Evaluating the Use of an Interactive Software Tool for Learning BCNF Normalization
Georgia Koloniari · 2017
Normalization is a required task to ensure a relational database schema with no data repetition and anomalies. However, most students of database courses find it too theoretical and difficult to understand. In this paper, we present a study of an educational tool for BCNF normalization we have developed. The goal of the tool is twofold: to be used as a teaching aid by the instructor to make normalization more understandable and especially to be used as a self-training tool by students for practice. The results of our study show a positive feedback by the participating students on both design goals of our tool. The students also positively rate the tool with respect to usability and user-friendliness. Finally, our preliminary results show an improved performance of the students using the tool in their final exams.