JISC

Start date: 1 May 2000

End date: 31 October 2001

Funding programme: Learning and Teaching (5/99) programme

Project website: http://www.mimas.ac.uk/crossfire/firepower/

The Beilstein CrossFire service, hosted by the JISC-funded dataservice MIMAS, provides the UK academic community with access to one of the world’s largest and most valuable collections of chemical data. The database is used in many chemical, pharmaceutical and related industries, as well as by academic researchers, and it is therefore important that chemistry and related undergraduates and postgraduates receive adequate training in its use. The CrossFire system contains linked information on chemical structures, reactions and research literature. It is unlike many other resources in that an understanding of the subject material is required to enable effective information retrieval and hence it is not always possible for library staff to train users adequately in its usage. Easily deployable, flexible training materials at an appropriate level for undergraduates as well as postgraduates are therefore required.

Aims and Objectives

The aims of the project are to:

• Increase students’ effective use of the Beilstein CrossFire service by providing self paced learning material
• Facilitate the introduction of the use of the Beilstein CrossFire system into undergraduate and postgraduate chemistry and related courses

Project design

The project involves identifying the requirements of the user community to enable development of appropriate learning materials and locating suitable software products for their production. Consultation will take place throughout the project with the Chemistry Department at UMIST. The library perspective on the project will be covered through consultation with the John Rylands University Library of Manchester and UMIST Library.

Outcomes

The key outcomes of the project will be a set of learning and teaching materials for Beilstein CrossFire, including Web-based self paced learning courses and teaching modules for incorporation into existing courses. In addition, the results of the user requirements survey will be made available.