from the horizon

On the fourth day I ran my session on Database Design. As I was only asked to present this session three days previously, I hadn’t had any spare time to put together anything other than an outline and make rough notes. Fortunately this is a topic which I’ve spent far too much time thinking about, so I was fairly well prepared.

I had created the outline on the camp wiki, and asked the participants to write comments on the blog to give me feedback on the outline, so I could focus the session to their needs. Only 2 of the participants responded, which was frustrating, but something I have become used to. It was also an excellent example to help the class understand the reasons people don’t use new software or information systems!

During the course of the session, Sam, the track facilitator, fleshed out the outline and filled in feedback from the class, creating a more comprehensive document, which I hope to tidy up and use as training material in the future.

The highlight of the session, was the activity where I instructed the participants to work in groups, which would come up with an information system example, which they would then role play.

One group showing a rainfall monitoring system, where Hung, one of the participants, demonstrated the value of information in making decisions with a very convincing (and hilarious) impression of a thirty buffalo!

One group showed how collecting information could help doctors decide on the best treatment for Bird Flu, and how the not checking a database correctly could lead to the wrong treatment!

One group showed how an information system could be used to evaluate what makes a successful campaign.

The final group showed how a information system in a library helps the librarian who has been issued which books, and what fines are due.

The activity was very fun, and I feel that it was a really good way to demonstrate how data is collected to produce information to give people the knowledge they need to make the right decisions and follow the right actions.

In the afternoon we all visited a local tourist attraction, where we were witness to a mass produced cultural performance and elephant show.

I wasn’t too comfortable with the treatment of the animals, but my voyeurism got the better of me.

And haven’t you always wanted to see an elephant riding a tricycle?!?! (not to mention playing soccer, basket ball, darts, painting and carrying women from the audience - they are intelligent creatures!)

However after seeing the obese orangutan, wearing a t-shirt and nappies, being feed more bananas, and a sedated tiger have it’s photo taken with people, I felt guilty for my voyeurism.