Re: [pgsql-advocacy] Is my MySQL Gaining ?

From: Bret Busby <bret(at)busby(dot)net>
To: pgsql-general(at)postgresql(dot)org
Subject: Re: [pgsql-advocacy] Is my MySQL Gaining ?
Date: 2003-12-30 05:45:42
Message-ID: Pine.LNX.4.44.0312301332180.22933-100000@BBRH73.busby.net
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On Mon, 29 Dec 2003, Jeff Eckermann wrote:

>
> Isn't this what books are supposed to be for? i.e. to
> fill in the gaps or provide the coverage, tips, howtos
> etc. etc. that no-one really expects formal
> documentation to cover. There are quite a few good
> books out there, including two accessible online, with
> links from the www.postgresql.org page (that must have
> been modesty on your part ;-) ). Bruce's book, even
> referring to an outdated version of PostgreSQL, still
> gives a pretty good introduction for an SQL newbie in
> how to get started.
>
> We have plenty of good stuff already out there, the
> issue here appears to be more one of presentation and
> organization.
>
>

But, do these things have set exercises, relevant to the material, to
ensure the reader understands the material?

It is one thing to present a worked example, but, without getting a
student to perform an exercise "create a database named supermarket,
with tables groceryline and socklevel and itemprice, input 100 stock
lines of varying stock levels, and of varying values, then create a
report of the total value of the stock, and a report listing the stock
lines with an item value over $5.00, and the total value of stock with
item prices over $5.00", to show whether the student actually
understands what to do, and how to do it, so the student can realise
whether the student needs to go back and cover the material again, or
whether the student can move on.

To give a person knowledge, increases the person's memorised
information; to require the person to use the knowledge, makes the
person learn, and increases the person's skills.

That is why I have repeatedly referred to the need for a "Teach Yourself
PostgreSQL in 21 Days" book, to have such exercises, etc.

--
Bret Busby
Armadale
West Australia
..............

"So once you do know what the question actually is,
you'll know what the answer means."
- Deep Thought,
Chapter 28 of
"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:
A Trilogy In Four Parts",
written by Douglas Adams,
published by Pan Books, 1992
....................................................

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