Online TutorialsBall State University Libraries
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Four tutorials are offered for credit; four "Online Exercises" for review contain highlights from the tutorials. Two offer the online WebCat searching and Fulltext Periodical Index searching. Two others offer the general Online Research tutorials for Search Strategy and Evaluating Resources. It is recommended that the former be done BEFORE classroom instruction, the latter AFTER it.
The screens are simple and uncluttered with examples taken from the library's online catalog and webspirs interface, but they may have to be changed if these are updated. The beige background may look unappealing to students, but it enables the screen shots and explanations to stand out better. Arrows and explanations indicate where to click to continue or where to fill in some text to continue. The latter feature provides a measure of interactivity for students and includes some useful diagrams for Boolean and subject searching.
There is a quiz after three of the tutorials to receive credit; each tutorial takes about 20 minutes. One must complete the tutorial to reach the quiz and one cannot leave and re-enter at the same spot. You must login to take the quiz, so it cannot be viewed by guests.
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OPAC |
Articles |
| A basic introduction to WebCat, the online catalog of the Ball State University Libraries, and is specific to their opac. | A basic introduction to Periodical Abstracts Fulltext, an online article database and is specific for their webspirs index. You may complete the quiz to receive credit. | |
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Search Strategy |
Evaluating Sources |
Online Exercises |
| This tutorial should be completed before you attend the library instruction session with your class. Covers basic search techniques for finding information in a wide variety of databases. Complete the quiz to receive credit. | This tutorial should be completed within a week after attending your library instruction session. Covers methods of evaluation for both print and electronic resources. Complete the quiz to receive credit. |
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| Research | |
| Understanding information needed | Yes |
| Narrowing research topic | Yes |
| Database definition | Yes |
| Catalog Searching | Yes |
| Article Searching | Yes |
| Keyword searching | Yes |
| Boolean searching | Yes |
| Controlled vocabulary | Yes |
| Primary vs. Secondary Resources | Yes |
| Scholarly vs. Popular Materials | Yes |
| Peer Review | No |
| Evaluating Sources | Yes |
| Locating Materials | Yes |
| Organization of Library Materials | Yes |
| LC Call Number System | No |
| Citing Sources | Yes |
| Plagiarism | No |
| Reference Resources | No |
| How to get Reference Help | No |
| Web Searching | |
| Understanding the Internet/Web (what it does and doesn't do) | Yes |
| Search Engines vs. Subject Directories | Yes |
| Evaluating Internet Resources | Yes |
| Web search operators (+/-) | No |
| Web vs. other resources (content) | Yes |
| Look | |
| Wordy vs. Terse | Generally terse |
| Use of Graphics | Yes, minimally for screen shots |
| Interactivity | |
| Passive vs. Active User | Yes - some |
| Ongoing Testing/Quiz | Yes |
| Navigation | |
| Clear vs. Confusing | Yes mostly clear |
| Technology | |
| Minimum Browser Requirements | Yes |
| Sound Card | No |
| Java | Yes |
| Shockwave | No |
| Assessment | |
| Pre-test | No |
| Post-test | Yes |
| Users Registered | Yes |
| Feedback | |
| Ongoing vs. At the end | Yes - ongoing and quiz at end for students |
| Printable Certificate | Quiz credit turned in to instructor |
| Credits | |
| In-house vs. licensed code | Not stated, there is a link for Credits, but there is no information. |