Databases

Tools for Organizing:

Databases

Data is worthless without organization. Database software can help you organize and analyzing information.

Explore topics for database projects.
Database Background
The Basics

File
Record
Field
Sort by field
Organize by record or report
Examples: book file, recipe file
Example: Wildflowers - common name, scientific name, family, location, habitat, range, date, color, size

Information

Enter
Store
Sort
Search
Select
Retrieve
Organize
Print

The Classics

1st: pets
2nd: animals
3rd: presidents
4th: states
5th: countries
6th: inventors
7th: civilizations
8th: businesses
9th: careers
10th: govt
11th: colleges
12th: budget

The Software

Integrated Packages
- Microsoft Works, ClarisWorks
- ClarisWorks for Kids
Single Applications
- Microsoft Access, Filemaker
Make It Work
- Word, Excel

Time Gobblers

Locating info sources
Collecting data
Creating categories
Entering data
Formulating questions

Database Strategies

Query existing database
Complete existing database
Adapt existing database
Create database
Shared database
Extrapolate from database
Jonassen

Existing Databases

CD-ROM
- general
- subject specific

Do It!

Information

Resources

Explore Internet resources that contain useful information for developing database projects.

Starting Point: http://nilesonline.com/data/

Immigration Stats: http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/stats

FAA: http://nasdac.faa.gov/internet

Food Safety: http://www.foodsafety.org

Earthquakes: http://smdb.crustal.ucsb.edu

Find a Grave: http://findagrave.com

Sea Temperatures: http://dcz.gso.uri.edu/auhrr-archive/archive.html

Bach: http://www.jsbach.org

Ecology: http://alienexplorer.com/ecology/Ecology.html

Classics: http://classics.mit.edu

Countries: http://www.un.org/pubs/CyberSchoolBus/Infonation/e-infonation.htm

History: http://www.hyperhistory.com
Database Development
Skills at All Levels

Development: students need to find meaning
Manipulation: students need time to explore
Interpretation: students need to think & decide

PreDevelopment

More than "countries"
Problem ID: economics or travel
Problem Analysis: GNP or vacation
Info ID: birthrate or weather

Form Questions

Economics, ask about countries:
- life expectancy >65
- high birthrate
- high literacy rate & lots of tech
- high GNP
Travel, ask about countries:
- Spanish speaking
- Warm in winter, by the ocean

Development

Locating: Where can I find info?
Selecting: What do I need?
Retrieving: What does it say?
Evaluating: What's important?
Synthesizing: Who cares?
Summarizing: Who needs to know?

Countries

Name
Population
Popuation density /sq.mile
Infant mortality /1000
Birthrate & Life expectancy
GNP $billions & level of tech
Income
Literacy rate

Troubleshooting

Select a reasonable topic
Brainstorm categories as a class
Examine sample information
Try out the fields
Combine & eliminate fields
Keep in mind: purpose/sortability

Consistency

Units...........miles/kilometers
Terms.........hot, warm, mild
Names.........last, first
Article.........a, an, the
Decimals.....1.3 mil, 1300000
Symbols......5 cents, $.05
Dates..........Feb 1 1965, 2/1/65
Notation......per 1000, or 1

Don't get confused

Label carefully
- population, population density
Average numbers
- male/female life expectancy
Compare like figures
- 3 in 4, 75%, a majority

Data Entry Problems

Data entry accuracy
- misspellings
- misplaced decimals
- notation
- matched numbers - miles/kilo
Ideas
- guidelines
- peer proofing

Designing Layouts

Layouts for purposes
- data entry
- forms & reports
- columns
Lots of white space
Logical organization
- like information together

Incorporate Pictures

Clip art
Photographs
Scanned images
Line drawings
Example: Sign Language

Info Collections

Maintain a list of sources
Keep notes
Stress importance of accuracy
- copyright date of materials
- census years
- time of day
Use peer proofing
- coffee, cofe, coffy

Search Strategies

Brainstorm questions
Select a questions
Identify fields of information
Identify keywords for search
Conduct searches
Evaluate results

Analysis Ideas

Study relationships
Low level
How many agricultural inventions were before 1900?
High level
Is there a relationship between time perdiods and types of inventions produced? What and why?

States

Name
Size - sq miles
Nickname
Population
Abbreviation
# of reps
Capital
Statehood date
Flower
Known for
Bird
Terrain
Bordering states

Analysis Concerns

Build level of difficulty
Practice questions: list the state bird
High-level questions
- compare state square miles & population

States

Problem 1
What states entered the union before the 20th century?
Problem 2
You found a treasure map without a state name. All it says is "The Grand Canyon State" and it looks like an area with deserts.

Practice Strategies

What did dinosaurs who lived in water have in common?
Category: habitat
Search term: equals
Keyword or phrase: water

More Strategy

What did dinosaurs who lived on land and had claws differ from
- habitat contains land
- AND claws equals yes
… those who lived in water and did not have claws?
- habitat contains water
- AND claws equals no

Think Questions

Where is the…?
- fat, gold, space, money
What's the impact of…?
- people, fertilizer, adjectives
What's the cause of…?
- war, climate, pollution, mystery
What happens when you…
- heat, freeze, kill, protect…

DB Issues

Age appropriateness
Topic appropriateness
Data conducive to management

Database Topics
First Day Back

Food
Chores
School likes
School dislikes
Movie
TV

Today

Phases of the moon
This year in history
Famous births & deaths
Weather forecast vs actual
Farmer's Almanac

Current Events

Log for the year/semester
Choose most important events
Event
Date
Topic
Level of impact: global, local
Summary
Citation
Student

http://www.yahooligans.com/content/news
http://www.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/index.htm
Lunchroom Food

Purchased
Liked
Best part
Worst part
What eaten
What tossed

Holidays

Name
Dates
First celebrated
Country of origin
Changes in holiday
Foods
Traditions & clothing
Songs

Entertainment

Show
Length
Type
Actors
Violence rating
Comments
Overall rating

Journaling

Date
What I knew before
What I need to know
What I found out

Books

Title
Author
Illustrator
Type
Rating
Summary

People

Authors
Composers
Scientists
Presidents
Entertainers
Careers

Poems

Title
Poet
Dates
Form
Theme
Tone
Subject
Sound devices
Rhyme scheme
Symbolism

Quotes

Quotation
Person
Theme

http://www.cc.columbia.edu/acis/barteby/bartlett
http://www.bemorecreative.com/
Oral History

Name
Memory Date
Memory Topic
Summary
Narrative
Audio/Video

Consumer Report

Name of item
Type of item
Specifications
Cost
Rating System

http://www.consumerreports.org
Careers

Career
Field
Special skills
Talents
Special training
Special knowledge
Minimum education
Opportunities
Job description
Salaries

Famous Expeditions

Type of Expedition
Size of expedition
Length of time
Distance
Mode of travel
Dates
Death toll
Historic goals & implications

http://tqjunior.advanced.org/4034
http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/educate/explore.htm
Native Americans

Tribe
Linguistic family
Clothing
Date described
Religion
Region
Population
States
Type of work
Type of land
Famous leaders
Sample foods
Dates
Shelter
Traditions

Inventors

Name
Gender
Race
Date of birth
Invention
Date of death
Date
Schooling
Original cost
Field of study
Current cost
Area of technology
Others

Transportation

Name
Time period
General type (air, water, land)
Method of locomotion
Number of wheels
Number of occupants
Cost
Speed

Travel Agency

Country
Continent
Sights
Capital
Best known for
Language
Currency unit
High season
Low season
Area
Climate
Cost
Terrain
Other

Collect Labels

Scan labels
Where in US or the world?
What or who produces?

Math

Function
Type
Name
Graph
Inverse
Domain
Range
Cells

Cell type

Location
Function
Shape
Tissue Systems
Related disease
Specialization
Growth

Volcanoes

Volcano
Location
Size
Active?
Last eruption
Worst eruption
Picture
Map

Prehistoric Creatures

Name
Length
Foods
Weight
Time period
Enemies
Friends
Special abilities or characteristics

Insect

Name
Color
Friends
Enemies
Fly (yes/no)
Number of Wings
Number of Legs

Pets

Name
Family
Physical appearance
Size
Food
Home
Care rating

Plant Nursery

Type of plant
Amount of sun needed
Amount of water needed
Temperature around plant
Special care
Symptoms of problems
Size of leaves

Pond life

Name
Length
Color
Shape
Eyes
Appendages
Life type (plant, animal)

Weather

Temperature
Barometric pressure
Cloud cover
Types of clouds
Wind speed
Wind direction
Type of precipitation
Amount of precipitation

Zoo Animals

Name
Animal family
Diet
Habits
Reproduction
Animal behavior: in zoo, out of zoo

http://www.lpzoo.com/animals/mammals/mammalist.html
Seeds

Name
Size
Shape
Color
Method of dispersal
Picture of seed
Picture of plant

Poison

Poison
Common Source
Symptoms
Emergency Procedure
Prevention

http://www.njpies/index.htm
http://www.chp.edu
Nutrition

Food name
Food group
Meal
Basic nutritional info
Calories per serving
Serving size
Popularity rating
Warning rating

Issues Debate

Debate database
- questions and answers
- points & counterpoints
Steroids, Supplements

http://www.gallup.com/index.html
Fitness

Sport
Individual or team
Number of players
Skill required
Equipment/materials
Professional salary
Date of invention
Season

Database Challenge

Select a relevant topic or problem
Provide sources of information
Brainstorm high & low level questions


Do It!

Create a Database

Create a database file in Microsoft Access:

Discuss a research topic and questions.

Brainstorm categories for your topic.

Enter the categories.

Enter sample data for five records.

Try a search using a sample research question.

Share and discuss your progress.

Complete the database

Analyze the results.

Draw conclusions.

Need ideas? Try the data in the following sites:

Animals: http://www.lpzoo.com/animals/mammals/mammalist.html

Quotes: http://www.bemorecreative.com/

News: http://cnn.com

Weather: http://weather.com

Developed by Annette Lamb, 7/99.