Re: A database theory resource - ideas

"Bob Badour" <bbadour_at_pei.sympatico.ca> wrote in message news:yaGKh.11280$PV3.116035_at_ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca...
> Bruce C. Baker wrote:
>
>> "Bob Badour" <bbadour_at_pei.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
>> news:TWFKh.11276$PV3.115808_at_ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca...
>>
>>>Bruce C. Baker wrote:
>>
>> <snip>
>>
>>>>Lots and lots of simple, tightly-focused examples. Think "RDBMS for
>>>>Dummies"! :-)
>>>
>>>I don't see how that will help anyone learn to think in the abstract. If
>>>one can only understand recipes, one can go work for a restaurant.
>>
>>
>> A short, simple example can sometimes bring home the point of a long and
>> detailed technical explanation. One reinforces the other. Don't take my
>> "RDBMS for Dummies" suggestion /too/ seriously! :-)
>>
>> The "... for Dummies" books can indeed be too simplistic, but as a
>> /starting point/ for a complete newbie, they serve very well.
>
> The single biggest problem in our industry is a lack of fundamental
> knowledge and basic education. A recipe book and examples will do nothing
> to address the problem and will serve only to perpetuate it.

Agreed.

Bob, have you ever read a "... for Dummies" book? If so, you'd know that they're /primers/, not cookbooks.

I stand by my statement that a concrete example can reinforce and complement an abstract technical explanation. Received on Fri Mar 16 2007 - 19:20:10 CDT