Abstract:

The inexpensive computing platform consisting of Raspberry Pi (RPi) computer and often free of charge Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS) enables anyone to acquire digital competence in the various fields of information and communication technologies (ICT). One of the fundamental fields in ICT is the field of databases.
The aim of the research presented in this paper is to analyze RPi computing properties, necessary FOSS, and to develop a program for teaching and learning databases on this computing platform.
In the first part of the paper, the author presents the results of the research on the required RPi processing power and memory resources as well as on the available FOSS database software on this platform and its capabilities for teaching novice users, such as high school or university students, the necessary practical database knowledge and skills.
The research results show that this platform contains all the necessary computing power, memory resources and database software capabilities which are required to acquire digital competence in the field of databases. The required FOSS includes the following software: SQlite, LibreOffice Base, MySQL, and PHPMyAdmin.
In the second part of the paper, the author presents the learning outcomes of the database teaching program which include the following: explain the advantages and disadvantages of RPi computer and FOSS; explain the concept of a database and its importance in organizing and managing data; design and create a desktop database using a database management system (DMBS); demonstrate the creation of a desktop database tables, queries and reports; demonstrate the basic usage of Structured Query Language (SQL) to retrieve data from a database; manage multiuser online databases and perform advanced functions.
To achieve these learning outcomes, the proposed database teaching program in this paper consists of the following parts: Introduction to RPi and its FOSS operating system and applications, Introduction to databases, Database management using a desktop DBMS, Introduction to Structured Query Language (SQL), Database management using an online multiuser database, and Practical individual projects of creating and retrieving desktop and/or online databases.

Keywords:

Databases, free and open-source software, Raspberry Pi, teaching program.