Response to The Database: America's Presidents

Holmes, B. (1998). The Database: America’s Presidents. Learning & Leading with Technology, 25 (7), 6-11.

1. Write a summary of how you would use a database in your class.

The idea of creating a class database provides an opportunity for students to work together to further expand their understanding and use of technology. While there are an unlimited number of possibilities to use with a database, one possible project could center around the 50 US states. If I were to complete this project in a standard classroom setting, I would divide my students into ten groups with two to three students in each group. Each set of students would receive five states that they are supposed to research.

For the first step, I would work with the class and collaborate which facts are important for us to learn about the fifty states. Through discussion, approximately six to ten different elements would be chosen, depending on the grade level of the students. Such elements include state capital, date they became a state, size, population, famous person, etc. From there, I would create a worksheet to help the students organize their research to find those facts. I would also create a spreadsheet with the students listing the 50 states in the first column and the traits they are going to find in the first row.

From there, I would talk to the students about how to find accurate information by discussing the traits of a credible site as well as how to be safe and stay focused online. The students would then be allowed to conduct their research within their teams.

After the students had collected their research, they would each be given an opportunity to insert their data into the spreadsheet. After all of the data has been collected, I would then help the students organize the information using different patterns (such as alphabetical, by population, by date they became a state, etc.) By showing the students how to reorganize their information using a spreadsheet, they will be able to analyze the different states and recognize patterns.

To conclude the project, I would create a worksheet that asks basic reflection questions. These question would have the students recall basic facts, share what they found to be interesting, discuss what they learned from the project, and draw conclusions.