One of the most important ways that we learn about information resources is by sharing knowledge and skill with professional colleagues. Workshops, tutorials, even word-of-mouth and let-me-show-you experiences can be very valuable in both directions, sometimes even more for the person doing the show-and-tell.
So for your first task, you are to identify a bibliographic database that you want to explore and explain to a professional colleague in a particular setting (academic/public/special library, for example, or some other environment you wish, but consult with me to be sure you’re on the right path).
Then you are to design a relatively quick but intensive demonstration of that tool’s capabilities and functionality by developing a complicated or involved professional-level search. This search could show off, for example, when you’d choose that database, term selection, search construction and formulation, additional/special/unique features of the tool, advanced search technique, and so on, appropriate to that audience.
The format or structure of what you design is up to you, and can be submitted to me in any manner so long as I can usefully evaluate it in less than 5 minutes (though there must be some sort of artifact, rather than conducted live or in person). Your work will be assessed on its thoroughness, appropriateness for the audience and tool, novelty, creativity, originality, and how well you demonstrate your own knowledge and facility with the tool, along with the overall quality of presentation.
This task is due at 8:30am on April 29. You may use this Catalyst dropbox for your submissions if you like.