Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Generating SQL Queries from Visual Specifications

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
ICT Education (SACLA 2018)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 963))

Abstract

The Structured Query Language (SQL) is the most widely used declarative language for accessing relational databases, and an essential topic in introductory database courses in higher learning institutions. Despite the intuitiveness of SQL, formulating and comprehending written queries can be confusing, especially for undergraduate students. One major reason for this is that the simple syntax of SQL is often misleading and hard to comprehend. A number of tools have been developed to aid the comprehension of queries and to improve the mental models of students concerning the underlying logic of SQL. Some of these tools employed visualisation and animation in their approach to aid the comprehension of SQL. This paper presents an interactive comprehension aid based on visualisation, specifically designed to support the SQL SELECT statement, an area identified in the literature as problematic for students. The visualisation tool uses visual specifications depicting SQL operations to build queries. This is expected to reduce the cognitive load of a student who is learning SQL. We have shown with an online survey that adopting visual specifications in teaching systems assist students in attaining a richer learning experience in introductory database courses.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    ANSI: American National Standards Institute, ISO: International Organization for Standardization.

  2. 2.

    A neurological and developmental disorder which results in communication and interaction difficulties.

  3. 3.

    For comparison see the papers in part ‘Academia and Careers’ of this volume of CCIS.

References

  1. Ade-Ibijola, A.: Automatic novice program comprehension for semantic bug detection. Doctoral Dissertation (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ade-Ibijola, A.: New Finite Automata Applications in Novice Program Comprehension. Lambert Academic Publishing, Riga (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ade-Ibijola, A., Ewert, S., Sanders, I.: Abstracting and narrating novice programs using regular expressions. In: Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the South African Institute for Computer Scientists and Information Technologists, SAICSIT 2014, pp. 19–28. ACM (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ahadi, A., Behbood, V., Vihavainen, A., Prior, J., Lister, R.: Students’ syntactic mistakes in writing seven different types of SQL queries and its application to predicting students’ success. In: Proceedings of the 47th ACM Technical Symposium on Computing Science Education, pp. 401–406 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Aken, A., Michalisin, M.D.: The impact of the skills gap on the recruitment of MIS graduates. In: Proceedings of the ACM SIGMIS Conference on Computer Personnel Research, pp. 105–111 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Allenstein, B., Yost, A., Wagner, P., Morrison, J.: A query simulation system to illustrate database query execution. ACM SIGCSE Bull. 40(1), 493–497 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Bau, D.: Droplet, a blocks-based editor for text code. J. Comput. Sci. Coll. 30(6), 138–144 (2015)

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  8. Brown, C.M.: Human-Computer Interface Design Guidelines. Intellect Books, Bristol (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Caldeira, C.P.: Teaching SQL: a case study. ACM SIGCSE Bull. 40, 340 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Cembalo, M., de Santis, A., Ferraro-Petrillo, U.: SAVI: a new system for advanced SQL visualization. In: Proceedings of the Conference on Information Technology Education, pp. 165–170. ACM (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Cooper, S., Dann, W., Pausch, R.: Teaching objects-first in introductory computer science. ACM SIGCSE Bull. 35, 191–195 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Danaparamita, J., Gatterbauer, W.: QueryViz: helping users understand SQL queries and their patterns. In: Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Extending Database Technology, pp. 558–561. ACM (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Dann, W.P., Cooper, S., Pausch, R.: Learning to Program with Alice 2. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Davis, P.: What computer skills do employees expect from recent college graduates? J. Technol. Horiz. Educ. 25(2), 74 (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Dekeyser, S., de Raadt, M., Lee, T.Y.: Computer assisted assessment of SQL query skills. In: Proceedings 18th Conference on Australian Databases, pp. 53–62. Australian Computer Society, Inc. (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Ellis, G., Dix, A.: A taxonomy of clutter reduction for information visualisation. IEEE Trans. Vis. Comput. Graph. 13(6), 1216–1223 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Ellis, G., Mansmann, F.: Mastering the information age solving problems with visual analytics. In: Proceedings of the Eurographics, vol. 2, p. 5 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Fincher, S.: What are we doing when we teach programming? In: Proceedings of the Frontiers in Education conference, pp. 12A4. IEEE (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Folland, K.A.T.: viSQLizer: an interactive visualizer for learning SQL. Master’s thesis (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Garner, P., Mariani, J.A.: Learning SQL in steps. J. Syst. Cybern. Inf. 13(4), 19–24 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Gray, C., Malins, J.: Visualizing Research: A Guide to the Research Process in Art and Design. Routledge, Abingdon (2016)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  22. Grillenberger, A., Brinda, T.: eledSQL: a new web-based learning environment for teaching databases and SQL at secondary school level. In: Proceedings 7th Workshop on Primary and Secondary Computing Education, pp. 101–104. ACM (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Jost, T., Ouerhani, N., von Wartburg, R., Müri, R., Hügli, H.: Assessing the contribution of color in visual attention. Comp. Vis. Image Underst. 100(1/2), 107–123 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Kawash, J.: Formulating second-order logic conditions in SQL. In: Proceedings of the 15th Annual Conference on Information technology education, pp. 115–120. ACM (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Kearns, R., Shead, S., Fekete, A.: A teaching system for SQL. In: Proceedings of the 2nd Australasian Conference on Computer Science Education, pp. 224–231. ACM (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Keim, D.A., Mansmann, F., Schneidewind, J., Thomas, J., Ziegler, H.: Visual analytics: scope and challenges. In: Simoff, S.J., Böhlen, M.H., Mazeika, A. (eds.) Visual Data Mining. LNCS, vol. 4404, pp. 76–90. Springer, Heidelberg (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-71080-6_6

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  27. Kellems, R.O., Gabrielsen, T.P., Williams, C.: Using visual organizers and technology: supporting executive function, abstract language comprehension, and social learning. In: Cardon, T.A. (ed.) Technology and the Treatment of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. ACPS, pp. 75–86. Springer, Cham (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20872-5_7

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  28. Kriegel, A.: Discovering SQL: A Hands-on Guide for Beginners. Wiley, Hoboken (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Kyfonidis, C., Moumoutzis, N., Christodoulakis, S.: Block-C: a block-based programming teaching tool to facilitate introductory C programming courses. In: Proceedings of the IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference, pp. 570–579 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Lee, Y.Y., Chen, N., Johnson, R.E.: Drag-and-drop refactoring: intuitive and efficient program transformation. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Software Engineering, ICSE 2013, pp. 23–32, IEEE (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Liberty, J.: Programming C#: building .NET applications with C. O’Reilly, Sebastopol (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Lye, S.Y., Koh, J.H.L.: Review on teaching and learning of computational thinking through programming: what is next for K-12? Comput. Hum. Behav. 41, 51–61 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Malan, D.J., Leitner, H.H.: Scratch for budding computer scientists. ACM SIGCSE Bull. 39, 223–227 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Mitrovic, A.: An intelligent SQL tutor on the web. Int. J. Artif. Intel. Educ. 13(2/4), 173–197 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Myalapalli, V.K., Shiva, M.B.: An appraisal to optimize SQL queries. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Pervasive Computing, pp. 1–6. IEEE (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Nagataki, H., Nakano, Y., Nobe, M., Tohyama, T., Kanemune, S.: A visual learning tool for database operation. In: Proceedings of the 8th Workshop in Primary and Secondary Computing Education, pp. 39–40. ACM (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Prior, J.C., Lister, R.: The backwash effect on SQL skills grading. ACM SIGCSE Bull. 36(3), 32–36 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Renaud, K., van Biljon, J.: Teaching SQL—which pedagogical horse for this course? In: Williams, H., MacKinnon, L. (eds.) BNCOD 2004. LNCS, vol. 3112, pp. 244–256. Springer, Heidelberg (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-27811-5_22

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  39. Resnick, M., et al.: Scratch: programming for all. Commun. ACM 52(11), 60–67 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Rizvi, M., Humphries, T., Major, D., Jones, M., Lauzun, H.: A CS0 course using Scratch. J. Comput. Sci. Coll. 26(3), 19–27 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  41. Sadiq, S., Orlowska, M., Sadiq, W., Lin, J.: SQLator: an online SQL learning workbench. ACM SIGCSE Bull. 36, 223–227 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Satyanarayan, A., Heer, J.: Lyra: an interactive visualization design environment. Comput. Graph. Forum 33, 351–360 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Wang, K., McCaffrey, C., Wendel, D., Klopfer, E.: 3D game design with programming blocks in StarLogo TNG. In: Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Learning Sciences, pp. 1008–1009 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  44. Yassine, A., Chenouni, D., Berrada, M., Tahiri, A.: A serious game for learning C programming language concepts using solo taxonomy. Int. J. Emerg. Technol. Learn. 12(3), 110–127 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Thanks to South Africa’s Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for the DST-CSIR inter-bursary support programme that funds our research (https://www.csir.co.za/dst-csir-inter-bursary-support-programme).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Information Systems, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Abejide Ade-Ibijola

  2. School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

    George Obaido & Hima Vadapalli

Authors
  1. George Obaido
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Abejide Ade-Ibijola
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hima Vadapalli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to George Obaido .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Information Systems, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

    Salah Kabanda

  2. Computer Science, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa

    Hussein Suleman

  3. University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

    Stefan Gruner

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Obaido, G., Ade-Ibijola, A., Vadapalli, H. (2019). Generating SQL Queries from Visual Specifications. In: Kabanda, S., Suleman, H., Gruner, S. (eds) ICT Education. SACLA 2018. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 963. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05813-5_21

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05813-5_21

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-05812-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-05813-5

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation