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Educate for Diversity

Educate for Diversity Reinforce Map Skills

Reinforce Map Skills

Use the Scientific Method

Use the Scientific Method

Simulate Real-Life SituationsSimulate Real-Life Situations

Teach Data Analysis

Teach Data Analysis

Encourage Critical ThinkingEncourage Critical Thinking

Go on a Go on a

Scavenger HuntScavenger Hunt

Compare Compare CivilizationsCivilizations

Develop Develop Organizational Organizational

SkillsSkills

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Educate for Diversity Educate for Diversity Practice Map skillsPractice Map skills Use the Scientific MethodUse the Scientific Method Simulate Real-Life situationsSimulate Real-Life situations Teach Data AnalysisTeach Data Analysis

What do these activities have in common?What do these activities have in common?

They can all be done withThey can all be done with DATABASES. DATABASES.

Compare CivilizationsCompare CivilizationsGo on a Scavenger huntGo on a Scavenger huntEncourage Critical ThinkingEncourage Critical ThinkingDevelop Organizational SkillsDevelop Organizational Skills

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What is a Database?

Any collection of information,Any collection of information, such as a library card catalog, such as a library card catalog, student list, customer list, list of student list, customer list, list of presidents, or phone book.presidents, or phone book.

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A database is organized in records and fields

Example:Example: Database Title:Database Title: Endangered Species of Endangered Species of

PennsylvaniaPennsylvania Record:Record: King Rail King Rail Fields:Fields: Name, Type, Habitat, Status, Name, Type, Habitat, Status,

Reasons for Loss, Food, Management Reasons for Loss, Food, Management Strategies, Other Facts Strategies, Other Facts

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What Can a Database Do?Print Print a list or recorda list or recordSort Sort data by fielddata by field FilterFilter data using several fields or data using several fields or queriesqueriesCreate 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 business

datadata ( (including calculations)including calculations)

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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 Endangered Species (everything about Endangered Species of Pennsylvania, for example)of Pennsylvania, for example)

List – List – in columns, (part of all records in columns, (part of all records can be seen; scroll vertically and can be seen; scroll vertically and horizontally to see all data)horizontally to see all data)

Viewing A DatabaseViewing A Database

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L i s t V i e w

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Form View

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Organize or categorize informationOrganize or categorize informationSummarize what they have readSummarize what they have readDetermine important factsDetermine important factsProduce an esthetically pleasing formProduce an esthetically pleasing formDevelop a skill that is used in the Develop a skill that is used in the

business & scientific worldbusiness & scientific world

When students create or use a database they learn to…

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Sorting Sorting && Filtering Filtering databases teaches databases teaches students to…students to…

Find important cluesFind important cluesDevelop & use problem-solving skillsDevelop & use problem-solving skills Understand that different people organize Understand that different people organize

things in different waysthings in different waysType with accuracy Type with accuracy Understand how a computer worksUnderstand how a computer works

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Troubleshooting Errors in Using FiltersWhat if you get no answer or all records as an answer?1. Did you read the specialized directions that exist for that question?2. Make sure you are entering data in the criteria box in the correct field.3. Check spelling and use only the simplest form of the word (singular nouns, for example.4. Did you use asterisks (*) around the clue word in a text or memo field Example of correct usage: *PA* The database adds like “*PA*”7. If you got the message “The Expression you entered has an invalid string… you probably erased one of the quotation marks put in automatically by the database. 8. You may have criteria filled in for fields that do not show on the screen. Use the scroll bar to check all columns in the filter.

9. Always search twice and check with 2 other students. The correct answer may be zero.

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The curriculum-based The curriculum-based databases I will use next databases I will use next were created in Microsoft were created in Microsoft Access. I will be using Access. I will be using the advanced filter the advanced filter function to demonstrate function to demonstrate activities you can do activities you can do with students. These with students. These databases are some of the databases are some of the 16 databases included in 16 databases included in my recent book my recent book Database Database MagicMagic, an ISTE , an ISTE publicationpublication