Exploitation of data modeling for database design in secondary education learning activities: A case study concerning real stories analysis

Abstract : Data models are representation systems for structural modelling of physical systems. Data models application results in databases that are amenable to computation enabling the modeller to interact with them for information retrieval, hypotheses testing, comparisons etc. In this paper we initially approach the didactic and learning value of data modelling for database design in terms of the features related to students' involvement in the related learning activities. In order to clarify the proposed analysis a case study is presented concerning the design of a database for the analysis of real stories about vehicular accidents. The case study results support the fundamental consideration that database design based learning activities offer opportunities for rich learning situations that activate high order thinking.