Title: Searching Online Databases

Status: Completed

Project Description: Common searching techniques which offer powerful tools for quickly and accurately broadening, narrowing, or refining your search on a computer database. Most online indexes and databases have at least some of these search options, but there are often differences in how to use them

Project Timeline:

December   3 :         Complete Boolean Logic (Kendall)
December 13 - 17 :         Complete Boolean Flash Piece (Rob)
December 13 - 17 :  Final Review of Text & Multimedia (Kendall & Rob)
December 20:           Finalize and Launch Module (All)
January 25:               Post and add to LoLa

Work in Progress: Click here to view module

Prototype Interactive Explanation (requires Flash plug-in):  Click here to view

• Define the difference between subject and keyword searching
• Identify proper usages of truncation
• Perform a efficient Boolean search using AND, OR and NOT
• List three ways to improve searching through the use of precision
• Compare and contrast Boolean vs. Phrase searching

Plan: The multimedia for this piece is a Boolean Searching activity that will visually demonstrate the concepts involved and discussed in the content. Along with being visually informative it will also allow for the user to be able to interact with the activity to practice any skills that were learned.

Applications: Flash

Development Notes: Proper Boolean logic is being planned out and documented by Kendall. Upon receipt Rob will implement the proper logic and after testing verifies correct logic. Kendall & Rob will create the script for explanation of the logic. Luis will record and edit the explanations and Allyn will digitize and deliver the compressed media.  (note: recording and digitization of the materials has been canceled and time has been placed elsewhere)

If you have any suggestions or ideas we are very interested in hearing from you.
Click here to let us know what you are thinking.

University of Connecticut Libraries - Information Literacy : Online Tutorials, Guides, and more

Cofrin Library :>Searching Online Databases Some Helpful Hints…

Diablo Valley College Library: Guidelines For Searching Online Databases

Author: Kendall Hobbs (khobbs@wesleyan.edu)

Editor: Mike Roy (mroy@wesleyan.edu)

Developer: Rob DeMeulemeester (rdemeulemees@wesleyan.edu)

We are very interested in any feedback that you are willing to provide to make our development better and more educationally sound. If you have any positive, negative or constructive feedback please let us know by completing and submitting the following form. We hope to hear from you and value your input.

The Information Literacy Development team is using a List Serve to communicate with all interested parties. If you are interested in being added to this list please click the following link and add your name to the list.