[AccessD] Teaching Access Course

Very good.  Thank you.
I was afraid I was looking at too much material.
I'll return to the basics and hope for the best.


-----Original Message-----
From: chizotz at charter.net [mailto:chizotz at charter.net]
Sent: Monday, February 09, 2004 10:34 AM
To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving
Subject: Re: [AccessD] Teaching Access Course
Thanks again.
Jim


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