Integration of ORACLE APEX Environment in Database Courses of Computer, Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering Department of International Hellenic University

Abstract

The aim of this work is to present the integration actions of ORACLE APEX in the curriculum of the undergraduate course "Databases" of the 5th semester of studies at the Department of Computer, Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering (CITE) of the International Hellenic University (IHU). Particularly in the laboratory part of the course, students get acquainted with using different relational database management systems. The tools and capabilities offered by the ORACLE APEX information system had to be integrated into the laboratory part of the course. Students acquire knowledge and skills in developing applications in the APEX environment. For this there were developed a) a quick guide for using the ORACLE APEX environment in Greek, b) laboratory exercises with a case study where for four weeks the students are invited to complete the parts of the laboratory exercise with SQL commands as well as with the low coding tools provided has ORACLE APEX and c) a questionnaire was designed for the students to evaluate their experience in the different database management environments taught. In the laboratory part of the course, students learn how to create a complex database, develop forms, reports, statistics in a web-based environment of APEX. The first impressions of the students show a full acceptance and adoption of ORACLE APEX over the popular RDBMS taught