We've talked about Databases.

You know they are for collecting information on a particular subject. The information is then searchable to find the bit you want.

You have used databases you've made yourselves in textease to find the information you want.

 

You have used online databases to find out about things that interest you.

 

In the grown up world, databases are in use everyday.

 

Can you think of something that your parents use everyday the details of which are on a database. Can you think of other things that are on a National Database?

Click here for some examples

 

Why do you think the details are kept on that database?

Click here for some examples

 

What fields do you think might be on the records of one of the databases you have thought of. Make a list.

Click here for some ideas.

 

So by now you've probabaly got a list of databases that you know adults use.

 

Why do you think adults are extremely concerned when they see newspaper headlines like these.

 

UK Government loses personal information of 25 million people.

The Child Benefit Database is lost.

(20th November 2007)

 

Now perhaps it's not the database that's the problem but the fact that so much information can be put on two small discs that can easily be lost.

 

What do you think is the most important thing to get right for any information held in a database??