Data+Types

** Recommended Prior Knowledge ** Students should have completed Practical Unit 3 ** Context ** This section should be the fifth studied by the students. It builds on the knowledge obtained from studying all the previous sections. ** Outline ** This section describes the theory of data structure and types. ** Learning Outcomes Suggested Teaching Activities Online Resources Other resources  ** 5a Identify different data types: - logical/Boolean, -alphanumeric/text, -numeric (real and integer) - date. Use appropriate database software e.g.   Microsoft Access, to demonstrate the different data types http://www.supersir.co.uk/data_types.htm http://www.theteacher99.btinternet.co.uk/theteacher/gcse/newgcse/module1/task1.htm (Walmsley, et. al., 2004, Chapter 5) (Leadbetter, & Wainwright, 2004, 12.5) 5b Select appropriate data types for a given set of data: - logical/Boolean, - alphanumeric/text, - numeric - date. Create a simple flat file database setting all data types to ‘text’. Then discuss with students which data type would be most suitable for each field. Ensure you have fields which will match each data type. http://www.supersir.co.uk/data_types.htm http://www.theteacher99.btinternet.co.uk/theteacher/gcse/newgcse/module1/task1.htm (Walmsley, et. al., 2004, Chpts 5 & 13) (Leadbetter, & Wainwright, 2004, 12.6) 5c Describe what is meant by the terms - file, - record, - field, - key field. Use a table of data from, say, a geography text book. Equate the table to a file, a row to a record and a column to a field. Show them a typical computer database and go through each of the terms. http://www.theteacher99.btinternet.co.uk/theteacher/gcse/newgcse/module5/task1.htm http://www.supersir.co.uk/Database_design.htm http://www.jegsworks.com/Lessons/lesson12/lesson24database.htm http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/ict/databases/2databasesrev2.shtml (Walmsley, et. al., 2004, Chapter 5) (Leadbetter, & Wainwright, 2004, 12.4)
 * SECTION 5 ** Data Types