[Year 12 IT Apps] Holiday overload

[Robert Hind]

Thanks for your great ppt Mark. 

The differences between 1NF, 2NF and 3NF are, as you suggest, dependent on  the theorists involved. So if  the VCAA is going to be specific about these levels, then they do need be very specific about their definitions.

Robert Hind (Semi-retired) OOF, GOM
Ashwood and Traralgon
robert at yinnar.com




  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Mark KELLY 
  To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List 
  Sent: Saturday, April 09, 2011 5:13 PM
  Subject: [Year 12 IT Apps] Holiday overload


  Hi, normalised people,

  I woke this morning at 5 of the clock brimming with vacation lethargy and - dammit - thoughts of database normalisation.  I'm sure you did too.  If you didn't, you obviously are not fully normalised. I have done some research into  the pit of normalisation and developed an equally pitiful theory slideshow of normalisation theory:

  http:/vceit.com/slideshows/Database-Normalisation.ppt

  I still have to flesh out 3NF, but the main problem is clearly delineating 1NF from 2NF since no-one amongst the original normalisation theorists seems to agree what 1NF really means. e.g. does 1NF include tables within tables or not?  I can only trust that the examiners do NOT try a question on the real exam similar to the one in the practice questions which requires tertiary IT qualifications and boxing gloves for which to to even venture an answer.  Normalisation theory is not merely a set of guidelines: it is a battlefield of conflicting ideologies, and the more research one does, the less certain any answer becomes.  

  Examiners beware! I reckon the best you will get for an ITA exam question on normalisation is something like, "Is normalisation good? Why?" instead of delving into the differences between 1NF, 2NF and 3NF which are still argued by database theory experts, and are peripheral to the bigger, basic question of good basic database design.  

  All I know is the great joke about 3NF: "so help me Codd".  You have to view the 3NF theory to get the joke. Honestly, it's worth a 30 minute lecture to get to the punchline. Well, it might be worth it.  Your mileage might vary.  I'm on holidays.  Bare feet amuse me at the moment.

  I did my 30 minutes of theory on NF1-3 with my kids. They got the gist of degrees of normalisation. They even laughed at the "so help me Codd" line.  They got the need for normalisation, but I couldn't pluck out the toenails of my best kid to clearly tell me the basic difference between 2NF and 3NF...  It's there, but it's not ITA territory, IMO.

  I completely understand your stoic indifference to database normalisation at this stage in the blessed annual term 1 recuperative cycle.  
  I'd rather be fishing (or cutting my toenails - I might schedule that for tomorrow) than doing normalisation theory. 
  I'd rather be lion taming, but I lack lions.  And I lack normality, but thankfully I can blame that on my parents.

  Enjoy the holidays, and please end up 5NF - fully normalised (as long as you accept the premise of 4NF and 5NF) by the start of term 2

  Basking in the Saturday evening holiday rain,
  Mark

  -- 
  Mark Kelly
  Manager of ICT, Reporting, IT Learning Area
  McKinnon Secondary College
  McKinnon Rd McKinnon 3204, Victoria, Australia
  Direct line / Voicemail: +613 8520 9085, Fax +613 9578 9253
  kel at mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au
  VCE IT Lecture Notes: http://vceit.com
  Moderator: IT Applications Edulist

  All generalisations are false, except this one.




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