Teach Database Use
Students Need Exposure to the Basics of Databases
Databases have become an integral part of computer use. No matter which software is used, students need to understand the fundamentals of database use and creation.
Database is a word that crept into common usage with the World Wide Web’s increase in popularity. The benefits of using a database have also increased as society places more emphasis on the need for information. Databases have become so widely available that a fundamental understanding of their use, if not also their creation, is as necessary as learning to use a word processor or web browser.
What is a Database?
A database is an organized collection of information. It is similar to a library’s card catalog or a phone book. A database is designed in such a way that it is easy for a computer to quickly find information.
Databases are organized by fields, records and files. Imagine the entries in a phone book. A field is a category for one piece of information, such as a first name. A record is a complete collection of fields or the last name, first name, address, phone number, etc for one phone. A file would be the name given to the collection of all of the data, similar to a document file.
This is similar to collecting data in a spreadsheet. Set up the columns with titles for the fields and use one row for each record, then save the information in a file. The difference is that a spreadsheet becomes difficult to search when the spreadsheet exceeds hundreds or even millions of records. It is also difficult, if not impossible, to update all of the records at once, perform complex mathematical operations or cross-reference the data with other data or files.
Why Students Need Exposure
Open a web browser, go to any favorite search engine and type in some words. You are now using a multi-million entry database. Choosing what words to use is important; also important is understanding the options in an advanced search. Since search engines are designed as databases, knowing how databases retrieve data improves a student’s ability to find information.
Careers in database design and administration are abundant. Having a fundamental understanding about databases allows technology savvy students to make more informed decisions about their education after high school.
Even students with no desire to enter the technology field will likely use a database at work. Databases are used in almost any career that needs large amounts of data, from medical to supermarkets. Knowledge about databases prior to starting a career gives students a better understanding about how to organize and find information.
Software Choices
Perhaps the most overwhelming problem is not if you should learn to use a database, but which one to use. For schools, this choice becomes more challenging depending on what technology resources are available.
For a school using Microsoft Office there is Access, but not all installations include it so a licensing fee might be involved. Schools using freeware solutions might have OpenOffice.org, which includes a database feature called Base. Other popular software packages are Filemaker Pro and Alpha Five, both of which cost $200 or more per desktop.
No matter which one is used, the fundamentals are the same. Once a student understands how to enter and search data the skills can be transferred to any specific software solution.
