Introduction to Databases and Data Storage Technologies

Description

This workshop provides a broad overview of the various technologies for storing and organizing different collections of data. Through case studies, we will discuss how data structure impacts your storage options, when you should use a database, and which platforms you might consider for your research. This workshop is a general lecture with Q&A (no laptops necessary). This workshop is a prerequisite for DataLab's "Getting started with SQL for querying databases" workshop.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this workshop, learners should be able to:

• compare and contrast different data storage platforms;
• explain the differences between SQL and noSQL databases;
• explain the components of an Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD);
• define relational keys;
• identify appropriate data storage solutions based on the structure of a research dataset.

Prerequisites: None

Software: None

Instructor: Carl Stahmer

Instructor Bio: Carl Stahmer is a digital humanist. He is the Executive Director of the UC Davis DataLab and Professor of English. He leverages his expertise as a computer programmer and system architect to tackle complex problems in the humanities and beyond.