Week 1: Introduction to Databases and Organizing (April 10)¶
Goals
- Understand what a database does and it’s primary uses
- Understand how databases support organizing work
Outline
- What is a database?
- Example of databases in organizing
- ALLERT video or video from Voter Techkit
- Exercises in using MS Access to get information from database (QUERY)
- Using the SQL Bingo data (members, organizing teams) have the class create queries to answer questions. ie list of members in the ‘Mobile Home Parks’ group, etc.
- Generate a report (printable list of members)
- Use, edit and create a simple form to add and edit member data.
Set up and Materials
- MS Access DB setup with SQL Bingo data
- Relationships setup, one or two example queries, a form and a report(?)
- Data modified to include email and phone number if not already there
Assignments
- Uploading Technology chapter in Radical Democracy
- Database assignment: ie create a form, report, query of some sort
Week 2: Databases with Access cont. + Relationships (April 17)¶
Goals
- Understand Relational Data
- Be able to create queries on relational data
- Be able to create a report that uses relational data (ie member profile that shows list of events attended)
- Be able to create form for manual input
- Be able to import data from file (xls, csv)
Outline
- Start with another video or example of databases in organizing
- Review last weeks progress and topics
- Introduce relationships in more depth (frame questions and exercises)
- Extend current database to include event tracking
- Add/Import event attendance data from mock sign-up sheet
- Have a handout prepared (paper and/or electronic) that is a sign-up sheet for a couple of events
- Add queries/forms/reports to match new relationships (some part is HW?)
Set up and Materials
- DB file from previous week to review
- Need spreadsheet of event sign-ups (xls to csv format) to import
Assignments
- Reading from Radical Democracy and/or Voter Techkit (something about collecting data)
Week 3: Data Merge (April 24)¶
Goals
- Understand “anatomy” of a data merge (data, template, merged document)
- Be able to easily create mailing labels, letters, thank you postcards, walk/call sheets
Outline
- Explain data merging “anatomy”
- Start with questions or an example of where it’s really useful. Perhaps give a fake assignment to create a bunch of letters or labels.
- Go through creating a merge for labels and letters
- Either merge directly from MS Access or export a report to Excel and merge that.
- Explain walk and call sheets (video example, guest speaker, demonstration). Create template as class and then merge with data.
Set up and Materials
- Need materials from Data Merge workshop in TechCamp curriculum (modified to fit our existing data)
- Test our merging from MS Access and see if it’s worthwhile (or easy enough to do in class)
Assignments
- Students create a merge to send a thank you note to the attendees of the last fundraising dinner.
- Reading?
Week 4: Data Input and Merging (May 1)¶
Goals
- Be able to print report with barcode data for input
- Be able to import and merge a list from “partner organization”
- de-duplication, cleaning data, finding matches, Excel to split/concatenate, find and replace (ie “Av to AVE”)
- script to clean up data (“list enhancement”) – what is the format that other list-enhancement services use (Gill Foundation)?
Outline
- Work through process of importing a “partner orgs” membership list and cross-referencing
- Set up a report (ie call sheet) with barcode data, print and do input
Set up and Materials
- Excel or other data file from “partner organization” (union, church, etc) – need details on how this would be implemented in Access (query to report? or new table structure?)
- Barcode scanner (can we use on lab computers?) hooked up to laptop
- Barcode font installed (on laptop or in labs)
- Sample DB from previous weeks but with something to track (call sheet response? walk sheet response?)
Assignments
- DB assignment?
- Reading?
Week 5: Other Database Topic: Analysis with PivotCharts? Something else?(May 8)¶
Goals
Outline
Set up and Materials
Assignments
- Reading to prep for voter data class
- voter privacy reading
- county election voter data info
- something from voter techkit
Week 6: Voter Data (May 15)¶
Goals
Outline
Set up and Materials
Assignments
Week 7: Voter Data continued (May 22)¶
Goals
Outline
Set up and Materials
Assignments
Week 8: Other Topics: Email Advocacy Tools (May 29)¶
Goals
Outline
Set up and Materials
Assignments
Week 9: Other Topics: SMS Campaign Tools (Jun 5)¶
Goals
Outline
Set up and Materials
Assignments
Stuff to Review for Assignments, Resources and Reading¶
- PTP Voter Techkit
- Tools for Radical Democracy
- Chapter 7 (?) on Uploading Technology
- Appendix on the “why” of Electoral Organizing
- Review worksheets for good examples of walk/call sheets for data collection
- Networks of Community-led Organizations Involved in Voter Engagement
- California Voter Foundation Report on Voter Privacy
- Introduction has good short overview of Voter Data
- Santa Cruz County Elections Department
- Desktop SMS Campaign Tools
Voter Registration Assignment¶
From Arif: “so I’d say that it’s a great exercise for the experience, but that there isn’t really a connect to the data side of things, unless you use the inability to key it all in as a teaching moment for thinking about the strategy – what is accomplished by registration? Do you need to key it all in to accomplish that? what could you capture in the db that would be useful, etc.”