What is Your Understanding of Databases? Give Examples of How You have used: Database and Advanced Spreadsheet for Business Assignment, IT Sligo

Lecture 1:

Introduction to Databases

Video giving an overview of how Databases exist in modern business and society. Get the class to share their experiences and understanding of Databases especially in the context of work (eg reservations DB, payroll systems, surveys, and questionnaires, etc).

Overview of the elements of a Database with a brief description of:

• Tables
• Relationships
• Queries
• Forms
• Reporting

Week 1 Reflection Exercise (final half-hour):

What is your understanding of Databases? Give examples of how you have used Databases in real life (work or home).

200-word individual work.

Lecture 2:

Tables – structure and data entry part 1

Work through the Pass IT MS Access Unit 3

Week 2 Reflection Exercise (final half-hour):

How are the tables constructed? What is the benefit of having well-structured tables?

200 words in individual work.

Lecture 3:

Tables – structure and data entry part 2 and Defining Relationships

Work through the Pass IT MS Access Unit 4 and 5 – extending to Defining Relationships

Week 3 Reflection Exercise (final half-hour):

How is data entered in an established Database table? What is the significance of creating relationships between tables to add an extra dimension to the data available?

200 words in individual work.

 Lecture 4:

Queries

Work through the Pass IT MS Access Unit 6 – 8 – developing the tables and relationships and extending them to Queries.

Week 4 Reflection Exercise (final half-hour):

What is the purpose of Queries in a Database model? How do they enhance the information already contained in tables to extend information derived from tables? 200 words in individual work.

 Lecture 5:

Forms and Reports

Work through the Pass IT MS Access Unit 9 – 13 – starting with Forms to ensure data can be collected in a user-friendly manner and then extending this concept to Reports and the outputs required of the Database.

Week 5 Reflection Exercise (final half-hour):

What are the benefits of Forms? How does the Reporting mechanism define the purpose of a Database? 200 words of individual work.

Assignment:

• By the end of this part of the module, each student should have a 1,000-word reflection piece incorporating the areas covered in the five weeks.

This will count towards 70% of the marks available.

• Additional piece (200 – 300 words):

Describe the way a private college may use a Database model like MS Access to manage its operations effectively.