Learning from Errors as a Pedagogic Approach for Reaching a Higher Conceptual Level in Database Modeling

We apply a pedagogic approach named learning from errors (LFE) to the area of relational database modeling. Database modeling is a complex cognitive process characterized by a high level of element interactivity. Finding an appropriate pedagogy to teach database modeling is a challenge for information systems educators. One of the challenges that practitioners meet is the need to help database students shift between different levels of abstraction. We metaphorically treat the LFE approach as a bridge over the gulf of abstraction levels. Errors have a powerful potential in education, to encourage students to move to a deeper processing level of the course material. We use Rasmussen’s three levels of human performance model to explain and demonstrate the promising potential of the LFE approach in database modeling.