Volume 7

20 pages 2127 K bytes

Ajax Enabled Query Tool – The Capstone Experience Robert Dollinger University of Wisconsin Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI 54481, USA Rachel Ford University of Wisconsin Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI 54481, USA Brad Helf University of Wisconsin Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI 54481, USA Kevin Reimer University of Wisconsin Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI 54481, USA

Abstract: The Web Based AJAX Enabled Query Tool (AEQ tool) is an educational software that uses technologies specific to Rich Internet Applications to support activities related to database classes. Years of teaching experience revealed multiple areas of the instructional process that would benefit of a tool like AEQ: (1) Remote, on-line access to database servers via the Internet – traditionally, students do their work in the on-campus labs. Available remoting approaches to get into the campus network are slow and often unreliable. The AEQ tool allows direct, on-line, authenticated access to the databases. (2) Unified query tool - the tool acts as an SQL client for various types of on-campus databases (Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL and others) by using one single, specifically tailored, Web based interface. (3) Course content provider and development tool - students will be able to test the pre-loaded classroom query examples against the databases used in the classroom, as well as edit and test their own queries. (4) Collaborative learning tool - when using the AEQ tool, students will be able to login either into a private individual space or into a shared working environment, where they can engage in group activities, exchange messages, view live the queries issued by other users, as well as the response returned from the database. The new AJAX technology is the key to this project since it allows the development of responsive and flexible Web applications that are very much like fat client Windows applications.

Keywords: Educational software, Query tool, Rich Internet Applications, AJAX

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Recommended Citation: Dollinger, Ford, Helf, and Reimer (2009). Ajax Enabled Query Tool – The Capstone Experience. Information Systems Education Journal, 7 (49). http://isedj.org/7/49/. ISSN: 1545-679X. (A preliminary version appears in The Proceedings of ISECON 2008: §2334. ISSN: 1542-7382.)