Course Title: Design a database
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2013
Course Code: COSC6111C
Course Title: Design a database
School: 650T TAFE Business
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5300 - Diploma of Information Technology
Course Contact : Chandra Nannegari
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 1657
Course Contact Email:chandra.nannegari@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Name: Joyce Liang
Email: joyce.liang@rmit.edu.au
Nominal Hours: 50
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
None
Course Description
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to establish client needs and technical requirements and to design a database that meets those requirements. Students will be required to design a small business database, and then test their design in a modern database management system (DBMS).
This unit is delivered using a blend of classroom based and self-paced learning activities.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
ICADBS502A Design a database |
Element: |
2. Develop logical data model |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Identify attributes and determine data types |
Element: |
3. Design data structures |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Confirm primary and foreign keys for tables |
Element: |
4. Design queries, screens and reports |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Design user interface for database, including menus, input screens and outputs |
Element: |
5. Design access and security systems |
Performance Criteria: |
5.1 Review business security plan as basis for commencing access and security design |
Element: |
6. Confirm database design |
Performance Criteria: |
6.1 Identify database backup and recovery requirements |
Element: |
1. Determine database requirements |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Meet with client and conduct a user-needs analysis to determine database functionality |
Learning Outcomes
Details of Learning Activities
A range of learning activities are planned for this course including self-paced and collaborative classroom based activities.
Learning activities will include laboratory-based sessions on a variety of topics as shown in the weekly breakdown. Learning activities will generally consist of practical computer exercises based on teacher handouts. Students should attend all sessions.
Students will also be expected to undertake work on a small database project and other activities for homework.
The collaborative classroom based activities will include group discussion, group problem solving activities and opportunities to practice your skills in a simulated/real workplace environment.
We expect you to participate and contribute in all scheduled learning activities.
Teaching Schedule
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Week | Week Commencing | Topics | Assessment | Competencies Delivered |
1 | 8th Jul 2013 | Pre-training review: |
ICADBS502A ICAICT509A |
|
2 | 15th Jul 2013 | Key sources of data. Database requirements. Basic ERDs 1:M relationships & foreign keys |
ICADBS502A ICAICT509A |
|
3 | 22nd Jul 2013 | Business documents & business rules. More on ERDs: M:N relationships & bridging tables | TASK 1 - Project Specs issued TASK 1 - Project Teams selected |
ICADBS502A ICAICT509A |
4 | 29th Jul 2013 | Gathering data. Referential integrity. Building up complex ERDs | ICADBS502A ICAICT509A |
|
5 | 5th Aug 2013 | Developing questions. Conceptual, logical & physical models. Forms & subforms | TASK 1 - Project Proposal due | ICADBS502A ICAICT509A |
6 | 12th Aug 2013 | Analysing data. Data types. Redundancy, dependencies & normalisation | ICADBS502A ICAICT509A |
|
7 | 19th Aug 2013 | DB requirements. More on normalisation. Database design improvements. | TASK 1 - Project Stage 1 due | ICADBS502A ICAICT509A |
8 | 26th Aug 2013 | Groupable data, data Integrity & data validation. Review of forms & reports | ICADBS502A ICAICT509A |
|
MID-SEMESTER BREAK (2nd Sep - 6th Sep 2013 inclusive) | ||||
9 | 9th Sep 2013 | Bridging tables & data entry. Reports with grouping. Class work on project | TASK 1 - Project Stage 2 due | ICADBS502A ICAICT509A |
10 | 16th Sep 2013 | Documenting data structures. Data dictionaries. Class work on project | ICADBS502A ICAICT509A |
|
11 | 23rd Sep 2013 | Intro to SQL Server. Authentication. Class work on project & documentation | TASK 1 - Project Stage 3 due | ICADBS502A ICAICT509A |
12 | 30th Sep 2013 | Security in a multi-user DBMS. Database backup & recovery procedures | ICADBS502A ICAICT509A |
|
13 | 7th Oct 2013 | Class work on project. Revision for Skills Review |
TASK 1 - Project Stage 4 & Documentation due | ICADBS502A ICAICT509A |
14 | 14th Oct 2013 | Final class work on project. Skills Review conducted | TASK 2 - Skills Review | ICADBS502A ICAICT509A |
15 | 21st Oct 2013 | Project submission & demonstrations. Final class work on project documentation | TASK 1 - Final Project & Documentation due (first class) | ICADBS502A ICAICT509A |
16 | 28th Oct 2013 | Course & assessment feedback. Re-submission of work if required | ICADBS502A ICAICT509A |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
Stephens, R (2009), Beginning Database Design Solutions, Wiley, Print ISBN: 978-0-470-38549-4 |
References
Pratt, P & Adamski, J (2012), Concepts of Database Management, 7th edn, Thomson Course Technology, ISBN 978-1-111-82591-1 |
Other Resources
Students may also refer to various Websites as indicated their teacher.
Overview of Assessment
Students must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of competency to be deemed competent.
A range of assessment methods are used to assess practical skills and knowledge, for example:
- direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate
- review of authenticated documents from the workplace or training environment
- demonstration of techniques
Students are advised that they are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate their assessment work to their teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met.
Assessment Tasks
You are required to complete 2 tasks. You must successfully complete each task to be deemed competent in this unit.
TASK 1 - Database Project (Due Dates: Refer to Teaching Schedule)
For this assessment task you will be asked to plan and develop a small business database for an on-line business from scratch in consultation with key stakeholders. You will first need to identify information sources, gather data and confirm ket client database requirements. You will work in a team to manage this project efficiently.
In order to be deemed competent in this task you will be expected to demonstrate proficiency in a variety of areas including the following key areas:
• Skills in gathering and analysing data to determine requirements
• Ability to produce ERDs for a wide variety of scenarios
• Ability to create Access data structures to test your designs
• Ability to normalise your tables to store data effectively
• Ability to create objects such as forms and reports
• Documentation of security and recovery procedures
Work for each stage of the project (outlined below) should be submitted on the due date, as per the Teaching Schedule. You will be expected to submit and retain soft copies of any documents required. In some cases printouts may be required.
Project Proposal (Team): Initial draft of proposal outlining details elicited by questioning the client
• Area of business operations, as well as purpose & scope of database project
• Key business processes such sales, ordering & stock control
• Technical constraints including hardware & software e.g. DBMS
• Any key business rules & particular database requirements
• Any issues requiring further clarification from key stakeholders (further questions)
• Outline of deliverables & timeline for project stages, including simple Gantt chart
• Team member responsibilities & communication plan
• Sample business documents e.g. forms & reports from current system
Project Stage 1 (Individual):
• First draft of ERD (with cardinalities) created in Visio with Access Relationships
Project Stage 2 (Individual):
• Updated ERD & Access Relationships (for client confirmation after normalisation)
• Some sample data inserted into tables in Access
Project Stage 3 (Team):
• ERD & Relationships for whole group (final conceptual & logical models)
Project Stage 4 & Documentation (Team):
• Data dictionary & business rules finalised (physical model)
• Data structures implemented e.g. keys, constraints, indexes & validation rules
• Sample data entry completed (all tables)
Final Project& Documentation (Team):
• Final version of database, including queries, forms and reports (individual)
• Final project documentation, including access, security, backup & recovery procedures
Students will receive feedback or confirmation at each stage in relation to client requirements. In many cases changes or modifications will be required. It is therefore vital that any design documentation and other work required for each stage be submitted in a timely manner.
Late submissions of documents required for developmental stages of the project will be eligible for grading at pass level only.
TASK 2 - Skills Review (Date: Refer to Teaching Schedule)
For this assessment task you will be asked to understand how to develop data models and design data structures, forms and reports for some simple scenarios under test conditions. You will be able to develop and verify your designs on your computer with reference to Web and other resources.
You will also be questioned on information sources (e.g. key documents & questions) as well as techniques used in gathering data, such as reviewing reports. You will also need to be able to analyse simple data in order to confirm database requirements.
Some knowledge of security and data recovery concepts and procedures will also be required.
Assessment Matrix
N/A
Other Information
Submission Requirements
Assessment tasks need to be submitted via Blackboard.
You should:
- Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date. If your performance in the assessment is affected by unexpected circumstances, you should consider applying for Special Consideration. Information on the process and application forms is available at http://rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=ls0ydfokry9rz website.
-
Always retain a copy of your assessment tasks. (hard copy and soft copy).
- Each page of your assessment should include footer with your name, student number, the title of the assessment, unit code and title and page numbers. For example, Julie Macpherson, 324567, Task 2, OHS2345C Ensure safe workplace, Page 1 of 10.
- When you submit work for assessment at RMIT University you need to use a cover sheet that includes a declaration and statement of authorship. You must complete, sign and submit a cover sheet with all work you submit for assessment, whether individual or group work. On the cover sheet you declare that the work you are presenting for assessment is your own work. An assignment cover sheet for submission of work for assessment is available on blackboard.
Resubmission Guide:
Once a student has submitted an assessment task, a resubmission may be granted if deemed NYC. On resubmission, a student will not receive a grade higher than CAG (Competency achieved).
Marking Guide (Competency)
Vocational Education and Training (VET) is based on current industry needs and the focus on preparing you for the workplace. Because VET courses are informed by practical application of knowledge and skills, they are based on a system known as ‘competency based training’ (CBT).
So when you are assessed in VET it is about whether you are competent to do the job, as well as having a firm grasp on the knowledge and skills required to do that job, as opposed to traditional curriculum based education settings that are often based on knowledge retention.
You need to demonstrate you are competent in each element of the unit of competency you are studying.
You will receive feedback on each assessment task that will inform you whether you are competent or not and how well you are performing. Once competent in all elements of the unit you receive a competency grading.
Please refer to the Final Grades table below.
Marking Guide (Grading):
After achieving competency we then grade your performance in the unit; this gives you the opportunity to have the level of your performance formally recognized against industry standards and employability skills.
The grading will include the following criteria:
1. LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE, INITIATIVE, ENTERPRISE AND PERFORMANCE OF WORK TASK
We are looking for a high level of ability to complete all tasks independently as per the specifications. You should endeavour to demonstrate a high level of initiative in your approach to gathering data and designing your databases, particularly in the team project.
2. DEMONSTRATED BREADTH OF UNDERPINNING KNOWLEDGE AND A WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE LEARNING
We are looking for depth of understanding of the key concepts and knowledge required to gather data and design a database. You should be able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of information gathering and data modelling techniques in each of the assessment tasks.
3. TECHNIQUES & PROCESSES, TECHNOLOGY SKILLS AND PROBLEM SOLVING
We are looking for a high level of skill in data gathering and database design techniques. In particular you will need to be familiar with the appropriate technology such as modern database management systems, including multi-user systems.
You will need also need to show an understanding of the kinds of problems that can arise in designing a database and how these might be addressed. You will need to demonstrate a dgree of perseverence, and be able to use normalisation techniques to improve your designs.
4. WORK ORGANISATION, PLANNING AND SELF MANAGEMENT
You should aim to attend all class sessions and save your solutions to all exercises and assessment tasks you have completed, for example on your home drive or USB device. An organised folder structure is highly recommended.
It will be very advantageous to prepare for and review class materials using suggested resources, such as the recommended textbook or Websites indicated by your teacher.
We also expect to see ongoing progress your portfolio of documents for the project, full utilisation of Blackboard as per course guidelines and timely submission of all assessment tasks.
5. COMMUNICATION, PEOPLE NETWORKING, LANGUAGE AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS AND TEAMWORK
We expect to see contributions to relevant discussions and scheduled group sessions. For the project in particular you will need to work effectively in a team, and manage your work to ensure timely completion and client approval. You should therefore also liaise with key stakeholders, such as your client or teacher, on a regular basis throughout the project.
Final Grades Table:
CHD Competent with High Distinction
CDI Competent with Distinction
CC Competent with Credit
CAG Competency Achieved – Graded
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did Not Submit for assessment
Further information regarding the application of the grading criteria will be provided by your teacher.
Course Overview: Access Course Overview