Databases for Many Majors

• Suzanne W. Dietrich, Arizona State University, NSF DUE-0941584, March 2010 - February 2013
• Don Goelman, Villanova University, NSF DUE-0941401, March 2010 - February 2013

With the pervasive role played by databases in our information-centric society and the increasing demand for students with interdisciplinary skills, the next challenge on the horizon for database educators, and the goal of this project, is the design of a database curriculum for many majors. This goal is consistent with the enhanced consciousness of computational thinking, which introduces computational methods and models to non-computing majors. The objectives of this project are to enable a diverse audience of students with the knowledge of databases.Using student-centered approaches for engagement and active learning, the development of sample learning modules introduces students of many backgrounds to relational databases. Each unit includes student learning outcomes, engaging animations, and a collection of cooperative learning exercises. An important facet of this design is the provision of modules that can be parameterized with the domain-specific concepts for a given major. At this stage of the research, two domains within STEM disciplines illustrate the extensibility and applicability of the developed learning modules.

• Sharon Crook, ASU, Senior Personnel, Domain Partner
• Bangbo Hu, Villanova University, Senior Personnel, Domain Partner
• Patricia Clark, ASU, Senior Personnel, Artistic Assessment
• Carol Weiss, Villanova University, Assessment Design
• Connie Borror, ASU, Assessment
• Brad Schneider, ASU, Developer
• Priya Dharshini Ponniah Rajagopal, ASU, Developer