Please help a poor teacher in the UK....

[impis]

........... Hi, I've just come across this forum and was hoping that you can lend a hand.

I teach in a special school - our pupils are slow learners and find reading and writing rather challenging. They are slow learners. Here, we say that they have moderate learning difficulties. In most other ways, they are like any other kids - and if you met them out and about on the streets, they would not seem any different to their mainstream peers.

I teach Computer skills throughout the school, and this year, I have to teach databases to our older pupils. In the past, I confess, I have used excel to demonstrate some database capabilities, but I would like to use the proper program this time.

I purchased Access for the school - only to discover that it is Access 2007. So not only do I have to learn an unfamilar program [for me] but also it looks very different too.

Not to be outdone, I have bought one of those 'teach yourself access 2007' CDs and all is going well with that. [Though it is still early days].

What I need are some sample databases for the kids to practice sorting, filtering etc on. I have downloaded some sample databases, but they all seem very complicated to me. Simple is the key, here. Something like someone's database of cds [I did start to make one of these myself but it was very time consuming]

Or maybe some ideas of simple databases that the kids could have a go at making. That could be good. My mind is such a jumble that I can't think straight right now.

Any ideas? Can anyone please help?

Eternally grateful, in advance,

imp
x

 

[chergh]

Or maybe some ideas of simple databases that the kids could have a go at making. That could be good.

I think you have answered your own question with your idea of a database for a collection of CD's. Get your pupils to list their CD's or MP3's etc and create a database using that.

Another idea might be a database for football. Put all the teams, results, scorers etc into a database your class creates (though this one would be trickier than a CD collection.

 

[Rich]

Doesn't Access still come with sample dbs.? There used to be a music/video collection one within Access.

 

[boblarson]

Check out the Microsoft Access site on Microsoft's Office web:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/access/FX100487571033.aspx

On that page there is a featured template "Tracking Assets" and just below that is a link to more Access templates.

 

[DarkAngel]

A database for a car hire company is a good one to work with.
The students will have fun making up all the cars that they want to be able to hire (especially with boys), and validation rules and sorting works well with reg. plates, car makes etc.

It's also got a lot of scope for evolving as well, as you can start linking tables + adding frontend, if you want to take it that far.

However it may not be as good if you want something tangible and real, depending on the size of the class, a database of students in the class or school or whatever has a lot of potential as well.

 

[pstephens]

I think Access comes with a few sample databases, however, these maybe a little to complex for your students and in fact many students. I agree with the above posts of having the students create their own database to record their CD collection, or something similar.

Hope this helps.

Paul S

 

[impis]

Thank you for your replies. I'm sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you.

You have some good ideas about how we could begin to create our own databases.

A couple of problems that we have are:

Our class size is low - 14 pupils, so not really enough to do an effective database on each other.

Those of you who said that MS' existing examples would probably be too difficult are absolutely spot on! [And thats talking about me, never mind the poor kids.]

Thanks again, I appreciate you taking the time to reply.