[AccessD] Teaching Access Course

Jim,

>From my experience, many of the topics you're including are going to be way off the track for the vast majority of users. It depends on what the users are going to be expected to do, of course, but I can promise you that "typical users" are going to be overwhelmed and are going to come away being more dangerous than proficient.

We recently implemented a basic Access skills assessment test for new hires. It consisted of a provided table and a requirement to create two very simple queries and a report using a wizard. The first take on this was deemed "too advanced" and an "unfair test", so we dumbed it down even more. It's a little scary what passes for "skills" among non-tech people, but there it is.

I would cut out most of the underlying theory stuff and all of the programming. If the users are going to be expected to write simple queries, I would give the basics of how to use the query designer and an overview of how data is related. If they need to create reports, I'd show them how to use the wizard, and maybe some basic customizing tools.

Also, this is jam-packed for two days. Be prepared for even what you would consider the most simple of concepts to take at least twice as much time as you'd expect to cover. Even then, you're going to have someone in the class leave without understanding the material. Our 2-day basic Access course covers the base essentials of tables (the differences between numeric, text, and date data and the mechanics of creating a table), queries (how to set up a simple select from one and two tables), and creating a report with a wizard. Our "typical users" consider it a very difficult and taxing class. We have very few people who go on to sign up for our so-called "advanced" class. If you're like me, you will be disappointed and amazed at how difficult most people think this very basic stuff is.

Good luck,

Ron


 
> 
> From: Jim Hewson <JHewson at karta.com>
> Date: 2004/02/09 Mon AM 09:55:39 CST
> To: "'AccessD'" <accessD at databaseadvisors.com>
> Subject: [AccessD] Teaching Access Course
> 
> 
> Our customer has added a tasking on our contract.
> I have developed several Access databases for this customer on several
> different contracts.  They want a two-day course to teach 6-10 people.  A
> classroom with computers and Access loaded on them will be on their site.
> The student's experience ranges from someone who knows how to spell Access
> to someone who thinks they know how to use it.
> I do have experience conducting courses - just not Access.
> 
> My first cut of a syllabus is below.  Any suggestions?
> 
> Thanks in advance.
> Jim
> 
> 1.  Introduction to Databases
> 	a.	Systems [Software] Development Life Cycle (SDLC
> 	b.	Database Nomenclature
> 	c.	Naming Conventions
> 	d.	Normalization
> 	e.	Relational Database
> 	f.	Database design concepts
> 2.  Introduction to Access
> 	a.	Access Specifications
> 	b.	Short cut keys
> 	c.	Reserved Words
> 	d.	Access Objects
> 	e.	Relationships between tables
> 3.  Access Tables
> 	a.	Primary keys
> 	b.	Fields and records
> 	c.	Navigate through records
> 	d.	Enter, edit and delete records
> 	e.	Format tables
> 	f.	Filtering data in tables
> 4.  Designing Access Tables
> 	a.	Design view
> 	b.	Adding and naming fields
> 	c.	Assigning Field types
> 	d.	Assigning Field Properties
> 	e.	Creating Key Fields
> 	f.	Creating relationships
> 5.  Designing Access Queries
> 	a.	Using "And" and "Or" statements
> 	b.	"=" vs "like"
> 	c.	Parameter Queries
> 	d.	Auto lookup Queries
> 	e.	Advanced Queries (Nested Queries, Sub-queries)
> 	f.	Insert/Update/Delete/Make-Table Queries
> 6.   Access Form Design
> 	a.	Designing a Form
> 	b.	Formatting forms
> 	c.	Adding controls
> 	d.	Combo boxes / list boxes
> 	e.	Groups
> 	f.	MS Visual Basic
> 	g.	Using Wizards
> 7.  Access Report Design
> 	a.	Creating a report
> 	b.	Formatting reports
> 	c.	Using Wizards

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