Embassy Quest: Database Tutorial

Embassy Quest...
Destination Unknown

Database Tutorial and Evaluation Rubric

Your team will utilize the data from your country data sheets to build a database of world countries and some of their key statistics. The database will be developed using the Appleworks (ClarisWorks) application located on the launcher of your computer.

Think of the database application as an electronic index card file.

Record: the "index card" that contains all the information
Field: the blanks or categories on your records that you want to fill with information. Example: Continent, Country Name, and Type of Government
Entry: the information you type into the field Example: in the Continent Field the entry information would be North America
Browse: look at the data as records
List: to view the database in a column appearance like a spreadsheet
File: all of the records together

Open AppleWorks (ClarisWorks) and select Database, click OK.
You are now ready to define your fields (labels).
Remember that you need to select specific information for this database: example - continent, government, country name. Some types of information will not lend itself to inclusion in the database: example - what methods do people use to communicate ideas and information? Your team will need to determine what field names you want to include in the database.

When creating a new database, a dialog box like this will appear:

Type Country. Press the return key.
Type Continent. Press the return key.
Repeat these directions until you've entered all the fields for your database. Click Done when you are finished.
Now you are ready to begin entering your data.
In this database you will use the default of "text" for the field type in all fields.

Tips for entering data:

Use the Tab Key to move between fields, NOT the Return Key.
Enter all data for the first record.
To make a new record go to Edit..New Record. (Records do not have to be entered in any particular order, the sort function will alphabetize or rearrange your database later.
Continue to enter all data for each record, remember to select Edit...New Record each time.
If you need to make changes to a field once it is created, select Define Fields from the Layout menu. You can then modify your fields by selecting Options to make the changes and then press the Modify button.
After all data is entered you can determine in what order your information will be presented.
Go to Organize ...Sort Records to manipulate the data.
In the Field List box, click the field name that you want to be first.
When you select a field the Move button becomes active. Click the Move button.
This will move your selected field to the Sort Order box.

Your team will need to review the following rubric and complete any revisions prior to printing your database. Will you choose to print this document in the Browse or Layout format? Place the final database in your Geography Portfolio.

Database Evaluation Rubric

Your team will need to review your final database; the completed database will be evaluated on the following components:

Component	5 points	3 points	1 point	Total
Field Names	All field names are labeled correctly	Some field names are labeled incorrectly	The field names do not relate to the data entered	______
Database Size	Data included from all countries in the region	Data included from 80% of the countries in the region	Data is not included from all countries, 50 % or less of records are included	_____
Complete Records	All fields are complete in all records	There is some missing data in 2 or less records	Data is missing throughout 4 or more records	______
Title	An appropriate title (header) has been included	Title (header) included, does not relate to data included	No title (header) has been applied	_____
Spelling & Punctuation	Spell check has been utilized to correct spelling errors	Several records contain misspelled entries	Spelling mistakes are present throughout the database	_____