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39 Lessons
7 Lessons
18 Lessons

Database Management

The Database Management Lessons offers a thorough exploration of database fundamentals and practical skills in database development and management. Students will learn how to create, query, and manipulate databases using Microsoft Access for Windows, along with essential techniques for data entry, field properties, validation checks, sorting, forms, queries, and report generation.

5 Lessons

This lesson provides a practical, step-by-step introduction to database creation using Microsoft Access, using a sports company employee database as the practical case study.

Before creating the database, students will learn the importance of database planning—understanding the purpose of the database, identifying the information that needs to be stored, determining the appropriate fields, and considering the type of information or reports that will eventually be produced.

The lesson then introduces the fundamental concepts required to design and create a database, including tables, entities, attributes, fields, field names, data types, database objects, and field properties.

Students will also explore the different Microsoft Access views and understand how each view is used when creating, entering, modifying, displaying, and preparing database information for printing.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

  • Explain the purpose of planning before creating a database.

  • Identify the information required for an employee database.

  • Define a database table and explain its purpose.

  • Explain the meaning of an entity.

  • Identify attributes and fields within a database.

  • Explain what a field name is and how it identifies stored information.

  • Describe the purpose of data types in Microsoft Access.

  • Explain field properties and their importance.

  • Understand the purpose of Field Size and Format.

  • Identify common Microsoft Access database objects.

  • Explain the different views available in Microsoft Access.

  • Determine appropriate fields for an employee database.

  • Apply basic database planning concepts to a practical scenario.

Employee Database Case Study

In this practical exercise, we consider employee information maintained by a sports company. The database is designed to organize important personnel information such as:

  • Employee ID

  • Date Hired

  • Last Name

  • First Name

  • Street

  • City

  • State

  • Zip Code

  • Phone Number

  • Birth Date

Students will use this information to understand how real-world records can be organized into a structured database.

Topics Covered

1. Creating a Database
Understanding database planning, purpose, information requirements, and expected output.

2. What Is a Table?
Understanding rows, columns, entities, and how tables organize related information.

3. What Is an Attribute or Field?
Understanding the individual categories of information stored in a database table.

4. Database Objects
Introduction to objects such as tables, queries, forms, and reports.

5. Microsoft Access Views
Understanding Design View, Datasheet View, Form View, Print Preview, and Layout Preview.

6. Field Names
Understanding how field names identify the information stored in each field.

7. Data Types
Understanding how Microsoft Access uses data types to determine what kind of information can be entered into a field.

8. Field Properties
Understanding the characteristics that control how individual fields behave and display information.

9. Field Size
Understanding how Field Size controls the maximum amount of data that can be entered into a field.

10. Format
Understanding how Format controls the way information is displayed and printed.

Practical Outcome

This lesson establishes a strong foundation for students who are beginning Microsoft Access and Database Management. It prepares students for the practical stages of database development, where they will create tables, enter records, design queries, create forms, generate reports, and work with database information. Students are encouraged to follow each step carefully and apply the concepts discussed in the lesson while working on their own database projects.