Teaching Tools for Database Technologies

The teaching of the theory and use of data management systems is made more difficult because it is usually supported by the practical use of commercial software which deliberately obscures the concepts being taught. The theory is hidden by interfaces that rightly emphasise usability. Many mappings are carried out automatically and the techniques used are manipulably by the user.

We are devloping software which simulates data management in a manner which reveals the underlying mechanisms. In particular we are using the following techniques:

• staged execution so that a process can be followed;
• animation of processes;
• the exposure of protocols;
• the use of diagrams which are queryable;
• linking activities with the code (pseudo-code and final code);
• hyperlinked help systems, explanations and glossaries.

Among the systems we have been producing are:

• a simulated relational database with the following features:
• the ability to create ER diagrams and see how they map to relations;
• the ability to write relational calculus and relational algebra
• a normalisation demonstrator;
• the exposure of transaction management;
• the management of distributed databases;
• the use of JDBC;
• the use of HTTP to manage dynamic web sites;
• the implementation of web services;
• XML programming techniques.

Here is a PDF of a talk given at the University of Birmingham inj November 2004.