[Year 12 IT Apps] Database Normalisation

[Mark KELLY]

Hi Jenny, and thanks for your interest in normalisation.  You say you "hope
it is relevant to the VCE requirements", and that is the main point I want
to make about VCE IT normalisation.

The details of 1/2/3NF is WAY too much for ITA kids.  It's for tertiary
students and professionals; expecting our kids to understand the diff
between 2NF and 3NF, I believe, is a pointless waste of time.

I only hope the examiners see reason and put normalisation in its proper
place... "What is normalisation, and why is it good? (2 marks)"

Have a happy pagan northern-hemisphere spring celebration, everyone!

Mark


On 20 April 2011 23:01, JennyG <j1 at imaginethis.biz> wrote:

> Hi,
> Here is an updated version of Mark's Powerpoint on normalizing databases.
> I have gained lots of help from you guys since I started teaching VCE
> middle of last year. So I hope I can help in this way. If there is anything
> that is not clear please let me know. I am one of those nerdy people who
> normalize in their sleep! I did last night anyway, after working on this
> till 1 am!
>
> I went into the history of data storage a little bit, just to give a bit of
> a basic background of the concept of databases.
>
> Classifying data as Reference or Transaction data is a very important (see
> powerpoint). It makes it so much easier to develop the front-end screens.
> You should only need one screen per table and their functions are relevant
> to the type of table it is. For example, using the last example in this
> Powerpoint, you would need one simple screen each to update the reference
> data (Books table and the Customer table), and a third screen, with
> drop-down lists (to select Customer and Books), that allows users to enter
> data into the Purchases table when a book is bought. (see MS Access mdb to
> see what I mean).
> I don't know if the book mentions reference and transaction data. In fact I
> should mention that I did not refer to the text book at all while doing this
> so I hope it is relevant to the VCE requirements. Basically there is no
> exact explanation of the different normal forms, as they are stages, but
> they have to be done right, and you were right, it becomes instinctive,
> thats why it has taken me so long to work out how to explain how it is done!
> I have also attached the xls raw data file for the last example and a
> simple MS Access mdb for anyone interested.
>
> Jenny Gielb
> VCE IT Teacher
> Chisholm Institute of TAFE
> Dandenong Campus
>
>
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-- 
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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