FYS Library Instruction: BTF101 Business & Tech. FYS

Optional assignment: 

BTF 101 - Business

Activity: Profiling the Global Impact of a Company

Location: Computer Lab during Studio Hour

Introduction:

Searching for information is often nonlinear and iterative, requiring the evaluation of a range of information sources and the mental flexibility to pursue alternate avenues as new understanding develops. Business research frequently relies on using often-expensive information products to gain or protect some sort of market advantage or position. This lesson will introduce students to the idea that information is a valuable and essential tool for solving business problems.

This session will result in students gaining hands-on experience using business research tools, with students focusing on locating an article with a business perspective about sweatshops. Students will learn the process of using specific business research tools for specific kinds of research, mirroring the type of work they will be expected to perform as part of the workforce.

Slides available here: goo.gl/vvnYAn

1. Review agenda.(2 minutes)

2. Think/pair/share: What makes information valuable to people working in the business world? Encourage students to think about things like market research and competitive intelligence, where scarcity and exclusivity might add value. Ask students to consider the research they might do to launch a business or a new product. Discuss how these parameters might also apply to academic research. (5 minutes)

3. Go through slides, introducing the different types of business information:

   • Popular
   • Trade/Industry
   • Directory
   • Scholarly

Discuss the value of each format of information. Ask students to consider the date the article was published (recent news or historical - both might be relevant). Highlight that the goal for today is to find one popular or scholarly article about sweatshops; this article will be necessary to complete their assignment the following week.  (8 minutes)

4. Briefly introduce Business Source Complete as a database that can be used to find all four types of information (popular, scholarly, trade/industry, directories). Today students will be focusing on popular and scholarly sources about sweatshops. Go through some search strategies: use AND to connect ideas, read keywords, and pay attention to the publication title and type. (5 minutes)

5. Start with a search for sweatshops. Show how to pull out different aspects of the topic using keywords. You might also do a directory search or pull up articles about companies mentioned to contextualize the article. (5 minutes)

6. Have students email or save the article they found. (25 minutes)

Homework / ePortfolio Assignment:

This page exists in every students' ePortfolio (under College Connections). You can use this to show them the Library's presence in ePortfolio.