DatabasesDatabases

PGCE PrimaryPGCE Primary

School of EducationSchool of Education

University of SouthamptonUniversity of Southampton

DatabasesDatabases

A database is a collection of data, with A database is a collection of data, with common features – eg telephone directorycommon features – eg telephone directory

Two main characteristics, being Two main characteristics, being fieldsfields and and recordsrecords • data fields define the kind of informationdata fields define the kind of information• Records are distinct sets of informationRecords are distinct sets of information

Electronic databases have distinct Electronic databases have distinct advantages over paper based databases, advantages over paper based databases, being…being…

Power of electronic databasesPower of electronic databases

The ability to add and edit records The ability to add and edit records and data quicklyand data quickly

The ability to sort records by any The ability to sort records by any fieldfield

The ability to select specific kinds of The ability to select specific kinds of recordsrecords

The ability to turn opaque data into The ability to turn opaque data into understandable and useful understandable and useful information very quicklyinformation very quickly

4 records sorted by 4 records sorted by namename

namename Address 1Address 1 Address 2Address 2 mobilemobile

Anderson, JAnderson, J 32 Winton Road32 Winton Road DoncasterDoncaster 0795567855307955678553

Biggs, ABiggs, A 3 Acacia Close,3 Acacia Close, SwathlingSwathling 0792837465107928374651

Cratchett, DCratchett, D 32 Wheatlands32 Wheatlands Park GatePark Gate 0798877665807988776658

Davidson, PDavidson, P 43 London Road43 London Road SouthamptonSouthampton 0793355667207933556672

Four fields - name, street, town and mobile

4 of 20 records sorted by name, Anderson through to Davidson

4 records sorted by 4 records sorted by towntown

namename streetstreet towntown mobilemobile

Anderson, CAnderson, C 32 Winton Road32 Winton Road DoncasterDoncaster 0795567855307955678553

Felington, PFelington, P 327 Duke Lanes327 Duke Lanes EffingtonEffington 0796547665807965476658

Davids, RDavids, R 63 Kings Street63 Kings Street KingstonKingston 0793935297207939352972

King, AKing, A 32 The Row32 The Row LondonLondon 0792867677207928676772

Four fields - name, street, town and mobile

4 of 20 records sorted by town, Doncaster through London

SelectionSelection of Southampton Records of Southampton Records

namename streetstreet towntown mobilemobile

Davidson, PDavidson, P 43 London Road43 London Road SouthamptonSouthampton 0793355667207933556672

Levin, SLevin, S 63 Test Road63 Test Road SouthamptonSouthampton 0793217665807932176658

Unwin, PUnwin, P 34 The Avenue34 The Avenue SouthamptonSouthampton 0797766843107977668431

Four fields - name, street, town and mobile

Only the three Southampton records have been selected. They are sorted by name. Nested sorts are possible.

Examples of DatabasesExamples of Databases

Electronic directoriesElectronic directories• Email address book, browser history…Email address book, browser history…

Government dataGovernment data• National Insurance register, passport register, National Insurance register, passport register,

drivers licence register…drivers licence register… Student database of SUStudent database of SU Search Engine resultsSearch Engine results Web crawlers, collecting email addresses Web crawlers, collecting email addresses

and info re websites viewedand info re websites viewed

Children using databasesChildren using databases

Collections such asCollections such as• MusicMusic

Music Match, mp3 playersMusic Match, mp3 players

• StampsStamps• Directory of numbers on mobile Directory of numbers on mobile

telephones, handheld computers etctelephones, handheld computers etc• Search engine resultsSearch engine results

Database SoftwareDatabase Software

Flat, one dimensional such as Flat, one dimensional such as Pinpoint, RapidfilePinpoint, Rapidfile• See one set of data at a timeSee one set of data at a time• Simple and easy to useSimple and easy to use

Relational database like Access and Relational database like Access and other specialist softwareother specialist software• Linked data from a number of datasetsLinked data from a number of datasets

Eg – Govt registers linking tax, national Eg – Govt registers linking tax, national insurance, passport, driving licence and insurance, passport, driving licence and other dataother data

Making sense of opaque dataMaking sense of opaque data

Shells databaseShells database• What does this data mean?What does this data mean?• Can we turn it into useful information Can we turn it into useful information

that we can make sense of?that we can make sense of?• How?How?

Albany Graveyard DatabaseAlbany Graveyard Database• What sense can we make of this data? What sense can we make of this data?

What What questionsquestions can we ask of the date can we ask of the date to make sense of it?to make sense of it?

Albany graveyard DatabaseAlbany graveyard Database

Field work and data query of Albany graveyard data by schools in the Albany area of the Eastern Cape, SA

Issues to consider…Issues to consider…

DB’s powerful, but can be abused by DB’s powerful, but can be abused by compilerscompilers

What info requested, and what for?What info requested, and what for? Cost to the provider of data that can Cost to the provider of data that can

be ‘used’ against thembe ‘used’ against them• Papertrails, unsolicited mail, scams, Papertrails, unsolicited mail, scams,

popups, spam…popups, spam… Privacy of information issues… Privacy of information issues… 1984, 666…1984, 666…