The reason databases were invented was so  there would be a systematic approach so that information can be used as it  is accumulated in large quantities and searched through quickly.  In  a paper database a form is one record.  Disadvantages to paper very expensive  to maintain, inflexible, and slow to organize or retrieve information.   Databases can be used in teaching to support higher order think and analysis  and comparison.
Labels to define similarity become fields of database.  The data within defines difference between one record and another.  The organizing enables us to fill in information with complexity and volume, because you explore relationships between things.  The database asks an open ended question that requires research, and the fields hold the information you collect.               

   Automated databases started with Herman Hollerith's contract to do US census with punch cards.  The problem came about because of the time it took to do the manual method.  Then IBM absorbed the market place in 1998 it produces the database that handles the largest information DB2.  The largest of these is the patent server.  In this database are 26 years of US patent information.  The entries start with January 5, 1971.  In the pyramid each high level represents higher quality information and each lower level lower quality information.  At the top are people and organizations and as you move down the list it requires lesser degrees of mental intelligence. 
Definitions of different types of databases
flat file-  a flat file database works with one set of database records at a time.
Relational- a relational database interconnects different sets of database records, so that a search in one database will retrieve records with links to data in other sets of database records.

   One of the more useful features is mail merge where you can merge document with your database this can be used in form letters.  Issues for schools to look at is whether there is a 800 number with technical support.
        Uses for databases include bibliographic citations, class rosters, collection of information, information for instructional lessons, inventories for classroom equipment, inventories, background information on students, mailing labels, schedules, student records, teaching research techniques or any other collection of information on a topic.
   The payoffs of a database are that it highlights higher order thinking, good way to look for information and respond to it, it is a requirement of computer literacy competencies, it is a good way to keep student records.
Bibliography: Themes/databases/databases.html

   Images have always been a part of our ability to interpret information in our environment. 
"Why does our instruction in language arts neglect detailed instruction in the composition, editing and revision of images which integrate with text or drop it in meddle and high school levels?"
  "Should student composition increasingly reach for the relevance of the professional standards they encounter every day?"
"How does reading an image compare with reading a page of text?"
"If language arts curriculum should become more relevant and more closely aligned with current publishing standards, what must it include?"
   Desktop publish originally was a tool that sent page layout to paper.  Now it is about the integration of two mediums text and image.  Rudolf Arnheim say 1969 that visual thinking is the primary basis of all learning and thinking.  This is key to memory because 80% or what we actually retain is visual.  This means that we should move image composition to a place of support to text rather than competition with text.  This is the genre that enables the manipulation and merging of both image and text to printed paper.  Electronic slide show is the power to merge image and text to a presentation.

Analysis
"What are the key ideas that need to be communicated?"
"What is the best way to subdivide or break up the display and organization of information so that not overwhelm or bore the reader and learner?"

Comparison
"Compare the role of image and text in a publication?  How are the same and how are they different?"

Inference
"How do different arrangements of text change the meaning of the piece?"
"If I publish it in this arrangement, what will my audience think of these ideas and their presentation?"

Evaluation
"Is this publication as good or better than other presentations of this information?"

One transition
Hand sign and touch to orally (speaking emerged in pre-historic eras)

Second from orally to orthography ( written communication in 2000 to 700 BC)

Orthography to photography (cinematography and virtual reality 1800-1900's)

Finally with audiography and other forms which can be referred to as mediaography.

In Leap publish or paper or web or perform or lecture, painting, dance or sport.

Bibliography: 
Ch6-imagereading.html

The three layers of the pyramid are people which takes you to white and yellow page links or you can go to an sup and faq area to hunt.
The second layer is Place which is a link to library card catalogs and articles.
The third layer is thing- this is a link which stores resources electronically or the internet.
The Story of the Pyramid
Look stage- you are hunting for information.  You need a strategy to search and the best way to do this is in order of person, place, and thing.
   The top of the pyramid or person layer are the experts who have thought about question or problem.  The wonderful thing is that a person interacts can help you narrow your question down and also direct you on a path which may be one book or a single article.  The only disadvantage is if you have a negative person who tries to skew you from your path or does not work in your time frame.
   The middle of the pyramid  or the place layer would be your next stop.  This is a layer where books,  articles, movies, and videos and other physical forms are stored.  This  could be in paper form or plastic examples of this are film, microfiche, audio  tape, videotape, CD's.  This is information that has been reviewed and  analyzed for quality.  Main inconvenience is getting the material to  you which could mean Interlibrary loan or overnight deliveries, and copy machines.
   The base of the pyramid or the thing layers represents information on computer hard drives or mass storage, the main advantage is it is often free and fast.  This information is also easy to edit, copy, and fit into a publication.
The diameter is 19 clicks according to fall 1999 Nature magazine.
  The main problem with web sites is the legitimacy of information.
The role of the Information pyramid is to know how it is organized and how to use it efficiently.

There are two links one to the Western Carolina University site and one to the Nation and Globe site.
Definition of a physical library means that you can walk and see shelves of books, magazines, videos, CD's and so forth.  Online access in this sense only gives you the location of the book like a card catalog.

   This leads you to resources stored  physically and available globally.  This is a resource where you can  look for magazines, newspapers, and books.  If you want to hunt for fiction  or non fiction in an academic library search for PZ7 (Library of Congress  fiction catalog number) or IMC (Instructional Materials center).  Other  approaches for searching for works for children are to search for child appropriate  subjects like dinosaurs, dogs or etc.  You could use search terms like  children's literature, children's books, children's stories, juvenile literature.   New stuff emerging are k-12 libraries.  At this time cable tv and bookstores  have a more information online about books.

  The things pyramid is divided into four  categories.  The first being Pro or professional web sites, the next  being reviewed web sites, then subject catalogs of web sites, and finally  robot collected web sites.

"Desktop publishing (DTP): Combining text and graphics into documents such as books, magazines, brochures, and manuals by using a computer system, special software, and high resolution output devices. (Jones Telecommunications and Multimedia Encyclopedia)."

   In the past desktop publishing referred to putting images and text together and displaying it on newsletter or book.  This goes beyond the text only process of word processors.  Now even editing video can be seen as desktop publishing the definition therefore is in flux.
   Main issue is design.  Design decision go from the every day of table setting to a more complex designing of a document.  The first emergence of desk top publishing came with the laser printer which provided a high quality output similar to printing.
   The  two features that set this apart are page layout which means you can change  fonts and image objects with out continuous columns.  The second is  image and graphic control which means you can resize, rotate, crop, and shape  an image.

    Step One is to go to file and new check on assistant check box.  Then select newsletter and go okay.  Then next.  Pick instruction or training.  Pick letter paper.  Pick hometown paper.  Insert Monthly and date he choose volume 2 two pages.  Click yes on table of contents, and yes on editorial, In black space put the label none.  Yes on hints and tips documents.  This will give one newsletter for me to create and one that talks about how to create a newsletter.
   Step two is examine the newsletter assistant by viewing and switching to other view.  My future newsletter will be at 50 percent the other can be changed to 25% so it can be read or printed out.  In my newsletter pictures and words can be put in by pasting in the columns of text.
  Step three is to copy and paste a camcorder image.  First double click the source file then open the destination file and return to the still image.  Edit and select all then you can edit and copy into the newsletter.  Select paste and then drag into the location you want.
  Step four is to make changes you can click somewhere inside the image and click and drag across the portion you want cropped.  Then you edit and click copy until you are in destination then you click paste you can paste as many times as you want to.  Then all you have to do is copy and paste.
  Step five in order to resize image, pick the object of choice and drag on the corners.  If you drag grammatically and lose proportions then you can click undo.  You can click and drag at 45 degree angles and scale in proportional size.
   Step six draw can be used in layers.  If you do not want borders on your white box click none.  Layers can be moved forward or backward and background image can be resized to cover all of the lines behind the artwork.
  To find clip art in power point go to insert and drag down to pictures.  To copy pictures from a web page hold down the mouse button and command copy and then paste in the destination.  You can also save images to disk or drive.
  Killian computer labs has videos on its computers a list is in this web site.
  There is a video player in apple under launcher called apple video player.  In apple go to windows smallest size, then click on video camera on the controls box.  Then with video source your clicking the middle screen.

When dealing with tables you can go to insert and new to put in a new table.  It is important to remember you do not always get what you expect when dealing with tables.
Adding images- they can over power text and sometimes they need to be lightened so text can be seen.
Just a caution when using color because it could send your web reader running.  There are color wheels available to help you, and make sure that you use web safe colors there are 216 of them.
Bibliography:
webtophome.html