For the data handling section of your GCSE Portfolio you must create a database of customers or members for a business or organisation of your own choosing.

To see guidance on the creation of your database click here.

For your data handling checklist click here.

For your GCSE mark sheet click here.

Aims and Objectives (Yr9) of this module.

Get your Teacher to fill in this Priority Task List to tell you what you need to do to improve your marks.

To save time inputting lots of general information you can import the details of 15 people into a new database.
  1. Create database
  2. Add fields / records
  3. Evidence Template
  4. Sorts
  5. Simple Searches
  6. Complex searches
  7. Design of Complex Search
  8. Data Capture Form
  9. Data Structure Table
  10. Mail Merge (letter or labels)
  11. Macro to run parameter query

This Database Video Tutorial will show you to construct your database and import data into it. (this is for Access 2003)

Alternatively you can follow PDF document instructions by clicking here. To download the text file itself click here.

 Importing Text File - Access 2010
This is the same tutorial for Access 2010

Once you have imported the text file and suitably named the fields, you must add a minimum of 6 more fields and 10 more records;

(TOTAL; 12 FIELDS, 25 RECORDS).

Put an input mask into the Post_Code field and build in any other validation that may be useful.

This Database Video Tutorial 2 will show you how to develop your database by adding and formatting more relevant fields. (this is for Access 2003) - the tutorial above includes doing this for Access 2010.

Create a form to help with data input. Once you have completed your database:-
1.Database Evidence Template

Download this DATABASE EVIDENCE TEMPLATE into your area. Use it to show evidence of your sorts and searches (see guidance below).

To help you to fill in your template look at this DATABASE EVIDENCE EXAMPLE.

2. Sorts Do 2 sorts on database. Write on the printouts the reasons for doing these sorts. This Sort video tutorial shows you how to create sorts. For further guidance on sorts click here or click here.

sorting access 2010
Year 9 Homework Task; print out, complete at home and bring into next lesson for marking
3.Simple searches Do 2 simple searches on the database. A simple search is a search on one field. Write on the printouts the reasons for doing these searches.

FILTERS This Simple Search Tutorial shows you how to create a simple search using the 'Filter by Form' function.
QUERIES To do searches you may use filters or queries. To revise how to search using a filter click here. To see examples of simple searches click here and here. For guidance on queries click here.
4.Complex searches

Do 2 complex searches on the database. A complex search is a search on more than one field. Write on the printouts the reasons for doing these searches.

This Complex Search Tutorial shows you how to create a simple search using the 'Filter by Form' function.

For further guidance on complex searches click here or click here.

COMPLEX QUERIES
5.Design of complex search Make a screenshot document showing the design of a complex search.

Follow the video tutorial below.

Design of Complex Query to Calculate Age Based Upon Date of Birth

  
6.Data capture form Design a data capture form for your database. For guidance click here.

7. Data structure table Design a data structure table for your database. For guidance click here. For a blank data structure table click here (save into your GCSE_ICT folder).

8.Mail merged letter or address labels

Mail Merged Letter

Create a business letter mail merged to a query or table in your database. See below;

Mail Merged Letter tutorial

To see or download an example business letter that can be linked to your own database click here.

or

Mail Merged Address Labels

Create labels that can be attached to the front of envelopes.

Mail Merged Labels tutorial 2003

Access 2010 Mail Merge
9.Macro to run parameter query You now need to create a macro which opens up a parameter query when a command button is pressed.This Macro Tutorial will show you how to create this macro and embed it into a form.

parameter query and form

 Alternatively, click here for the first part of the and here for the second part. You will need to show evidence of your macro design and purpose by producing labelled screenshot evidence.  

10.(Directory structure)

Show screenshot evidence of how you saved your work into a directory structure of folders. Here is an example Directory Structure.

11.(Data validation design and testing)

You need to show evidence that you have designed validation in your database and also tested it. For an example click here.

This Input Mask guidance sheet will show you how and when to create input masks as a form of validation.

Feedback and Evaluation

Towards the end of the module of work you will help each other to make improvements to your data handling work. Using this Database Feedback sheet you will get a classmate to scan through your work and identify areas that you need to change or improve. Make comments in the feedback sheet so you know what to do and how to do it.

When you have completed your work your teacher will indicate areas that need to be improved for next time. You can note down, on your Self Evaluation Sheet, any new skills that you have learned and how you could have improved your work.

 

Skills Framework

Each module or section of work may be accompanied by one or more of the icons above. Each icon indicates a skill that you should be developing whilst tackling that topic. From left to right the skills are:-

  1. Developing Communication
  2. Application of Number
  3. Developing ICT
  4. Developing Thinking
  5. Personal and Social Education
  6. Curriculum Cymreig, Wales, Europe and the World
  7. Careers and the World of Work

National Curriculum Orders (Year 9)

GCSE Specification 07-08

GCSE Specification 2009 onwards

What Key Skills will I develop in this module? What Level am I performing at?