Getting Started

Welcome to the Liaison Program

Complete these four steps to set up your workspace. Time needed: 15-20 minutes.

ImportantBefore You Begin

Make sure you have a reliable internet connection and about 500 MB of free disk space.

Step 1: Download Your Workspace

  1. Visit the Resources page
  2. Click Download Liaison_Vault.zip
  3. Extract the ZIP file to:
    • Windows: C:\Users\YourName\Documents\Liaison_Vault
    • Mac: ~/Documents/Liaison_Vault
    • Linux: ~/Documents/Liaison_Vault

Step 2: Install Obsidian

  1. Visit obsidian.md
  2. Download Obsidian for your operating system
  3. Install and open Obsidian
  4. Click “Open folder as vault”
  5. Navigate to your Liaison_Vault folder and select it

Your vault will open with folders, templates, and a start guide ready to go.

Step 3: Configure Obsidian

Once your vault is open:

  1. Click the Settings icon (gear, bottom left)
  2. Navigate to Files & Links
  3. Set Default location for new attachments to 04_Resources
  4. Close settings

This ensures images and PDFs are stored in the correct folder.

Step 4: Explore Your Workspace

Your vault is organized into six folders:

Folder Purpose What’s Inside
00_Inbox Quick notes & ideas Capture rough thoughts and discussion notes here
01_Journal Weekly reflections Sample journal entries showing the three thinking paths (Connector, Troubleshooter, Critic)
02_Literature Reading notes & course materials Includes textbook chapters and citation templates
03_Project Active research work Organized by prospectus, codebook, data, and drafts folders
04_Resources Media & attachments Images, PDFs, external files, and course materials
99_Templates Reusable templates Weekly journal template and data dictionary template to copy and customize

Step 5: You’re Ready!

Once you complete these steps, move to Phase I: The Journalist to begin.

Start Phase I →

Troubleshooting

Q: I extracted the ZIP file but Obsidian won’t open it as a vault - Make sure you’re opening the folder that contains the .obsidian hidden folder - Try right-clicking the folder and checking “Show hidden files” if needed

Q: Where do I put my weekly journal entries? - Create a new file in 01_Journal named something like Week_01_MyName.md - Copy the template from 99_Templates/Weekly_Journal_Template.md and fill it out

Q: Can I share my vault with classmates? - Yes! You can email them the ZIP file, or sync it via Git/GitHub for collaborative projects

Questions? Reach out via your course management system or check your course syllabus for contact information.