What Is a Database? - Introduction

Introduction | Prep | Presentation | Activity 1 | Activity 2

Topic

The huge range and variety of databases - a primary pathway into research - and how to make best use of them.

What you will learn:

  • Major interdisciplinary search engines
  • Why you can’t search in just one place
  • A framework for quickly understanding a database’s strengths and weaknesses

This module will prepare you for:

  • When you need to confirm you’ve found everything
  • Expanding your research beyond the usual or typical
  • Moving to a new academic institution

Table of contents

  1. Prep - Learn about 5 major search engines (15 minutes)
  2. Presentation - Read or listen to 4 presentations about Databases (1 hour - Google Slides)
  3. Activity 1 - Explore and compare library catalogs (30 minutes)
  4. Activity 2 - Follow a citation from paper to screen (20 minutes)

Introduction | Prep | Presentation | Activity 1 | Activity 2