A brief encounter with databases

This semester, we learned about spreadsheets and relational databases. The first we practiced on handling were spreadsheets. Spreadsheets are excel files with data that can be connected from one sheet to another. At the bottom of the sheets, more tabs can be made. On the new tab, information from the previous tabs can be recalled using specific prompts. The information on these sheets can be maneuvered and new information can be obtained from the info at hand. Some examples are obtaing the average from a dataset and finding which scores were the most popular on a test. Relational databases are a bit different. These are used strictly for recalling information from a spreadsheet and the information cannot be manipulated to give new stats. The only thing a person can manipulate is how the data is presented. This is also achieved through a set of commands, just like excel with spreadsheets. Also, we were able to manipulate spreadsheets with excel while relational databases required us to download a different software called DB Browser for SQLite.

For our database class project, we obtained an excel file that contained stats on various diseases. It contained information such as the amount of infected individuals and the total population count in the states during specific years. If we wanted to know how many cases of a particular disease took place during any given year, then it would take us a bit of time to find the information. Making relational databases helped us group and present the information in the ways we wanted them presented. Through the use of prompts, we were able to filter the information and have the system show us things such as the exact number of people infected in a specific year, in a certain year, with a specific disease such as measles.

While reflecting on these projects, a few lessons stood out to me. First for the relational database: the prompts we input on the first line of commands dictates the amount of columns that will be presented on the query. Another thing I learned was that this method is most like the method used by my previous employers when I would search up information that could not be changed by me. Although the system looked different, it was through very strict commands that customer information would be shown to me. I also noticed that the databases can be made by manipulating the information on spreadsheets. While reflecting on this process it seemed to me that when working on a system for an employer, programmers must input information on spreadsheets and manipulate it to cover any possible request. Then it is decided how to display the information with a relational database. With relational databases, unauthorized personnel won't be able to change the numbers. And only key personnel can have access to the spreadsheets.

Learning about databases has motivated me into enrolling into the biological data science masters' program. Although I have not enrolled at the moment, I did sign up for an introductory class for next semester. I was truly lost about where to go with my educational journey since medical school is not an option due to education costs and my responsibilities as a parent. But, this class has shown me that I can still do something I enjoy with my current degree path. The masters' program is available online or through evening classes so it would be easier for me to work a morning job and do my classwork in the evenings. . . I am so grateful for this opportunity to have dipped my feet into databases. Thank you, Professor Dietrich, for showing us the other side of research.