Lowering the Barrier to Entry
The materials for this introductory SQL course are designed to align with the current needs of computer science education, meeting students at their level of understanding. Like any specialized community, computer science has its own jargon. The formal teaching of computer science should not burden students with the assumption that they are fluent in this special language.
The material is presented in smaller units that are more manageable for the students. The same vocabulary and concepts are covered, but in a more approachable way - state things as plainly as possible, and, when appropriate, use images, tables, or lists.
Another way in which our intro to SQL programming content is more approachable is that it uses many small programs instead of one large program. Research shows that a variety of smaller problems increase student performance and reduce stress. Using many small programs leads to students spending a sufficient amount of time on their work, and they do not wait until the last moment to begin their work.