Technological innovation has revolutionized library and information systems, opening a whole new world of research possibilities for debaters.  Students at the Michigan Debate Institutes can take advantage of the unparalleled resources of the University of Michigan, one of the nation's leaders in integrating computing technology with education and research.  These resources are coupled with a special curriculum designed to help debaters who possess basic or advanced computing experience develop and apply their skills.
 

Computer Access

Debate Institute participants have complete access to the largest University based personal computer system in the United States.  Nineteen computing sites across campus offer 24 hour access to Michigan's computing resources.  These include computing centers at the Shapiro Undergraduate Library, as well as the 15,000 square foot Angell Hall computing site with over 250 computers, which is a short walk from the Residence Hall.  Students receive a special lecture and hands-on classes designed to help them take advantage of these unique resources.  Institute students have access to all University support services, including consultants at each computing center as well as a 24 hour computer consultant hotline.
 

Computer Database Instruction

Michigan Workshop students receive special instructional classes which teach them basic and advanced research strategies using computer based indices for library research. The classes are designed by University of Michigan librarians and our faculty, specifically for our students' needs.  Now available to students in Michigan's computerized indices are:  the Michigan Central Card Catalogue, the Wilson Index to Journal Articles, the PsychINFO Database, the Public Affairs Information Service, the National Newspaper Index, and others.
 

Internet Instruction

In addition to regular library indices, all library terminals as well as all computers in the computing sites offer complete access to the resources available on the internet.  Available on the world wide web are updated Congressional documents and the Congressional Record, a full-text searchable database of Supreme Court decisions, newswire service publications, and information published by interest groups. Also now available is a new index called "Legislate" that allows keyword, author and subject searches of government documents.

Lexis-Nexis Universe

IAll students have full access to the University of Michigan's resource of Lexis-Nexis Universe, which allows users to conduct text-searches in thousands of journal and newspaper articles and documents.  Students are instructed in the use of this resource through lectures and a hands-on workshop.