Tendencies in Database Learning for Undergraduate Students: Learning In-Depth or Getting the Work Done?

TL;DR

This study investigates second-year students' learning preferences in database courses, revealing a tendency to favor practical, goal-oriented learning over in-depth theoretical understanding.

Contribution

It provides empirical insights into students' learning tendencies, highlighting their preference for practical knowledge over comprehensive theoretical learning.

Findings

Students prefer learning basic database concepts.

Main challenge was completing course homework.

Students aim to use knowledge for applications or work.

Abstract

This study explores and analyzes the learning tendencies of second-year students enrolled in different lines of study related to the Databases course. There were 79 answers collected from 191 enrolled students that were analyzed and interpreted using thematic analysis. The participants in the study provided two sets of answers, anonymously collected (at the beginning and at the end of the course), thus allowing us to have clear data regarding their interests and to find out their tendencies. We looked into their expectations and if they were met; we concluded that the students want to learn only database basics. Their main challenges were related to the course homework. We combined the information and the answers related to 1) other database-related topics that they would like to learn, 2) how they plan to use the acquired information, and 3) overall interest in learning other database-related topics. The conclusion was that students prefer learning only the basic information that could help them achieve their goals: creating an application or using it at work. For these students, Getting the work done is preferred to Learning in-depth.