PGCE Computer Science/ICT
Progression in Databases
Alex Hadwen-Bennett
Learning Objectives
You should understand the content that needs to be delivered
in the area of databases at KS3, KS4 and KS5.
You should be able to identify key terms and concepts in this
topics.
You should start to understand progression in this topic.
You should gain some awareness of the resources that can be
used to teach this topic in school.
Agenda
Session 1
What do students need to know about networking at each KS?
Activity: Progression in databases
Session 2
Unplugged activities for databases
KS3 National Curriculum
There are no specific references to databases, however their
use is implied in this statement:
Undertake creative projects that involve selecting, using and
combining multiple applications, preferably across a range of
devices, to achieve challenging goals, including collecting and
analysing data and meeting the needs of known users.
Progression Pathways
Databases are referenced throughout
the progression pathways.
GCSE Specifications from 2016
Databases have largely been removed from the new GCSE
specifications.
OCR
Edexcel
2.2.6 students should have studied
the user of SQL to search for data.
3.5.1 understand the
characteristics of structured and
unstructured data.
3.5.2 understand that data can
be decomposed, organised and
managed in a structured
database.
A-Level Specifications from 2016
AQA
OCR
4.10.1 Conceptual data model and entity
relationship modelling.
1.3.2a Relational database, flat file,
primary key, foreign key, secondary key,
entity relationship modelling, normalisation
and indexing.
4.10.2 Relational databases.
4.10.3 Database design and normalisation
techniques.
4.10.4 Structured Query Language (SQL).
4.10.5 Client server databases.
1.3.2b Methods of capturing, selecting,
managing and exchanging data.
1.3.2c Normalisation to 3NF.
1.3.2d SQL – Interpret and modify.
1.3.2e Referential integrity.
1.3.2f SQL – Transaction processing, ACID,
record locking and redundancy.
Activity
Plan the progression for the databases topic.
Key
Stage
Key Terms
Sequence of Topics (order
you would teach)
Activity Ideas
Assessment
Suggestions
•
•
•
•
3
Field,
record,
data,
information,
flat-file,
relational
database,
validation,
verification,
queries.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Introduction to databases
(field, record and file)
Differences between data and
information
Different types of databases
(flat or relational)
Data types
Creating a table (possibly
Access)
Selecting appropriate data
types for the fields.
Differences between
validation and verification.
Validation rules
Drop-down
Queries
Reports
Simple SQL?
•
•
•
•
Unplugged and
other database
activities (6-16
years)
http://community.co
mputingatschool.or
g.uk/resources/83
SOW for year 9
http://community.co
mputingatschool.or
g.uk/resources/315
9
Match data types to
examples of data.
•
•
•
•
Peer-assessing
each others
databases.
Self
assessmentsheet
to fill out.
Online quizzes,
Yacapaca!,
Kahoot, Socrative
https://goformative.
com
Query exercise
(maybe cross-word
or mystery)
http://pjnicholson.co
m/mjcomapp/access
assign2007.html
Superhero
database activity
http://www.what2le
arn.com/superhero
es_database/
Possible Difficult
Concepts
•
•
•
•
The reasoning
behind data
types.
Differences
between
similar
concepts (e.g.
data and
information,
validation and
verification)
Queries
SQL
Database Activities
Set of game based quizzes for starters and plenary
http://www.teachict.com/ks3/year7/data_handling/data_handling_starters.htm
http://www.teachict.com/ks3/year7/data_handling/data_handling_resources.htm
http://www.what2learn.com/ict-unit-7-5-%E2%80%93-data-handlingstarter-plenary/
Activity
Plan the progression for the databases topic.
Key
Stage
Key Terms
Candidates should
be able to: (a)
describe a
database as a
persistent
organised store of
data
4
(OCR)
Sequence of
Topics (order you
would teach)
-Explore Filing
Systems, paper
base storage
media, ==>
difficulties in
search and sorting
posed by these...
Difficulties in
moving filing
systems from one
location to the
other
-Define Computer
Databases and it
advantages
Activity Ideas
Unplugged activity:
-sharing a paper
storage and giving out
more information to
students for insertion,
update into the paper
storage (e.g. address
book, etc.)
"Persistent"
Use of RAM / ROM
RAM= Volatile Storage
Medium
ROM=Non Volatile Non
Storage Medium [Hard
Disk], etc..
Assessment
Suggestions
Multiple
Choice
Questions
Possible
Difficult
Concepts
Possible
misconception
with the concept
of "Persistent"
Handling
software
Activity
Plan the progression for the databases topic.
Key
Stage
Key Terms
Sequence of
Topics (order you
would teach)
Activity Ideas
Assessment
Suggestions
Possible
Difficult
Concepts
data model
entity
attribute • primary
key •
Introduce data
models. Discuss
entities, attributes
(data type) and
primary key.
Present different
entities to model.
They choose
attributes and their
data types.
Can they justify
their choice of
attributes
normalization
Introduce
Relational DBs,
pros and cons
Present single file
database with
redundant
information,
students to
calculate number
of cells. Introduce
tables of a RDB
that has been
properly designed
and normalised to
contain the same
information.
Students to count
the number of
Have they noticed
information
redundancy.
Databases Unplugged
Cut out the table and stick it in the middle of your A4 sheet.
Cut out the entities and group them to form records for each game.
Stick the entities in the correct place on the table.
Turn your A4 sheet into a revision poster by:
Adding “Databases” as the title.
Labelling the primary key and writing a short definition of the term.
Labelling a record and writing a short definition of the term.
Labelling the table the writing a short definition of the term.
SQL Unplugged
Each of you is a record in a database called Students. For each query
displayed you will go to one side of the room. Go to the left if your
record would be included in the query results and to the right if your
record wouldn’t be included in the query results.
Included in
search results
Not included in
search results
SQL Unplugged
Each of you is a record in a database called Students. For each query
displayed you will go to one side of the room. Go to the left if your
record would be included in the query results and to the right if your
record wouldn’t be included in the query results.
QUERY 1
Included in
search results
SELECT *
FROM Students
Not included in
search results
SQL Unplugged
Each of you is a record in a database called Students. For each query
displayed you will go to one side of the room. Go to the left if your
record would be included in the query results and to the right if your
record wouldn’t be included in the query results.
QUERY 2
Included in
search results
SELECT *
FROM Students
WHERE HairColour = “Blond”
Not included in
search results
SQL Unplugged
Each of you is a record in a database called Students. For each query
displayed you will go to one side of the room. Go to the left if your
record would be included in the query results and to the right if your
record wouldn’t be included in the query results.
QUERY 3
Included in
search results
SELECT *
FROM Students
WHERE EyeColour = “Blue”
Not included in
search results
SQL Unplugged
Each of you is a record in a database called Students. For each query
displayed you will go to one side of the room. Go to the left if your
record would be included in the query results and to the right if your
record wouldn’t be included in the query results.
QUERY 4
Included in
search results
SELECT *
FROM Students
WHERE EyeColour = “Brown”
ORDER BY LastName
Not included in
search results
SQL Unplugged
Each of you is a record in a database called Students. For each query
displayed you will go to one side of the room. Go to the left if your
record would be included in the query results and to the right if your
record wouldn’t be included in the query results.
QUERY 5
Included in
search results
SELECT *
FROM Students
WHERE BirthMonth > 7
ORDER BY LastName
Not included in
search results
SQL Unplugged
Each of you is a record in a database called Students. For each query
displayed you will go to one side of the room. Go to the left if your
record would be included in the query results and to the right if your
record wouldn’t be included in the query results.
QUERY 6
Included in
search results
SELECT *
FROM Students
WHERE BirthMonth <= 5
ORDER BY LastName DESC
Not included in
search results
SQL Unplugged
Each of you is a record in a database called Students. For each query
displayed you will go to one side of the room. Go to the left if your
record would be included in the query results and to the right if your
record wouldn’t be included in the query results.
QUERY 7
Included in
search results
SELECT *
FROM Students
WHERE HairColour = “Brown”
or HairColour = “Black”
ORDER BY LastName DESC
Not included in
search results
SQL Unplugged
Each of you is a record in a database called Students. For each query
displayed you will go to one side of the room. Go to the left if your
record would be included in the query results and to the right if your
record wouldn’t be included in the query results.
QUERY 8
Included in
search results
SELECT *
FROM Students
WHERE HairColour = “Black”
and EyeColour = “Brown”
ORDER BY LastName DESC
Not included in
search results
Activity
Write your own query for the Students database that makes use
of the SELECT, FROM, WHERE and ORDER BY commands.
Query