Database design in the real world

10 practical lessons learned from the field

Stephanie M RandolphSchool of Health, Physical Education, and RecreationOctober 17, 2007

Stephanie M. Randolph Web and Database Manager School of Health, Physical Education, and Re

creation MIS 2006 National Center on Accessibility UITS – Data Management Support Division of Recreational Sports

About Me

Know the fundamentals of proper database

design Normalization, entities, attributes, domains,

relationships, keys Understanding now will save time and

frustration in the future Example: ER Diagram

Lesson #1

EducationIndividual

Test Scores

First NameMiddle NameLast NameSuffixOther First NameOther Middle NameOther Last NameOther SuffixEmail AddressGenderEthnic InformationDate of BirthCity of BirthState of BirthCountry of BirthCountry of CitizenshipVisa StatusNative LanguageNative Language listParent/Guardian First NameParent/Guardian Middle InitialParent/Guardian Last NameParent/Guardian RelationshipParent/Guardian Address 1Parent/Guardian Address 2Parent/Guardian Address 3Parent/Guardian Address 4Parent/Guardian CityParent/Guardian CountyParent/Guardian StateParent/Guardian ZipParent/Guardian CountryParent/Guardian Home PhoneAcademic ProgramMajorAcademic InterestSemester of EnrollmentOther Universities (multi?)State Prior to Attending Indiana CollegeRequire Housing (Y/N)Affirmation (Y/N)Student CommentsPersonal StatementResident? (Y/N)Current Application (Y/N)Which FellowshipCIC Participant (Y/N)Project 1000 Participant (Y/N)McNair Scholar (Y/N)MEDIC-B Scholar (Y/N)National Physical Science Consortium (Y/N)Academic HonorsExtracurricular ActivitiesNative LanguagesLanguages TranslatedLanguages Speak Read WriteThesis (Y/N)IU Assistantship (Y/N)Dates Reachable CurrentDates Reachable PermanentFAFSA FormsComputer SkillsPrimary Area of InterestHealth Science ContentSchool Health EducationPublic Health EducationDriver EducationDriver Education Advanced

First NameLast NameStreet Address 1Street Address 2CityStateZip CodeCountryPhoneEmail AddressTitleEmployerRelationshipWaive Right (Y/N)Submit Online (Y/N)Personal Note

Public Health EducationDriver EducationDriver Education AdvancedOther CertificationsProfessional Writing ExperienceReview LiteratureDesign StudyCollect DataAnalyze DataWriting Up ResultsTeaching ExperienceBiomechanicsExercise PhysiologyMeasurement/StatisticsMotor Learning/Motor ControlSport PsychologyAdapted Physical EducationSchoolCampDisability TypeOtherNATA Certified (Y/N)NATA Certification NumberWhy Not CertifiedAT Degree TrackEMTParamedicPhysical TherapyOtherAT SportsPosition Preference 1Position Preference 2Position Preference 3

Phone

Recommendations

Phone NumberHome, Work, Fax, Pager, or Mobile?

1-M

1-M

1-M

1-M

1-M

1-M

1-M

1-M

1-M

1-M

1-M

Work Experience

Other Experience

Publications

ARC Certifications

Activities

Address

Residency

Teaching Experience

GRE Test DateGRE Verbal ScoreGRE Verbal PercentileGRE Quantitative ScoreGRE Quantitative PercentileAnalytical (< 10/1/02)Percentile (< 10/1/02)Analytical Writing (> 10/1/02)Analytical Writing Percentile (> 10/1/02)Subject (> 10/1/02)Subject Percentile (> 10/1/02)Results Sent to IU (Y/N)Which CampusTOEFL Test DateTOEFL Listening ScoreTOEFL Structure and Writing ScoreTOEFL Reading ScoreTOEFL Essay ScoreTOEFL Total ScoreComputer or Test BasedResults Sent to IU (Y/N)Which Campus

College/University CodeCollege/University CityCollege/University NameCollege/University StateCollege/University CountryBegin DateEnd DateDegree CodeDegree NameHours CompletedDate Degree Anticipated/ReceivedUS GPANon-US Grade AverageMajorMinorReason for Attending

Address 1Address 2Address 3Address 4CityCountyStateZipCountryCurrent, Permanent or New?Length of Current Permanent Date of Address Change

Beginning DateAddressCityCountyZip

GradeCourseYearsLevel

NameTypeTeaching Experience

TypeHome officeExpiration date

TypeTitleJournalList of AuthorsPage NumbersDates

Role PlayedEventDates

Job TitleEmployer NameCityStatePhoneStart DateEnd Date

1-M

Plan things right from the beginning Don’t rush this phase The more thought given at the start will

equate to less work down the road Users and/or administration will sometimes

have unrealistic expectations Example: PhD Admissions Database

Lesson #2

Think beyond the *what* In terms of data you want to know *Who,

where, when, and how* Data is worthless unless it can be applied Examples: HPER Technology Requests and

NCA Site Evaluations

Lesson #3

Know your users Beyond interviews – watch them Know what they do and what causes them

problems and what is easy for them Learn their lingo Get their feedback The better your relationship, the better the

system Example: PhD Admissions Database

Lesson #4

Know how *things* work in your organization

Get to know administration Get to know future plans or, better yet, BE

involved with future planning Next to your manager, future changes will

affect you the most You need to have a stake in the future Think *details* AND *big picture*

Lesson #5

Develop your system based on currentprocedures; DON’T create new

proceduresbased on a new system! Not basing on current procedures leads to

resistance from users and/or just makes it harder for them to adapt

Modeling Example: PhD Admissions Flow Chart

Lesson #6

Develop flexible, extensible systems Things WILL change OR you won’t

anticipate a future need Example of what not to do: Staff Bios and

phpMyAdmin

Lesson #7

Be aware of surrounding systems Don’t design in a vacuum and don’t

reinvent the wheel◦ Other systems already in place may be used

instead of or in conjunction with your system◦ Saves time and can be helpful to your users

Example: IUIE and ApplyYourself

Lesson #8

Be prepared to fix the work of others Humor

◦ http://www.thecrumb.com/2007/06/20/bad-database-design-why/

◦ http://secretgeek.net/badtables.asp

Lesson #9

Don’t go for the “WOW!”; go for the “Ahhh!”

You want the transition from pre-launch to post-launch to be seamless

You want your users to feel comfortable and at ease, not in shock

The more technically complex your system is the greater the chance of failure

Start small and build over time Example: SIP

Lesson #10