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Using Computer Databases In The Classroom

What's All the Hype?

In the last ten years, there has been a tremendous shift in the way business is conducted both on-line and off-line. To some extent, software has had an impact on the velocity and quality output of the products and services by the top companies. It seems that today's marketplace is driven by software. As of late, domestic and international business has become more of a science than an art. This is driven by database software.

Ranging in complexity from a simple list of phone numbers to the genotypic traits of all the organ donors in North America, databases are unchallenged for the storage and/or retrieval of comparative information. You have used a database to some extent and probably have not even known it. Have you ever signed up for a web-based email account? Or, do you have color settings on your MSN, Excite, Netscape? Well, then, you used a database! Have you received junk mail either as electronic or snail mail? In this case, you were a victim of a database. Do you receive product recommendations from companies you have made past purchases with? Or, have you ever used a search engine of any kind? Then you, too, have used a database.

Many IT industry analysts have indicated that the number one business software application used by companies as a whole is database software. How do you think your student's report cards get mailed home so quickly? Yes, database use is just as prevalent at schools, but mostly at the administration level.

This tutorial will discuss the use of databases in the classroom. We'll give you a few examples of how to use them and also talk about top database applications like Microsoft Access.

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