Databases Organizing and Analyzing Information
Databases Organizing and Analyzing Information
Silvia Sowa
Blanca Luisa Mazariegos Chvez Licenciatura en Enseanza de Ingls con Especializacin en Tecnologa Educativa No. Carnet 6076-04-863 May 26, 2012
These methods for coping with the information glut might inform personal choices and actions. 1. Sample the available information resources. 2. Choose information that might serve their purposes 3. Construct and communicate useful insights and implications that result from using information. The Features and Functions of Database Tools: A database is a collection of related information or facts stored in a computer. Most programs allow users the database. Most programs allow users to retrieve reports and summaries of information. Database structure: Information in a data base is organized using files, records, fields, and data. Types of Databases There are three types of databases: Text based databases, hypermedia databases, and multimedia databases Text based databases. Text-based databases include only text information, letter and numbers. Hypermedia databases. Traditionally, databases have been a means of organizing text. In a hypermedia database, users can move about within the database environment without linear, sequential restrictions. Multimedia databases: Multimedia simply means any system that unites two or more media into a single product or presentation, can be a liner as a book.
Students-created databases: The advantage of student-created databases is that they allow students to practice their research skills and focus student attention on clearly identifying their information needs in relation to a particular problem. Teacher-crated databases: Using one of the many database programs, teachers can use flexibility of tool based database programs to create a database on any topic the wish. The advantage of teacher created databases is that students are asked to use a database that has been tailored specifically to fit their curriculum and covers exactly what need to be taught. Commercial Databases: Commercial databases are ones that a company has created and that teaches or school can buy for use in classroom. The advantage of using commercial databases is that the information is already there, often created in a way that will hold students attention and often more comprehensive and in depth than either teachers or students can or are willing to collect. On-line databases: Many databases can be accessed using the Internet. These databases are stored on a computer somewhere are called a sever and can be accessed by the computer and modem
LEARNING WITH DATBASES These skills include information-related task such as analyzing, observing, classifying, communicating, comparing and contrasting, defining, describing, evaluating, generalizing, inferring, i9nterpreting, and extrapolating. Process skills come to life when students use databases to discover commonalities and differences among groups of events or things, analyze relationships, look for trends, test and refine hypotheses, organize and the information, keep list up to date, and arrange information in useful ways. Databases and problem solving: Problem-solving skills associated with database use can be lower_ level, fairly mechanical skills or higher level activities that use database programs as Vehicles for thinking. Tools to explore and manipulate words, data, and ideas. Research on Learning with Databases: Databases seem to offer the most effective and meaningful help when they are embedded in a structures problem-solving process and when the activity includes class and small group discussion of search results. TEACHING WITH DATABASES Learning to use a database: The emphasis changes from the mechanics of the software to the search required to locate data to e entered into a database. Databases as an Integrate Learning Tool: In selecting authentic problems, educators should pick problems that are contemporary, nontrivial, and ral complex enough to engage students and amenable to concrete outcomes. Authentic
problems should derive from the ongoing curriculum of the classroom, not be artificially added to afford the use of database. A Clear Outcome/Product: The presentation of the results of the problems-solving activities may take many forms: When students solve problems, it is essential that they understand clearly the outcome or product is one that flows naturally from the problem. Mechanical Skills: Any database software package allows users to implement a number of functions and to implement a number of different queries. Proccess/Thinking Skills: As meta cognitive guides, teachers can model appropriate thinking process for students, showing students how information can be transformed in particular ways.