Data Modelling

I've spent the last few weeks trying to find decent resources for data modelling to develop teaching material. Most authors seem to be over complicating things, although you could argue that the blame lies with the actual techniques. ER modelling and normalisation techniques apply rules to formalise a common sense approach.

For small familiar data models common sense and experience probably suffice but for anything larger or more complex they are invaluable and should be followed wisely.

For the three Rapid Development modules I'm running, I've covered one or more of the following at both Undergraduate and Postgraduate level:

Entity relationship modelling, Normalisation, Class Diagrams and Data Dictionary.

Out of all of these Normalisation seems to be the topic which is being described in several different ways, each more unnecessarily complicated than the rest. The columnar-tabular method I was taught in industry seems to be the most effective way of teaching normalisation and I'm using my old training course material to deliver it in the class room. I will keep trying to track down an author who completes normalisation in the same way but in the meantime if anyone reading this finds any suitable papers, websites or books then please let me know...

Welcome

This blogspot is being used as a demo for University of Teesside students studying Rapid Development Tools and Rapid Development Systems.

1. Create your own blogspot and ensure you use your student id to name it, e.g. U0019190.blogspot.com.
2. Send the URL of your blogging site to j.e.noble@tees.ac.uk.
3. At the beginning of each tutorial create a new post and list the topics covered in the lecture, add any references you have found and list areas that you are not sure about and require assistance with.
4. Your blogspot will be checked as part of your ICA submission, so it is essential that you keep this up to date when requested to do so.

Good luck!