Chapter 3 Reflections

Fun with Databases?

Well, I know some people don't enjoy a good database as much as I do but this chapter clarified a couple of minor points which I never got in a semester of "Access" training or playing with them ever since. The psychology of putting the database together is intriguing. To paraphrase greatly, the process of creating a grid of information is far more powerful than memorizing a grid. Makes sense. How come no one told me that before? I might have figured it out on my own if I'd taken the time.

Unfortunately, the main challenge with databases is time - as usual. The last time I tried to use a database in a class, I was totally out of control busy with questions about how to make them work. I found easier ways to get the mechanics across, but it still took a lot of time I ended up using for other things in later courses. For simple items like address books they are easy. Show the kids how to address a letter with the fields and they are fascinated with how easy it is to generate their own "junk mail". Okay kiddies, we're out of time, we need to move on to...

I liked the bit about organizing stories. Now that I see the psychology behind it, it makes sense. This process forces the student to really process the work. I think the software we used in class would make this fairly simple. Creating fields is less of a chore etc. than a more traditional database. However, when the kids get to actually comparing data, flipping between forms, lists, reports and queries, there will be a certain amount of confusion no matter how good the students are with computers. My own opinion is that this will lose some kids, while others will get it and fight on. I saw a glimpse of that in the adult students in our class, though our motivations differed and all persevered.

I think for most applications, in a social studies setting anyway, the computation, graphing and relative ease of a spreadsheet will be what I use with students. Perhaps collaborative efforts with databases and large quantities of data will make sense at some point when time is less of a factor. I'm still intrigued with the psychology, so maybe something simple down the road with economic data or population stats. Maybe combining the two...

BC