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Crowdsourcing projectKS2 Lesson 1

Lesson objectivesTo find out:•What is data?•What is information?•What is a database and how are they used?

To compare:•Advantages and disadvantages of paper-based and computer-based databases.

So what is data?Data is words, dates, numbers and images that, when put together, create information.

Some data may make sense to some people but not to others. For instance, can you work out what the following numbers are?

Angela 200202 10 122 12Jai 050801 09 142 04Peter 160302 10 128 13Samira 150702 10 130 02

Name Date of birth Age Height in cms Shoe size

…and what is information?

Information is data that is processed to be useful and meaningful.

Information uses data to provide answers to who, what, where and when questions.

Discuss what data you could gather about children in your class.

Data or information?

Discuss….•What information might your school need about pupils in your school?•Who might want this information? (e.g. parents, government)•What personal data about you and other pupils does your school need to collect to be able to give accurate information?

•Can you think of other types of data (facts or figures) and information that interest you?

Data or information?

?Can you work out which of the following are data and which information?

•Your friend’s address•Your friend’s phone number•What’s on TV tonight•Where to go for a fun day out this weekend•Your school’s holiday dates•The different types of dinosaurs we have evidence about•The number of dinosaur bones owned by the Natural History Museum

???

Data or information?

Data or information?Data•Your friend’s address•Your friend’s phone number •Your school’s holiday dates•The number of dinosaur bones owned by the Natural History Museum

Information•What’s on TV tonight•Where to go for a fun day out at weekend•The different types of dinosaurs we have evidence about

?

??

?

Data can be numbers, words, measurements, observations or descriptions. For instance a museum needs to record data about objects.

Profile of a Roman marble head of Mithras

Date: 180 AD - 220 AD

Maker/Artist: Unknown

Meaningless: It does not have meaning

Until it is processed and turned into something useful.

Data creates information.

A database is like a library – it stores pieces of information called a ‘record’.

So what is a database?

Describe what you see in these pictures.

Make a list of:•paper-based databases•computer-based databases•databases you use.

Then discuss: •what type of data would you search for?•how would you find it?

Discuss in pairs

Feedback List some databasesMake sure you list some computer-based and some paper-based databases.

Computer-based databases Paper-based databases

You might like to glance at a popular website online together!

Discuss in pairs

• advantages of paper-based databases• disadvantages of paper-based databases

Some advantages of paper-based databases

• Inexpensive to set up• You don’t need electricity, so it will work if you

have a power-cut• Don’t need a computer – which is expensive

Some disadvantages of paper-based databases

Can be lost

Not as easy to make back-up copies

Hard to update or make changes

Card systems can get in a muddle if cards not replaced in the correct order

Can take a while to search for a particular record

But when we use the term 'database' we generally think of a computer-based database.

Discuss in pairs

• advantages of computer-based databases• disadvantages of computer-based databases

Some advantages of computer-based databases

• Can easily make back-up copies• Can easily make changes • Can easily sort data into order e.g.

alphabetical• Can search very quickly• Can import or export data to/from other digital

sources

Some disadvantages of computer-based databases

• You need to have a computer• If there is a power-cut, you can’t use it• You often need training to learn how to use

them• Can be expensive to set up (often needs an

expert to make it)• Can be lost or damaged

Now discuss how we find information from a database?

• How do you find the right information in a database?

• In a library what data is kept about all the different books?

• How do you search for information on computer-based databases?

Database search

We can search a database to find the information we are looking for.

If the database has a search function that helps sort the information we want to find!

Recap: Key wordsCAN YOU UNSCRAMBLE THESE WORDS?(Click forward for answers)

• ADAT• MIOFNRATNIO• SEBATADA• PC-SMUTOBAERED

• DATA• INFORMATION• DATABASE• COMPUTER-BASED

Keywords • Data• Information• Processed• Database• Computer-based database• Paper-based database• Search function

?

Do you know the meaning of th

ese words

?

Next lesson you will help improve the Museum of London’s Collections online database!

Take a quick look at the Museum of London's Collections online database.

http://collections.museumoflondon.org.uk/Online/

Choose an object and discuss what

types of information people might search for.

© Museum of London 2014. The museum cannot take responsibility for edited content.