The database activity has a great potential for more learner centric learning. In lots of discussions teachers told us that the idea is great and they would like to used it but usability is really a mess. Specially the list view editing process is not usable for a normal teacher. To create acceptable results some understanding of HTML is needed that most teacher don't want to use. The text editor often breaks the process.
I've thought for a long time how to simplify this process and I think there is a way we can do it. Lets implement a new simple form for standard view definition. If the user opens the form he sees a table with all data fileds created earlier plus the system fields #'user## et al. He can mark the fields that should be used for the table, a second column shows the order of the fields and the last one is the title as defined when fields are edited. If fields are selected and ordered they can save the changes and the view will be created.
Most teacher accept to use a standard design for the tables and are not interested to change them. Advanced users can click at the link 'advanced' modus to use the traditional way to define the views.
This process could be implemented for all four views: new entry, search, list, and single. Top priority has the list view, because it creates most of the problems.
Please comment aloso at MDL-36152
