Database Management – Module Wrap-up
Good morning everyone!
We are getting ready to wrap up the module on database management. As you are probably aware by now, relational databases underlie most of the modern information systems. Ecommerce websites, hospitals and college admissions offices would be in big trouble if their databases are not working properly.
On the other hand, well-designed databases open doors to so many exciting opportunites. Better marketing tactics, greater financial forecasting capabibilities, and real-time business intelligence at our fingertips. A better understanding of how relational databases work helps you become a better decision maker, provide better customer service, and run your organization more effectively.
IT150 gives you a sneak preview of database management – key jargons, basic skills, its potential benefits. To develop a more comprehensive understanding of database management, you can consider taking more advnaced courses on this topic.
In the mean time, make sure you have accomplishes these learning objectives of this module:
- Articulate the differences between spreadsheets and databases
- Understand basic elements of Microsoft Access – fields, tables, primary keys, foreign keys, relationships, queries, forms, reports
- Describe principles of E-R diagramming – entities, relationships, cardinality, normalization
- Describe the differences between databases and data warehouses
- Describe the differences between OLTP and OLAP
So, how are you doing on this module? What is the most interesting part of this module? Which part is the most frustrating? What is intriquing? What is counter-intuitive?
I think that databases are in fact easier than spreadsheets, but in my office we primarly use spreadsheets so I am more familiar with the software. I think that the difficult part of the module is not only understanding it but putting it to use right away. I believe unless you are in the software day in and day out you use a little bit of the knowledge. I like what I have learned so far, even though I have already had a database class.
Amy Lloyd
October 20, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Amy, thanks for the feedback. I think you’re absolutely right that databases are easier to use than spreadsheets, but that’s true only after you’ve mastered the database concepts. Databases have a steeper learning curve and hands-on experiences are the best way to learn.
Maybe your office can hire a consultant to migrate data to a small database while waiting for Datatel?
Rachel Chung
October 21, 2008 at 11:00 am
I feel that databases keep large amounts of data much more organized than a regular excel spreadsheet. I am currently enrolled in the Access and Excel classes that Carlow University offers and I was a bit confused on when you would use each program, and what factors would make a difference in choosing. After learning about Access in Information Technology I now understand the difference between the two programs. I find it interesting how linked my classes are, and it really does help reinforce the information that I learn, and allow it to stick in my head better. I also liked how we worked on the program in class, and then did it on our own as well. This also allowed me to go through the motions again, putting a more solid understanding of the material into my head.
Amanda Berg
February 18, 2009 at 11:16 am
I never even heard of Access until I decided to take the class here at Carlow University. I had skills with using the old Excel version, but not anything like Access 2007. I have come to learn that Access organizes data so much easier and faster by just typing it in only one time. When using excel, it is more tedious and time consuming. Now I understand how and why these two microsoft programs are different. Access makes data easier to find because it is well organized compared to an Excel spreadsheet. I am glad to apply the skills I have learned in my Microsoft Access course to my Information Technology course. I will definately not forget how to use databases after I graduate.
Melanie Cribbs
February 19, 2009 at 2:41 am
I think that databases like Access are definitely so much easier to use to store information than spreadsheets in Excel. I am taking both an Excel and an Access course here at Carlow University and even though I had some experience in both prior to taking the courses, I had no idea what the differences between the two were or how one had an advantage over the other. After the exercise we did in class where we worked with entering information into both an Excel spreadsheet and an Access database, I really started to see the advantage of using Access instead. It’s so much easier to enter and sift through information in Access because it’s a lot more organized. It’s also easier to see the relationships between different tables. Excel is much more time consuming and confusing. It’s nice to be able to use database tools in more than just my Access class, that way I really start to get familiar with it and I will never forget the potential advantages of using it.
Kristyn Stang
February 19, 2009 at 3:02 pm
At the time i was graduating high school they started a new elective called Access. I had taken Senior Technology which was an over view of everything because i choose not to take Excel, Word, and PowerPoint individually. I had never heard of Access before and was never really interested in learning about it until the time came to complete the assignment 10. I had never opened Access or played around with it before so i decided it might be a good idea to start the assignment on Friday, and thank god i did! I was really frustrated with how technical Access was. I didn’t like how you couldn’t proceed without first closing all previous tabs or how everything had to match to link the relationships together. Although, after finishing the assignment with Rachel’s help i am glad i had this experience. I think that Access it 100% easier than Excel with manual entry and for tracking information. I know that using Access is going to be a big part of my career so next semester i am going to take Access while i still have some understanding in my mind.
Ashley Majorsky
February 21, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Hello ladies,
I know I’ve convinced you that ACCESS is better at organizing data than spreadsheets do. However ACCESS is not so good with some other tasks. Later on you’ll discover when you’d miss EXCEL
Rachel
Rachel Chung
February 22, 2009 at 6:43 pm
I have also never used Access before this class. I used Excel for my old job and for other classes. Access’ features are much more complex than Excel. I was able to pick Excel up in seconds and it has taken me over a weekend to somewhat comprehend Access. I have found that you only have to enter in information one time instead of typing everything out, which is a nice feature. I liked how Access managed everything. Access can store lots more information than just lists of phone numbers. Access’ information is much more organized and makes searching easier than Excel. I really enjoy seeing the relationships between different tables. Although I very seldom use spreadsheets or databases, it was cool to learn how they worked and which one is more useful.
Christy Gereshenski
February 23, 2009 at 11:42 am
Before this class I have never used Access before and today was a whole different experience. Once, I was able to understand what Access did and how to use the tools it was easier then Excel. Access was very descriptive and you were able to find what you needed. I liked looking for the primary and foreign keys and understanding what they are about. It was easier with the tables seperated and easier to find information.
Jessica Whittaker
February 23, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Before this class I never used access. It is definitly different then excel. Personally ( did not like access it could have been becuase I really did not understad it at all. I felt that even though the information is in one table, if you do not know how to enter the information how will it help you. I was completly lo9st when using the access. so in my personal experience I would prefer to use excel. Maybe if I knew what I was doing in access would feel different. But when it came to assignment 10 I was fustrated with access!
Cheryl Lewisl
February 23, 2009 at 2:37 pm
All of these assignments have really challenged me to think in new ways. It often easy to fall into a pattern of thinking in terms of theology and arts, and computer work takes a different part of the brain. It’s been fun to find out that I really can do this computer stuff. I’ve enjoyed the assignments and I think that I’ve learned quite a lot. Databases can be really useful, and I can see many ways that I could use this in real life. I can’t wait to open a bakery with my little sister and be incharge of all the technical stuff.
Athena KitchenFlint
April 15, 2009 at 1:48 pm
I feel that databases like Access are much easier and more practical to use than another program such as Excel. Everything in a databases is so much more organized than when you are using an excel spreadsheet and have to keep going back and forth between your information. Before I came to Carlow, I had never used Access. I was always trying to do my best with information that I could in Excel. Now that I have learned and used Access, I much rather prefer it, as it is much easier to understand. Also, when using Access, it is less time consuming, because like I said before, you are not flipping back and forth between excel sheets, you have all of the information right there in front of you. I will definitely never forget how to use Access or how easy it is to use.
Stephanie Drozak
October 5, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Databases give me a headache to create, but they are so useful. I have only used Access once before briefly for a previous job, but then we decided that Excel would make a better way to track the project. I am glad that I am learning more about Access because I feel it will come in handy in the future. I’m sure that once I learn how to navigate Access to avoid the error messages I am constantly plagued with I will begin to really like it. I have no problem with Excel; as a matter of fact, at my current internship we track everything in Excel. Perhaps after I become more versed with Access, I can help my company to keep their data with it.
jelumbatis
October 6, 2009 at 6:18 pm
This is my first time using Access database and tables. Before this I’ve just played around with it to see what it did, but did nothing to the extent of what we are doing in class. For the most part I have always used Excel. At first, because I’m used to Excel, I didn’t like Access because I thought it was confusing. However, now that I have gained more experience in using it, I’ve realized that it organizes information better and isn’t as repetitive as Excel is. I like using Access a lot better now and feel more comfortable using it then I did. This exercise definitely gave me more of an understanding of the material. Hopefully I will continue to use the skills that I have acquired in Access in the future.
Ashley Poore
October 6, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Like most others, this is my first time using Access database. It appears similar to Excel, but they are not exactly alike. In Excel, you can enter whatever information you like, but in Access there is only specific information you can enter into each section of the table. If you do not follow the rules, for example entering text in a number section, Access will immediately let you know in a pop up message. This will help in preventing many errors. Assignment 08 helped to understand the basic concepts of Access. It took some messing around, but it eventually came to me. Access will be a beneficial tool in the future.
Amanda Reed
October 7, 2009 at 10:26 am
This was my first time ever using the Access database. When looking at a finished database it looks similar to Excel, but when trying to add information, it is a lot different. With Excel, I could enter any information in any cell and it did not tell me if the information was wrong or not. However, when using Access, there was a certain order and way that each order should be put in, and I couldn’t just add information in any order. As frustrating as it was, I think that it was actually helpful when entering the information and it can prevent many mistakes, unlike Excel.
Emily Cubellis
October 7, 2009 at 11:22 am
This is my first time using access. I find it very interesting and helpful, on my recent job searches related to accounting, I have noticed that knowledge of Access is sometimes a plus and sometimes a must. Using it wasn’t that hard. Knowing that you can’t just enter anything anywhere was kind of different because I’m used to working with excel and spreadsheets. I think Access is a good and useful tool when you are in business. You can retrieve the information that you are looking for very quickly. I’m excited about learning how to use it efficiently and effectively.
Ebonie Chestnut
October 7, 2009 at 11:44 am
I have been using Access for awhile now, and it never ceases to surprise me. There are always new things that I learn, and new things that I explore. I have also used SQL Server, and that is much more difficult to use than Access. It is a blessing in disguise because if anyone ever advances on in databases, they are going to have a rude awakening for more difficult systems to use. It might seem annoying now with all of the error messages popping up in Access, but they are a blessing in disguise. They are only letting you know that you have something wrong and you need to fix it.
Adrienne Marsolino
October 7, 2009 at 12:15 pm
There are so many differences between Microsoft Access and Microsoft Excel. I personally prefer to use Microsoft Access after learning a lot about it in It150 and the Microsoft Access class offered at Carlow. I think it is so much easier and more organized than Microsoft Excel. It is a little frustrating at times because it does not let you enter any information that you want into the database, it has set rules for the information. This is frustrating, but it helps one stay on track and not enter information that should not be entered. The way that Access is set up is also better that Excel in my opinion because the different tables are easier to locate. Unlike Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access prevents many errors and offers more security of the information and tables.
Alyssa Myer
October 7, 2009 at 11:35 pm
I have never used Access before and this was my first time using it in the IT150 class. It is different than excel but I think in a better way. The Access databases keep everything organized. It is very easy to find what you are looking for while in Access. Unlike in Excel you have to keep going back and forth to find what you are looking for in the spreadsheets. In Access they are layed out to you in tables on the side which make it very easy. Doing the Access exercises has given me a better understanding of the material and a open mind to using Access instead of Excel.
Stephanie Marcin
October 7, 2009 at 11:38 pm
So far, I have learned so much about ACCESS that I had never even considered. I actually did not even know that there was even such a thing called ACCESS. I feel that by doing the class exercise on Solomon I realized that using ACCESS can be alot easier and more organized than using Excel. I found it very interesting and even somewhat fun that you could organize all of your information in ACCESS by making tables and then it turns it into a chart for you. I really liked how you could connect the tables by dragging the words that were the same to the same word and then it connected the tables by a line
Kristal Galbraith
October 7, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Databases was a new process for me to learn. I knew Microsoft Excel fairly well, but I was nervous when I knew we were learning about ACCCESS. ACCESS was more confusing to me. However, I realized how people would rather use it instead of excel. ACCESS processed information more freely and organized. I felt like Excel was crammed, but easier to understand. As I go through all the assignments, I am finding out that as the more I do them the better I will be at ACCESS.
Julie Kiel
October 20, 2010 at 5:44 pm
Working through Access and also taking a class on it already, this database is still fairly complicated in my eyes. There are so many back doors to this type of database, that if you’re not educated on it this will be very hard. I like the overall set up of the database though, its a very sophisticated program. This type of database will be very useful to us, students, in the future. You also need a lot of practice with Access, doesn’t come like second nature so quickly I believe.
Danielle Shannon
October 23, 2010 at 2:10 pm
I think that Access is hard to understand and hard to work with. I think that I need more practice and I think that it will just take time to get used to and to the the hang of. I think that databases make things easier and are a good tool but they are just complicated and take a long time to perfect and create. Access is much more difficult than Excel but it is more organized. I think that databases benefit many people and many companies, you just have to learn how to use them properly. I think that I need more practice and more instruction on Access. I think that another class on it and someone teaching me Access would help greatly.
yusko24
October 24, 2010 at 8:40 pm
I have a little bit of background knowledge about Access so it is not really that much hard for me. But what is hard is trying to read the book and understand! It gets very confusing how they use relations for everything; you never know what they are talking about. I never did really like the XLM’s that were online so that made it even more difficult for me to create the tables having to scroll up and down the PDF.
tcburley
October 24, 2010 at 10:10 pm
I have never used the ACCESS database before and I found ACCESS difficult to work with moreso than anything we’ve worked with in this course so far. I do like that its set up is organized and easy to see all the tables and information in one place. I see it has benefits over using Excel but I still couldn’t work with it well. While doing the homework I ran into problems making sure everything was in balance and finding where different things were. Overall I think that this database is useful and can benefit businesses greatly but for me it’s confusing at this time.
oli401
October 25, 2010 at 11:05 am
Databases are very useful for organizing information and inputting new information. By the use of forms it is easy to insert information with little space for error. In class we learned about the difference between using Excel and Access. In Excel, inputting data is difficult and can be confusing. Finding data is also easier in Access. To find data one simply can me a query and it list all the information that follows the criteria requested. I think databases are very useful, even for those who may not be in business. It is a go way to store and organize lots of data.
jennybourne
October 25, 2010 at 11:40 am
Databases seem extremely useful for businesses because they keep everything uniform. I am happy to be learning how to use ACCESS because I know it is a valuable skill, however I find it so frustrating to manuver. There are many parts of it I don’t understand that range from simple things (saving the document with a different name) to complex things (editing relationships and entering data). I definitely need more practice and need to forget some of the things I have learned within Excel in order to do a better job working with ACCESS!
Rebekah Stern
October 25, 2010 at 11:53 am
Like many of those who have posted before me this is my first time working with ACCESS. I do have some minimal experience with Excel, however I dont not believe that my experience with spreadsheets has helped or hindered me with this experience. ACCESS proves to be a vaulable tool, as are all database types for any organization, or personal use. I feel that ACCESS is much more logical and easy to understand once you learn how it operates. I am finding it dificult to navigate this new database, but once i am praticed with ACCESS i believe it will be a great skill that i can add to my resume.
acsmith922
October 25, 2010 at 12:07 pm
I think that access is one of those programs that you have to practice with. I think that access takes longer to learn and figure out but is worth it because it is more organized and easier to read than excel. Databases are well worth the time and energy it takes to learn about them because they help keep the tasks that you are working on organized.
Courtney Blaker
October 25, 2010 at 1:39 pm
I feel that Access is a very useful program that can help you keep all different types od business information organized. It is a little harder to master then Excel but it is worth learning. I feel it is hard to understand and master because ther are so many different things you can do with it unlike Excel that only has one way of doing everything. Access allows you do to view tables in multipul ways to make sure you have everything correct and where it needs to be. It also allows you to conncet your tables with different relationships to make it easier to view all the information that relates.
Jackie Gondringer
October 25, 2010 at 1:48 pm
This was my first time using Access, and even though it was very, very confusing at first I feel that I now have a greater understanding of it. I can clearly see all the benefits it has in a business sense. It seems like a wonderful organization tool that is not overly expensive and not extremely complicated. It was hard to understand at first because there are so many different relations and data values and more that must meet a certain standard, but after the initial use it becomes much easier to navigate. Access was definitely the most frustrating part of this module, but also the most interesting.
Katie Bertha
October 25, 2010 at 2:34 pm
I believe that it is true that databases make things alot more easier for companies to operate. The databases make the company more organized. Coming into this class i really didn’t know much about databases, I knew a little because I had an access class. It was sort of a walk through access class where if you had the book then you would pass. It wasn’t until this class that I really understood what databases are acutally used for.
Erin Hager
November 1, 2010 at 3:26 pm
I can relate with so many of these blog posts! This is the first time that in class I am actually using access. I’ve done many various projects using excel, which to me was much easier! Right now with access I’m learning how to maneuver around to try and add many different pieces of information to different tables. I never knew how much a program could be “picky.” This program could literally tell you “NO” that you are unable to perform this modification because it doesn’t relate to a field. Unlike with excel almost anything goes.
nathalieannruiz
November 3, 2010 at 2:21 pm