Personal Summary

Wang Yizhi

It is time to summarize what I have learnt in database course in this semester. Frankly speaking, this is one of the courses which have exerted most stress on me. However, it is also the most unique and irreplaceable course I have ever taken, because I have acquired not only basic knowledge concerning database, but also study skills and creative ideas in various fields.

Basic knowledge learnt in class

Since the course is entitled database system concepts, learning and understanding the basic knowledge of database is the essential requirement for students. Lectures on various topics have been given by groups of students throughout the semester, and knowledge of different parts has been introduced in an entertaining and instructive way.

Here is the knowledge map drawn by myself.

Skills learnt

Firstly, in this course, my study skills are improved a lot. Since there is no specified text book, we have to search for information by ourselves, and get access to new knowledge and information efficiently and effectively through different ways. For example, I learnt the concept of relational model by reading the paper: A Relational Model of Data for Large Shared Data Banks. It was the first time for me to learn the new thing by reading paper. Though it was difficult at first, I managed to get used to this kind of study method.  In order to learn more about E-R model and the E-R diagram, I spent some time reading the books found in the library.  After the lecture on normalization and denormalization, I searched for more material and applied the knowledge to data model design of our project ADAM.

Secondly, I learn to use different software as study tools. Mathematica is used to design the presentation slides for our midterm slides. XAMPP is used to construct the database and manage the data. XMind and yEd Graph Editor are used to draw various diagrams, including logical diagram, fishbone diagram, and E-R diagram. EditPlus 3 is used to edit different Codes, including SQL, Javascript and XML related programming languages, such as XPath, XQuery, XSLT, etc.

Thirdly, I learnt to make a presentation of high quality in this course, especially in English. Before this semester, I felt confident and satisfied with my presentation skills. I thought a successful presentation simply means delivering a speech fluently. However, the experience of designing and making presentation in this course changed my opinion thoroughly. I realized that whether a presentation is successful or not depends on how well the audience accepts the information conveyed. An effective presentation requires a clear outline, attractive pictures and diagrams, appropriate animation, and well organized content. Besides, fluent expression is of great importance as well. It is always hard to begin speaking English in the public, but “practice makes perfect”. Sufficient preparation will make an interesting and attractive presentation.

Fourthly, the ability of cooperation, both in group and between groups is trained in this course through projects and lectures. Inevitably, members in the same group have to do different kinds of work. In this case, good cooperation makes a friendly and happy environment. Besides, appropriate work allocation enables everyone to work efficiently on what he is good at.   

Finally, the most important thing I acquired in this course is innovative thinking. We have been pushed to think hard to get new and creative ideas throughout the course, including the function of our project, the construction of our data model, the storyline of our videos, the way to make the presentation, and so on. I have never realized that we have the ability to create so many interesting things.

Work done in the group

Data model design: apply the knowledge of E-R model, relational model, and normalization to the design and improvement of the data model.

Mid-term report slides: learn to use Mathematica and make the presentation slides.

Lecture preparation: study XML in advance, and give a lecture in group before allocating different parts of the formal lecture; in charge of XML-related programming of the lecture.

Document: finish project proposal; writing part of final report; writing some of the group blogs.

Presentation: mid-term report presentation, lecture, final report presentation.

Video: play in all the videos shot by our group.

Intergroup cooperation: cooperate with Database Lovers, and transport data they need use XML exported by My SQL.