Mobile Design
| Rating | Rationale |
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Mobile Operating SystemsMendeley Desktop and Web full functional versions of Mendeley for accessing accounts across various devices (mainly desktops and laptops). A Mendeley app is available for iOS and Android devices for access on mobile devices (e.g. tablets, smart phones) |
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Mobile FunctionalityThere is little to no functional difference between Mendeley Desktop/Web and the mobile app. New citations can be added via the app but can only be done manually rather than through an automated plugin, as is supported by Desktop/Web |
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Offline AccessThe platform can be used offline, maintaining tools and learning content |
Usage and Account Set Up
| Rating | Rationale |
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Sign Up/Sign InAll users (instructors and students) must create an external account or additional login, and/or personal information is collected and shared |
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Cost of UseLimited aspects of the tool can be used for free with other elements requiring payment of a fee, membership, or subscription. See What do I get with a free Mendeley account? Paid accounts allow for more storage. |
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Archiving, Saving, and Exporting DataUsers can archive, save, or import and export content or activity data in a variety of formats |
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Data Privacy and OwnershipUsers maintain ownership and copyright of their intellectual property/data; the user can keep data private and decide if/how data is to be shared. See section on Content provided to us or posted on or through the service in the Terms and Conditions |
Social Presence
| Rating | Rationale |
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CollaborationThe Groups features of Mendeley allow for support a community of learning through asynchronous but not synchronous opportunities for communication, interactivity, and transfer of meaning between users |
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User AccountabilityInstructors cannot control student anonymity as students can create anonymized account IDs, but the tool provides some solution for holding students accountable for their actions. In group arrangements, admin accounts can delete comments made by others. |
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DiffusionStudent familiarity with the tool is likely mixed, some will lack basic technical competence with its functions |
Instructor Presence
| Rating | Rationale |
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FacilitationThe Groups features of Mendeley offer some capability to effectively support an instructor’s facilitation of student learning via active management, monitoring, and engagement |
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CustomizationLimited aspects of the tool can be customized to suit the classroom context and learning outcomes |
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Learning AnalyticsMendeley is not designed to support the collection of learning analytics |
Cognitive Presence
| Rating | Rationale |
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Enhancement of Cognitive Task(s)Given the way Mendeley supports curation, annotation, and citation of academic sources, the tool may enable functional improvement to engagement in the targeted cognitive task(s) |
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Higher Order ThinkingGiven the way Mendeley supports curation, annotation, and citation of academic sources, the tool may support students to engage in higher order thinking skills like analysis |
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Feedback on LearningMendeley is not designed to provide students with feedback on learning, however opportunities for receiving formative feedback may be possible through Group features. |
Security and Privacy
This tool has not been formally reviewed by Western’s Technology Risk Assessment Committee
Security and Privacy Flags
Accounts
- Users are required to create and use a non-Western account. It is highly recommended that users do not use the same username and password that is in use at Western.
Information Collection
- Application collects information that could identify the user specifically (email address, class schedule, etc..)
- Application collects information that is confidential (physical address, drivers licence number, health card number, social insurance number)
- This application may use profile information and/or provided data for marketing purposes
EULA
- Acceptance of the Application's Terms of Conditions or End User License Agreement may bind the institution to an agreement thereby requiring legal counsel to review the application contract.
Cost and Approval
- The application may require the instructor to enter credit card information
- The application may require students to enter credit card information
Integration
- This application is hosted outside of Canada
Last Updated: January 21, 2020
Rubric
The eLearning Toolkit Evaluations are made available under the terms of the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence
Feedback
Leave feedback to comment or request that the tool be re-reviewed
Topic at a Glance
Mendeley is a reference management tool that allows users to create and manage libraries of cited works through desktop, web-based, and mobile apps.
