How to Setup a Database Activity
Note: You need Teacher or Manager access before you can perform this action.
The database activity module allows the teacher and/or students to build, display and search a bank of record entries about any conceivable topic. The format and structure of these entries can be almost unlimited, including images, files, URLs, numbers and text amongst other things.
The database activity module enables participants to create, maintain and search a collection of entries (i.e. records). The structure of the entries is defined by the teacher as a number of fields. Field types include checkbox, radio buttons, drop-down menu, text area, URL, picture and uploaded file.
The visual layout of information, when listing, viewing or editing database entries, may be controlled by database templates. Database activities may be shared between courses as presets and a teacher may also import and export database entries.
If the database auto-linking filter is enabled, any entries in a database will be automatically linked where the words or phrases appear within the course.
A teacher can allow comments on entries. Entries can also be rated by teachers or students (peer evaluation). Ratings can be aggregated to form a final grade which is recorded in the gradebook.
Database activities have many uses, such as
- A collaborative collection of web links, books, book reviews, journal references etc
- For displaying student-created photos, posters, websites or poems for peer comment and review.
To create an Interactive Content activity within a course page follow the steps below:
Step 1: To start making changes on your course page, click on the 
button then choose Turn editing on.
Step 2: Once the edit mode is activated, you can either choose to edit an existing topic or add a new one.
Adding a topic:
Step 3: Click on Add an activity or resource.
Step 4: Choose 
from the Activities list then click the 
button.
Step 5: Fill out the information needed and adjust the settings for the Database.
Name* | (Mandatory field) enter the name of the Database activity in the Name text box. |
Description | Enter the relevant description in the "Description" text area that describes the Database if needed. |
Display description on course page | (checkbox) If enabled, the description of this activity will be shown on the course page. |
Approval required | If set to ‘Yes’, then entries require approval by teachers before these databases can be viewed. |
Allow editing of approved entries | Allow editing is only available if Approval required is set to ‘Yes’ |
Allow comments on entries | If set to "yes", users will be able to comment on database entries. |
Entries required before viewing | The number of entries a student needs to submit before viewing other student's entries. |
Maximum number of entries | The maximum number of entries a student can submit an activity. |
Available from | If enabled, date and time can be set when databases are available from. |
Available to | If enabled, date and time can be set when databases are available to. |
Read only from | If enabled, date and time can be set when databases are read-only from. |
Read only to | If enabled, date and time can be set when databases are read-only to. |
| Aggregate type | There are six Aggregate types that allow for ratings to be calculated or used: • No rating • Average ratings • Count ratings • Maximum rating • Minimum rating • Sum of rating. |
Scale | When grading a database activity, it is possible to use either a grading scale, a grade point (numerical scale) or neither. Depending on which option is used, will either enable or disable other fields. If using Point type, the maximum grade is a numeric value between 0 and 250 |
| Restrict ratings to items with dates in this range | (checkbox) If enabled, date and time needs to be set to identify when ratings are available from and to. |
Grade Category | Grade Category options are based on the categories created on the gradebook setup. |
Grade to pass | This allows teachers to set the minimum grade required to pass and will be indicated by green for pass and red for fail. |
| Availability | The availability option permits students to view and access assignments and resources, there are two options available: • Show on course page • Hide from students |
| ID number | The ID number can be entered to reference the same ID number from a third-party package especially gradebook. Otherwise, the field may be left blank. |
| Group mode | There are three group settings available: • No groups • Separate groups • Visible groups |
| Grouping | Not available if no group mode is selected, if separate or visible grouping is enabled, you will then be given an option to Add group/grouping access restrictions. |
Teachers may restrict students from accessing lessons and resources based upon a set of conditions. These conditions may be based on whether an activity has been completed or not, date restrictions when lessons can commence, a specified grade to be achieved, a certain user profile, or a set of nested restrictions based on the below settings.
Restrictions can be one, two or all of the following criterion:
| Completion tracking | There are three options available: • Do not indicate activity completion • Students can manually mark the activity as completed • Show activity as complete when conditions are met |
| Require view | (checkbox) If enabled, student must view this activity to complete it. |
| Require Grade | (checkbox) If enabled, student must receive a grade to complete this activity. |
Require entries | (checkbox) If enabled, you need to set how many entries students need to make to be tagged as completed. |
| Expect completed on | This setting specifies the date when the activity is expected to be completed. |
| Tags | Tags will allow students and teachers to connect to other courses and content being offered. |
Competencies will not be available unless they have been set up at a course level. Administrators can set up competency frameworks and add competencies within the framework. Teachers can also add competencies to courses and course activities.
| Course competencies | Course competencies allow you to search for competencies that you’d like to link to your existing activity. |
| Upon activity completion | There are four options to select once an assignment has been completed: • Do nothing • Attach evidence • Send for review • Complete the competency |
Step 6: Once everything is set, click Save and return to course.
The Database activity that has been created will now be displayed in the section where you selected ‘Add an activity or resource’.
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