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Use this 4help form to request support from the Elements Team.
Whether you are new to Virginia Tech or just new to using Elements, the steps below will help you get oriented and saving time in the future!
The 5 steps below are recommended for all users to ensure Elements is working as efficiently as possible for you!
Eventually you will want or need to complete additional task, such as manually entering activities and exporting for Faculty Activity Reports. Explore the additional tabs/pages of this guide for guidance on those and other tasks.
Elements is designed to pull in data automatically. So before editing any settings or information, begin by reviewing what the system already has in it. Login with your VT credentials.
The tutorial below walks you through basic navigation in the Elements system.
Elements automatically searches for and pulls in scholarly works that appear to be yours. It then asks you to review what it found and confirm what is yours and what is not yours. To find your work it generates searches in different source databases (Scopus, Web of Science, etc.) using name variations and other affiliation details like 'Virginia' to search each source.
To get the best results and save time reviewing and approving works, you need to review and optimize the search settings to ensure it's finding all of your scholarly work possible, without also finding numerous works from other authors with a similar name.
The tutorial below walks you step-by-step through adjusting your name-based search settings in Elements.
If you have a common last name, this may be tricky and we are happy to provide guidance. Contact us at experts@vt.edu.
Elements also automatically pulls in scholarly works from several other systems that are associated with a specific author ID (ORCID, Scopus ID, etc.). Once you set up auto claiming, you have no additional steps to take, scholarly works associated with those IDs are automatically added to Elements.
You will need to manually enter activities that aren't imported from other systems. It's important to understand how data is exported before manually adding content to ensure it exports correctly for FARs and other reports. Click through the instructions below to see how the system works.
Your Profile allows you to share details about yourself and your work that isn't easily conveyed in lists of articles, grants, classes, etc. In your Profile you can include contact information, academic and non-academic experience, education, links to websites and other profiles, and written descriptions of your work.
When you view your profile, make sure you are in Edit Mode (1) in order to be able to adjust content. Items that are editable in Elements will have a button to Add (2). Other items, like those in the About section (3) allow you to edit directly. Be sure to click the 'Save' button (4) after you make any changes.
Now that your information is accurate in Elements, share it publicly on Virginia Tech Experts. Sharing publicly increases the chances others will find your work, which means more citations, more potential for exciting collaboration, and more chance of your work reaching those it impacts most.
You decide how much is shared!
