I. Course Description
This course provides a fundamental overview of the values, concepts, principles, skills and techniques of modern database management systems and of database (data-driven) business application system development. Topics include:
Foundations of relational database and application structures, and use of tools and techniques for designing a new database application "from scratch" are first presented
for student learning. Then -- given a "business case" (real world situation/example of business/organization and of its goals, objectives, functions, problems and requirements for a relational database application) -- students plan, analyse, design,
construct, and test an integrated relational database and associated application components.
Prerequisites: ISDS 375 (including that course's introduction to relational database tools such as Access 2000); plus proficiency with Windows 95/98/NT/ME/2000 -- especially file management using the Explorer, and proficiency with email using "attach."
II. Objectives:
By the end of this course, students will have been given the opportunity to learn:
an understanding of the needs for and uses of database management systems in business;
an understanding of the context, phases and techniques for designing and building database information systems in business;
an understanding of the components of a computerized database information system (application);
an ability to correctly use the techniques, components and tools of a typical database management system -- such as Access 2000 or Oracle 8i -- to build a comprehensive database information system (application);
an ability to design a correct, new database information system for a business functional area and implement the design, in either Access 2000 or Oracle 8i;
an introductory understanding of some advanced topics in database management, e.g., object-relational databases and design, distributed databases, database administration (security, backup and restore, tuning) and data warehousing.
To meet these objectives, these enabling objectives and strategies will be used, following a carefully structured pedagogical approach:
use a 3-phase iterative learning methodology to master required understandings and skills designing and developing a new database application: careful, attentive reading of the textbook by the student; structured lecture/presentation by the Professor; guided, integrated assignments and project by the student;
cover the "big picture" of information systems in business and the place of database information systems within it;
learn the different players and roles that come to bear in business database information systems (applications) and in their development;
operate with typical database management systems, Access 2000 and Oracle 8i, at a first level by doing some simple exercises using them;
develop preliminary understandings and skills with designing a database information system (application);
operate with Access 2000 or Oracle 8i at an intermediate level by working with the dbms tools to build an intermediate level database information system;
develop intermediate level understandings and skills with designing more complex databases and database information systems;
develop elementary level understandings of some advanced topics in modern database management, as time permits.
III. Text and Other Materials
Required: Modern Database Management, by
Fred R. McFadden, et al.; Addison Wesley, Fifth Edition, May 1999.
Optional: Using Microsoft Access 2000, by Roger
Jennings; Que.
Optional: Essential Access 2000 Fast, by David Thew; Springer/Verlag, London, 2000.
Optional: Inside Relational Databases, by Mark Whitehorn and Bill Marklyn; Springer/Verlag, London, 2001.
Optional: Practical Oracle 8i: Building Efficient Databases, by Jonathan Lewis; Addison Wesley, 2001.
Optional: Oracle SQL Interactive Workbook, by Alex Morison, et al.; Prentice Hall PTR, 2000.
Portfolio binder as Defined in Class by Your Professor.
A Minimum of 5 3.5" diskettes (high density).
IV. Grading -- Student Deliverables and Their Relative Weights:
Notes:
Read the Assignments web page for all instructions on Assignments.
Read the Tests web page for all information on tests. Test 1 will occur about 1/2 through the course; Test 2 will occur at the end of the course and will be cumulative. The completed Project will be due at the end of the Final Exam period assigned by the School.
There are NO MAKEUPS for missed Tests. Any disastrous conflicts certified by Paulette Douglas in the Student Programs Office will be completed outside class time and must be completed within one week of any Test missed. An A- is the highest grade allowed in such circumstances.
No points are assigned for class attencance, which is required. There will be several "Class Exercises" announced duing the semester; students can earn extra, "participation" points for correctly completing these exercises.
Grading Scale:
Attendance:
Active and fully participative attendance in all classes is required if the student is to succeed in this course. Attendance records will be kept.
In some class periods, hands-on exercises will be completed; these hands-on exercises prepare students to do Assignments and the Tests. Inactive or non participative students will have a hard time completing the Assignments or passing the Tests. Students who meet the prerequisites and who actively attend all classes, working with the teacher on the hands-on exercises should not have any problems completing the Assignments and passing the Tests.
When the student misses a class, it will be somewhat more difficult to complete the exercises actually done in class, let alone the Assignments and Tests.
V. Assignment Requirements.
For all assignments each student must follow these instructions: Assignments; there will also be a set of instructions applicable to each assignment.
General Requirements for All Assignments
1. Each student must purchase from the Tulane University Bookstore a portfolio binder as defined in class by your Professor.
2. The first page of each portfolio, whenever it is submitted, must include:
3. For all objects of each database development component submitted for these assignments, professional form and appearance are required and graded. Correct spelling, correct alignment, and professional formatting are all subject to reduction of the total grade for the assignment (worth 10 % of the grade for each assignment).
4. Each student must do and complete his/her own work. Copying any part of any other student's work will result in the grade of zero on the assignment for student(s) copying and for student copied from. Protect your work from other students copying any part of it.
5. The educational objective of the work required here is
for the student to learn how to do the various tasks required in the database development process, in a professional and timely manner.
Therefore, there are some important policies regarding assignments:
VI. Pedagogy and Logistics
I subscribe to a "learn by doing" pedagogy: the more you do, the greater opportunity you have to understand. And the more you understand, the more you can do, and then understand still more, etc. If you only read a textbook, or only listen to hours of lectures, or only watch hours of slide presentations, and then try to do, in my experience, the less you really end up understanding and the less you are able to do. It takes all of these to really learn.
Meeting in Room 111, we will first become acquainted with the computers and the operating system environment. Then we will learn something about the environment of modern database management and some fundamental concepts,
principles and techniques of designing databases; students will also learn to construct databases and database applications using Access 2000 or Orace 8i.
Active attendance at all classes is required for success in this course; material and activities covered in selected class periods will be mirrored on the various tests. In some class periods, the Professor will serve as lab assistant, helping students during and after class if they need it. When the student misses a class, or fails to follow along with the class exercises, it will be somewhat more difficult to successfully complete the requirements of the course.
The Assignments 1 through 4 are cumulative in design; each one leads to another and each one includes what was required in the previous Assignment(s). The Project required is the actual construction of database management application. Students, working as though they were employed by a particular business or ogranization to solve an information system problem or need, will design and develop a database information application to meet the needs and situations defined.
VII. Academic Honesty and Integrity.
Each student is responsible for being fully familiar with and for abiding by the Freeman School's statement on Academic Honesty. Each student must do his/her own work for all graded items in this course. Failure to do so will result in failure in the course's objectives; the student will be given a final grade of "F." Evidence that work submitted for grading has been copied from work of another student -- in whole or in part -- will constitute failure to abide by the School's Statement on Academic Honesty.
Overview & Objectives | Full Syllabus & Grading | Calendar
Text & Other Resources | Assignments | Tests & Exams
Caveat: All Course Components Are Subject to Change
Warren E. Duclos, Jr. | A.B. Freeman School of Business | Tulane University
Unless otherwise noted, all material is:
Copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 The A. B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University.
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