Event Type
Lightning Talk
Description
Academic librarians spend a great deal of time teaching students how to use research databases to find business information, but the unfortunate reality is that students typically lose access to university subscription databases upon commencement. Without adequate training on reliable alternatives, new graduates can find themselves struggling to resolve their information needs as they transition into the business workplace.
To address this issue, the Business Librarian at Butler University Libraries created a Business Research Workshop (BRW) to teach students about open and public access resources for business information. What began a few years ago as a trial offering for five students has evolved into a regular workshop series that has been completed by over 100 Butler students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
The BRW is taught in a hybrid format of four sessions; two are conducted face-to-face in the classroom, and two are delivered through online modules on Butler’s learning management system. Training is focused on free and publicly accessible information resources, including government search portals, industry and trade sites, and public library offerings for the business community. Participants also learn about advanced Google search techniques for business research.
During a Lightning Talk, the Butler Business Librarian will describe the instructional design of the BRW, identify the open access resources workshop participants use to find reliable information, and provide examples of tutorials, worksheets, and other objects developed to assess learning and collect feedback.
Included in
When Databases are No Longer an Option: Teaching Students about Open Access Resources for Business Information
Academic librarians spend a great deal of time teaching students how to use research databases to find business information, but the unfortunate reality is that students typically lose access to university subscription databases upon commencement. Without adequate training on reliable alternatives, new graduates can find themselves struggling to resolve their information needs as they transition into the business workplace.
To address this issue, the Business Librarian at Butler University Libraries created a Business Research Workshop (BRW) to teach students about open and public access resources for business information. What began a few years ago as a trial offering for five students has evolved into a regular workshop series that has been completed by over 100 Butler students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
The BRW is taught in a hybrid format of four sessions; two are conducted face-to-face in the classroom, and two are delivered through online modules on Butler’s learning management system. Training is focused on free and publicly accessible information resources, including government search portals, industry and trade sites, and public library offerings for the business community. Participants also learn about advanced Google search techniques for business research.
During a Lightning Talk, the Butler Business Librarian will describe the instructional design of the BRW, identify the open access resources workshop participants use to find reliable information, and provide examples of tutorials, worksheets, and other objects developed to assess learning and collect feedback.