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. <br><br>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.<br>
<br>I only hope the examiners see reason and put normalisation in its proper place... "What is normalisation, and why is it good? (2 marks)"<br><br>Have a happy pagan northern-hemisphere spring celebration, everyone!<br>
<br>Mark<br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On 20 April 2011 23:01, JennyG <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:j1@imaginethis.biz">j1@imaginethis.biz</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
Hi,<br>
Here is an updated version of Mark's Powerpoint on normalizing databases.<br>
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!<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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).<br>
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!<br>
I have also attached the xls raw data file for the last example and a simple MS Access mdb for anyone interested.<br>
<br>
Jenny Gielb<br>
VCE IT Teacher<br>
Chisholm Institute of TAFE<br>
Dandenong Campus<br>
<br>
<br>_______________________________________________<br>
<a href="http://www.edulists.com.au" target="_blank">http://www.edulists.com.au</a> - FAQ, resources, subscribe, unsubscribe<br>
IT Applications Mailing List kindly supported by<br>
<a href="http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/infotech/itapplications3-4.html" target="_blank">http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/infotech/itapplications3-4.html</a> - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and<br>
<a href="http://www.vitta.org.au" target="_blank">http://www.vitta.org.au</a> - VITTA Victorian Information Technology Teachers Association Inc<br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Mark Kelly<br>Manager of ICT, Reporting, IT Learning Area<br>
McKinnon Secondary College<br>McKinnon Rd McKinnon 3204, Victoria, Australia<br>Direct line / Voicemail: +613 8520 9085, Fax +613 9578 9253<br><a href="mailto:kel@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au" target="_blank">kel@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au</a><br>
VCE IT Lecture Notes: <a href="http://vceit.com" target="_blank">http://vceit.com</a><br>Moderator: IT Applications Edulist<br><br><font>All generalisations are false, except this one.</font><br><br>