For those of us who are not tech-savvy, the idea of making a database can sound very intimidating. However, a database is not as mysterious or difficult to create as you may think.

A database is strictly is just an organized way of collecting and storing records. If you ever made a list of your CD or book collection this is in many ways a highly simplified database.

Moodle allows a teacher to create a database to allow students to upload and or share information for whatever purpose. The secret to developing a database is to know what information you want it to store. After this, you just select the fields in Moodle to complete the database.

This post will explain how to develop a database in Moodle based on particular needs. We will make a database that stores information about Asian food.

1. After logging into Moodle you need to turn editing on, click “add resources” and select database. As shown in the picture below.

 2. After clicking “add”, you need to give the database a name and if you want, a description. The options are mostly familiar except for “entries”. The “entries”” options allows you to control when an entry is viewable. Below is a picture of the database.

3. After clicking “save and display” you will be taken to the next page where you add the fields you want. The fields are simply the different forms of information you want the database to store. There are 12 of them  as listed below and next to each is a description of how we will use them in the example

• Date-Date you tried the food
• Text input-Name of Asian food
• Picture-Picture of Asian food
• Menu-Meal when the food was eaten
• Number-Rate the level of spiciness
• Multi-menu-Who eats the food
• Checkbox-Where is the food prepared at
• Radio button-Recommendation of the food
• Text area-Comments about the food
• file-Upload recipe
• URL-Website about the food
• Latlong-Location of where the food was eaten

We will now use all twelve in making  a database

4. First, we will create a date field so the student can indicate when they tried the food. To do this click on the drop down box to add a new field . Type in the information and click “add”.

5.We will now make a text input. This is a single line of space for inputting text. In this field, the students will be able to put the name of the Asian food. There are also two options for making this field required and to autolink it throughout the course. Below is a visual

6. The picture field allows the students to upload a picture. For us, we want to be able to see the food that the students eat. You can set the options if you desire for the size of the picture

7. We will now create a menu field. This field will allow the student to indicate one of several options. For our example, the student will select if the meal was for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. In the options, you must put one choice per line

8. We will use the number field to indicate the level of spiciness of the food

9. The multimenu allows you to select several options at once. For our example, we want to know who eats this type of food foreigner, local, or both.

10. The checkbox field allows for multiple choices to be selected. For our example, we want to know where the food is prepared.

 

11. The radio button allows a person to make a single choice. For example, we want the students recommendation about the food

12. The text area allows for anything to be added. It is also possible to determine the size of this box. For us, we want to allow the student to share additional comments about the food.

13. The file field allows for attachments. We are going to have the students upload the recipe of the food.

14. The url field allows for a link. For the example, the students will put a website that explains more about the food

15. Lastly, the Latlong field allows for the inclusion of location. You have to indicate the external map services you want to use. For our example, we are asking for the location where the student ate the food.

16. After completing the various fields, you need to click on “templates’ in order to set the template.

Below are two more pictures, the first picture shows what an empty entry looks like. This can be accessed by clicking on “add entry”. The second picture is a picture of a completed entry. This can be seen be clicking on “view single”

Conclusion

This post explain how to create databases in Moodle. All that is required is an idea of what exactly you want the students to input. From there, clicking on several different fields is not to complicated for any teacher. The benefit of the database is that it is a highly structured way of collecting data. This is useful for students who require a greater degree of support.