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What is a Database?

Any collection of related Any collection of related information, such as a information, such as a student list, list of suspected student list, list of suspected criminals, or a factory criminals, or a factory inventoryinventory

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Where are database most commonly used?

businesses businesses industryindustrygovernmentgovernmenteducational institutionseducational institutions

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How are database most commonly used?

Record keepingRecord keeping InventoryInventory Searching by use of the query for Searching by use of the query for

specific people, places, prices, etc.specific people, places, prices, etc. Creating specialized reports for clientsCreating specialized reports for clients

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What Can a Database Do? Sort Sort data by fielddata by field FilterFilter data using several fields (data using several fields (queriesqueries))

Create reportsCreate reports using using sortsort and/or and/or filterfilter functions to functions to analyze dataanalyze data ( (using calculations)using calculations)

Organize & summarizeOrganize & summarize scientificscientific & & business databusiness data ( (including calculations)including calculations)

Print Print a list or a recorda list or a record MergeMerge data into a word processor data into a word processor

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How is a database organized? In records and fields

Example:Example: Database Title:Database Title: The 50 States The 50 States Record:Record: Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania. Fields:Fields: Name, Capital, population, state Name, Capital, population, state

bird, state tree, state flower, famous bird, state tree, state flower, famous people, important dates, etc. people, important dates, etc.

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VIEWVIEW the database as a . . . the database as a . . .FormForm –view all data on one record –view all data on one record

(everything about PA, for example)(everything about PA, for example)List – List – in columns, (part of all in columns, (part of all

records can be seen; scroll vertically records can be seen; scroll vertically and horizontally to see all data)and horizontally to see all data)

Viewing A DatabaseViewing A Database

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Form View

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List View

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How can databases be used in the classroom?

Review for testsReview for testsScavenger huntsScavenger huntsProblem solvingProblem solvingData gathering and analysisData gathering and analysisCritical thinking skillsCritical thinking skillsSimulationsSimulations

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How can you use a database in your classroom?

Each student can create 1 record of a Each student can create 1 record of a database – data can be merged to create a database – data can be merged to create a database on a topicdatabase on a topic

Students can gather & analyze scientific Students can gather & analyze scientific data data

Teachers can create questions for students Teachers can create questions for students to answer & analyze on previously to answer & analyze on previously created databasescreated databases

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Example DatabasesDatabase Activity Subject

Diseases Diagnose patients health, science

GeographyScavenger Hunt, Map skills, Simulations, analysis

geography, health, math, government, foreign language

Book Logs

Create a database, Write summary of books read, Search merged databases to find book genres student wants to read, can be used as an on-going portfolio from grade 2 (teacher created database)

Reading, language arts

Gardeningplan a flower garden by color, size & season

Science or a club

Ancient History

Scavenger hunt, Analysis of various civilizations (Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Fertile Crescent)

Ancient History, math, architecture

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Database Activity Subject

Revolutionary War

Scavenger hunt, data gathering and analysis of famous people in the revolutionary war - graphing

American History, math

Civil WarScavenger hunt, data gathering &

analysis of famous people in the Civil war - graphing

American History, math

Black HistoryFact gathering on the history of

Famous Black Americans and their influence on the USA

History, Language Arts,

Current Events

Foreign Language

Culture

Create & use a picture database on the culture of French, Spanish, or German-speaking countries, see the sights, create a menu of ethnic food

Foreign Language classes,

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Endangered Species

gain knowledge of endangered species & analyze the reasons for their endangerment , Simulation: You are a conservationist, how will you help a species.

Life Science

Famous Women

gain knowledge of famous women in history,

History, Language Arts, Current Events

Explorersdiscover famous explorers – how did they

contribute to scientific knowledge?history ,

Web SitesCategorize web sites to be used with

students, etc.administrative

Database Activity Subject

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Database Activity Subject

Curriculum - Related Pictures

Teachers can create a database & categorize pictures to be used in various curriculum areas

administrative, presentations

Famous Inventors

discover famous inventors and what they invented, explore the concept “Necessity is the mother of invention.”

history, science

Famous Art analyze styles of art (picture database)art, history, math,

architecture