[Year 12 IT Apps] Spreadsheet vs Database for U4O1

[geoffmoss37 at bigpond.com]

Fully concur with you Mark, especially since we have many students doing Units 3&4 without Units 1&2 experience and many without any prior experience with spreadsheets or databases.

Loath is not a strong enough word for their attitude towards databases, especially when they have to learn how to use the software as well, having not used the software beforehand.  Even the few who did have Units 1&2 experience did not want to do databases for U4O1.

At least with spreadsheets they can get a fairly quick response to their actions and errors are generally easier to remedy.  

Likewise, my students' results also reflected a better understanding of spreadsheets.

Geoff Moss
RMIT



---- Mark KELLY <kel at mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au> wrote: 
> Hi Robert
> 
> I don't use spreadsheets as databases... did I somehow suggest that?
> 
> I've found the number of students having trouble with spreadsheets is
> *way*less than those having dB trouble - and their marks for U4O1
> compared to
> U3O2 clearly reflect that.
> 
> On 5 December 2011 15:14, Robert Hind <robert at yinnar.com> wrote:
> 
> > Hi Mark,
> >
> > I have never been in favour of using a spreadsheet as a database. So would
> > really go for a RDBMS for U401 rather than spreadsheet software. Introduce
> > the RDBMS in year 11 and progress from  there. Sure some students have
> > problems with databases, but then the same students have trouble with
> > spreadsheets :-)
> >
> > Robert Hind (Semi-retired) OOF, GOM, COF
> > Ashwood and Traralgon
> > robert at yinnar.com
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Mark Scott" <msc at luther.vic.edu.au>
> > To: "Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List"
> > <itapps at edulists.com.au>
> > Sent: Monday, December 05, 2011 10:28 AM
> > Subject: [Year 12 IT Apps] Spreadsheet vs Database for U4O1
> >
> >
> > > Dear all
> > >
> > > I am considering a move away from Spreadsheets for U4O1.
> > >
> > > It just seemed that the 2011 exam might have favoured those students who
> > > did Databases instead.
> > >
> > > What do people think?
> > >
> > > thanks
> > > Mark Scott
> > > Luther College
> > >
> > > "The busier you get, the slower you walk" anon
> > >
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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
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