How do you teach database normalization?

Question

What are your steps and guidelines for database normalization? If given a bunch of people with good computer and logic skills, how do you explain to them how to normalize a

Answer 1

Assuming they already know about the foundation concepts (Relations, Candidate Keys and Functional Dependencies) then start with BCNF. BCNF is by far the easiest to explain and is much more important that 2NF, 3NF, which are best ignored completely at this stage. Then explain Join Dependency and 5NF.