Virgil is a clear and simple tutorial which covers the basics of finding books and articles, and searching the Web.

The tutorial provides examples from the SUNY catalog, ProQuest Direct and HotBot. While the use of the catalog seems appropriate, the ProQuest and HotBot may be confusing to students, and not allow them to understand that there are other options for these kinds of searches.

Throughout each module are self-tests that provide an opportunity for ongoing active learning. Each module provides an opportunity to do a Portfolio Assignment with ones own research topic. These assignments may be printed and handed in to professors. There are no quizzes at the end of modules.

Much of the content of the tutorial is accessed through clicking highlighted terms and reading the information in pop-up boxes. While this allows for much less clutter on the page, and for students to choose which concepts they want to investigate. However, it may not be clear to students that they they should be clicking on the links. In addition the pop-up boxes can seem a bit confusing. A left-hand side navigation bar is always present, making moving to the next module simple.

In modules 3 (finding books) and 4 (finding articles) one clicks through a demonstration search, which is many screens long and thus somewhat balky and slow. In contrast, Javascript rollovers seem to be a more engaging and faster option.