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| Aim of Module | To introduce students to data models used by DBMSs, the issues related to the use of DBMSs and to provide them with the ability to perform common database functions. |
| Credits | 7 |
| Suggested Time | 70 student learning hours |
| Prescription Expiry Date | Nov 2002 |
| Topics | Highest Skill Level | Suggested Assessment Percentage | |
| 1 DBMS Structures | R | 15 | |
| 2 DBMS Issues | C | 25 | |
| 3 Database Design and Implementation | A | 60 | |
| 100 | |||
| LEARNING OUTCOMES The Student Will | ||
| R | 1 | Outline the key features of at least three major categories of commercial database management systems. |
| C | 2 | Describe the advantages of using a database environment for the management of data rather than conventional file structures and outline the main activities and factors affecting performance when a DBMS is involved. |
| A | 3 | Design, implement and query a database which appropriately represents a given business situation. |
This module has relational database structures as its main focus for exercises in design. | ||
| 1 DBMS Structures |
| > | Examples are relational, hierarchical, network, object oriented. | |
| 2 DBMS Issues |
| > | Advantages include: data independence, data integrity, distributed database, centralised database, handling of security, recovery processes. | |
| > | Activities include: management of data such as audit, backup & archiving, maintenance and support, definition of schema/sub-schema, insertion, amendment, deletion and retrieval of data. | |
| 3 Database Design and Implementation |
| > | Design an appropriate database structure for a given business situation using methods such as entity relationship diagrams, schema depiction and normalisation to 3rd normal form. | |
| > | Implement an appropriately designed database structure using a commercial database management system such as Access, Interbase, Informix, Oracle, SQL Server. | |
| > | Perform functions such as data entry, queries and reports including linking from two or more tables. | |