Equivalence of Problems in Problem Based e-Learning of Database

Abstract

Problem-based learning (PBL) is a way to learn what is needed to solve a problem, how can a solution be obtained quickly, precisely and professionally. To achieve the goal of problem-based learning, problem design and assign same level of problems among the students are important in engineering classroom environment. SQL is a major part in Database course. In problem based e-Learning of SQL, it is essential to find out the equivalence of an SQL problems to assign the set of problems to a set of students. This is necessary for equal judgment of the performance of individual students. We have developed a complexity model to find out the equivalence of problems for Problem based e-learning of database. In this model, complexity of problems is found by parsing the given solution of the problem in top down approach. We have applied our model to well-known SQL Learning and Evaluation System (SQL-LES). We have compared our calculated complexity value with the complexity value in the question bank of SQL-LES assigned by the SQL experts and found that in most cases our model generate similar complexity value as SQL-LES. Application of our model will reduce the instructor workload in SQL-LES.