I think that learning the SQLite command line is more instructive IMHO because it’s grammar shows much better how to use SQL to operate on sets and relations (which is what SQL is all about).

Check out souptonuts.sourceforge.net if you need SQLite programming examples.

Check out http://www.squidoo.com/sqlitehammer if you want SQL examples and ongoing discussion on SQLite.

But if I was learning database concepts for the first time, I would want a GUI so I think you’ve got the right idea. Although, I wouldn’t want to do anything with more than a few hundred thousand records on Access.

Now, if we can only get ESRI to port ArcView to Leopard, we’d be in business.

I’ve been relatively fortunate in that GW has a number of PCs around campus that students in the situation can use, and the classroom where I teach is all-PC. But this will be an increasing issue, I think. There are a few options in that case: teach a platform-agnostic database like MySQL or SQLite, have the university provide access to PCs or even get copies of Windows and Parallels to allow students on Macs to install and run Windows programs.

Derek

Just curious… What do you do for students who use Macs and can’t run Access?

G