|
|
Teaching and Learning with Technology
|
Main Menu |
LOCATION: HOME PAGE: WHY DATABASES? Databases in CourseworkBelow are examples where databases were used not only to help students gain a deeper understanding of a discipline through research, but also provided content for future research. Sample Projects
Horticulture Plant Reference DatabaseThe Penn State Horticulture 131 class "Identification of Annuals and Herbaceous Perenials" includes a searchable database where students can look up individual plants by scientific name, common name, height, blooming period, color and growing conditions. Not only does this database provide a valuable review tool, but it allows students to begin learning the process of designing a garden based on desired colors and available growing conditions. Reference DatabasesSimilar reference databases can be used to provide searchable glossaries or a mini-encyclopedia for specialized topics. Additional Reference Databases
Local Slang DictionaryStudents in a U.C.L.A. linguistics class collected instances of slang they heard and compiled the result into a dictionary. More on U.C.L.A. Slang Dictionary Historical ArtifactsDatabases can also be used to archive other "local artifacts" or a collection of antiques or vintage items. Databases can incorporate photographic images, audio or video as needed. Other Cultural Databases
Nutrition Diet AnalysisStudents in the Penn State NUTR 100 course are first asked to enter sample data for the diet of a hypothetical college student, enter the data into a nutrition database (such as the Calorie King Database) and analyze how much of each nutrient is being ingested. Then they are asked to track their food intake for three days and enter the data into the nutrition database and analyze their own diet. Recording Field DataCourses which deal with collecting field data may find databases useful for recording and analyzing observations. Historical U.S. Census BrowserA University of Virginia service which allows users to download demographic from the U.S. Census from 1790 t0 1960. Data can be viewed on a dynamic map or in data tables. Viewing DatasetsThere are a variety of services which allow users to view or export demographic and historical data. These files are often made available as tab or comma delimited files which can then be imported into another database, spreadsheet or statistical analysis software. Other Sources for Datasets
Compile Online ResourcesStudents can gather a list of links for a topic or set of subtopics (similar to a critical bibliograph). In some cases, future courses can expand links or eliminate broken links. Citation Lists or BibliographiesStudents could also begin to compile bibliographies in a certain topic and enter them into a database. A second screen could be used by an instructor to approve or reject a listing. Collect Data for AnalysisMany science courses from the physical and social sciences ask students to collect data in spreadsheets for analysis. Data can be imported into other databases or statistical analysis packages. Next: Databases in Academic Research
|
