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Academic Overview

Learning Objectives

At the completion of this unit students will have -
A knowledge and understanding of:

  • the major objectives of database technology;
  • the relational model for databases and competing models;
  • the phases of the database development life cycle and their correspondence to the phases of the system development lifecycle;
  • the techniques and tools to design and implement a database suitable for an information system;
  • a database retrieval and manipulation language;
  • methods to in put place physical structures to permit efficient operation of a database; and
  • the role of a database administrator.
Developed attitudes that enable them to:
  • appreciate the privacy issues relating to storage of data in a database; and
  • practice ethical behaviour when developing, implementing and using a database.

Graduate Attributes

Monash prepares its graduates to be:
  1. responsible and effective global citizens who:
    1. engage in an internationalised world
    2. exhibit cross-cultural competence
    3. demonstrate ethical values
  2. critical and creative scholars who:
    1. produce innovative solutions to problems
    2. apply research skills to a range of challenges
    3. communicate perceptively and effectively

Assessment Summary

Examination (3 hours): 60%; In-semester assessment: 40%

Assessment Task Value Due Date
Assignment 1: Data Collection and Markup 5% 3PM Friday 12th August 2011
Assignment 2: Database Design 15% 3PM Friday 9th September 2011
Assignment 3: Database Implementation 20% 3PM Friday 21st October 2011
Examination 1 60% To be advised

Teaching Approach

Lecture and tutorials or problem classes
This teaching and learning approach provides facilitated learning, practical exploration and peer learning, where you are required to prepare for and participate in all activities in order for you to achieve a successful outcome in this unit.

Feedback

Our feedback to You

Types of feedback you can expect to receive in this unit are:
  • Informal feedback on progress in labs/tutes
  • Graded assignments with comments
  • Quiz results
  • Solutions to tutes, labs and assignments

Your feedback to Us

Monash is committed to excellence in education and regularly seeks feedback from students, employers and staff. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through SETU, Student Evaluation of Teacher and Unit. The University's student evaluation policy requires that every unit is evaluated each year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys. The feedback is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied and areas for improvement.

For more information on Monash's educational strategy, and on student evaluations, see:
http://www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/directions.html
http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/student-evaluation-policy.html

Previous Student Evaluations of this unit

If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to
https://emuapps.monash.edu.au/unitevaluations/index.jsp

Required Resources

TEXTBOOK

Rob, P., Morris, S. and Coronel, C., Database Systems 9th Edn., Cengage Learning, 2010

This text is available from the Monash University Book Shops. Availability from other suppliers cannot be assured. The Bookshop orders texts in specifically for this unit. You are advised to purchase your text book early.

The text is also available as an eBook from Cengage Learning. The URL to the eBook version of the text is: http://www.cengagebrain.com.au/shop/en/AU/storefront/australia?cmd=CLHeaderSearch&fieldValue=9780538469685. The Cengage ebook format can be read on a range of devices, markup (notes and highlighting) is possible on a Windows PC or Apple Mac.

Recommended Resources

This unit will make use of a Monash Oracle 11G database - all students will have an account on this server which will suffice for all database work this semester.

Although it is not required, if students wish to run a database server at home they can download Oracle XE from the unit Moodle site or directly from the Oracle technet site:

  • http://www.oracle.com/technology/software/products/database/xe/index.html

Please note:

  1. for technet, registration (free) is required, and
  2. this is a large download (around 200Mb) and should not be attempted without first consulting your campus lecturer.

The client software for accessing Oracle (SQLDeveloper) will be available in the labs. It will also be available via a download from the Moodle site for installation at home. SQLDeveloper is also available, after registration (free), from the technet site:

  • http://www.oracle.com/technology/software/products/sql/index.html

For database Design we will be making use of the community edition of Power*Architect (version 1.06) developed by SQLPower:

  • http://code.google.com/p/power-architect/

Power*Architect will also be available in the labs, for download from the Moodle site and can be downloaded directly from the link above.

Unit Schedule

Week Activities Assessment
0 Please check the Moodle 2 site: http://moodle.vle.monash.edu/ No formal assessment if undertaken in week 0
1 Introduction to Database Systems  
2 Data Collection/Creation and Management  
3 Conceptual Database Design Assignment 1 Due - Data Collection and Markup - 3PM Friday 12th August 2011
4 Logical and Physical Database Design  
5 Normalisation  
6 Database Design Case Study  
7 Structured Query Language (SQL): DML Assignment 2 Due - Database Design - 3PM Friday 9th September 2011
8 Structured Query Language (SQL): DML Continued  
9 Structured Query Language (SQL): DDL and DCL; Triggers and Functions  
10 Transaction Management  
11 Web Database Systems  
12 Database Administration/Data Rights and Curation Assignment 3 Due - Database Implementation - 3PM Friday 21st October 2011
  SWOT VAC No formal assessment is undertaken in SWOT VAC
  Examination period LINK to Assessment Policy: http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/
academic/education/assessment/
assessment-in-coursework-policy.html

*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your MUSO (Blackboard or Moodle) learning system.

Assessment Requirements

Assessment Policy

To pass a unit which includes an examination as part of the assessment a student must obtain:

  • 40% or more in the unit's examination, and
  • 40% or more in the unit's total non-examination assessment, and
  • an overall unit mark of 50% or more.

If a student does not achieve 40% or more in the unit examination or the unit non-examination total assessment, and the total mark for the unit is greater than 50% then a mark of no greater than 49-N will be recorded for the unit

Assessment Tasks

Participation

  • Assessment task 1
    Title:
    Assignment 1: Data Collection and Markup
    Description:
    This task, which will be carried out partially during the week 2 lab, will involve the collection of a set of data on a specified topic. The collected data will be required to be marked up using an appropriate document standard. This task is a individual assessment task - each student will collect and markup their own data.
    Weighting:
    5%
    Criteria for assessment:

    Task criteria:

    1. Correct data researched and collected, including acknowledgement of sources
    2. Appropriate markup used to record the data
    Due date:
    3PM Friday 12th August 2011
  • Assessment task 2
    Title:
    Assignment 2: Database Design
    Description:
    Students will be supplied with a case study and asked to model this using Entity Relationship modelling. You will test your design by implementing your final logical ERD in Oracle via a set of 'create table' statements. This task is a group assignment in which students will work in groups of two.
    Weighting:
    15%
    Criteria for assessment:

    Task criteria:

    1. Correct application of normalisation process with use of dependency diagrams at each normal form
    2. Correct Logical ERD model created including - entities, PK's, attributes, relationships (connectivity and participation)
    3. Generated Oracle schema file executes correctly against Oracle to produce valid database structure
    4. Group presentation to marker

    Group criteria:

    • As a member of the group students will be required to participate fully and work with their partner in a positive manner; they will be required to make every effort to resolve any issues that arise within the group. If a matter cannot be resolved the tutor will be contacted immediately and informed of the issue/s; 
    • If a member of a team does not participate adequately, the tutor will be informed and will take appropriate action;
    • Individual final grades will reflect the quality of a student's work and participation within the group. Students will be required to submit a peer review report on both group member's contribution and effort as part of their assignment submission.
    Due date:
    3PM Friday 9th September 2011
  • Assessment task 3
    Title:
    Assignment 3: Database Implementation
    Description:
    Students will be supplied with a database design via a schema file and asked to create the database under Oracle. The created database will be populated with appropriate student generated data and then used to develop a set of SQL queries and triggers. This task is a group assignment in which students will work in the same group they worked in for assignment 2.
    Weighting:
    20%
    Criteria for assessment:

    Task criteria:

    1. Student data must insert correctly and result in a consistent database state
    2. SQL queries must execute correctly and produce correct visible output
    3. Coded PL/SQL triggers must compile and meet the problem specifications
    4. Design modifications must execute correctly and meet the problem specifications

    Group criteria:

    • As a member of the group students will be required to participate fully and work with their partner in a positive manner; they will be required to make every effort to resolve any issues that arise within the group. If a matter cannot be resolved the tutor will be contacted immediately and informed of the issue/s; 
    • If a member of a team does not participate adequately, the tutor will be informed and will take appropriate action;
    • Individual final grades will reflect the quality of a student's work and participation within the group. Students will be required to submit a peer review report on both group member's contribution and effort as part of their assignment submission.
    Due date:
    3PM Friday 21st October 2011

Examinations

  • Examination 1
    Weighting:
    60%
    Length:
    3 hours
    Type (open/closed book):
    closed book
    Electronic devices allowed in the exam:
    None

Assignment submission

It is a University requirement (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/plagiarism-procedures.html) for students to submit an assignment coversheet for each assessment item. Faculty Assignment coversheets can be found at http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/forms/. Please check with your Lecturer on the submission method for your assignment coversheet (e.g. attach a file to the online assignment submission, hand-in a hard copy, or use an online quiz).

Extensions and penalties

Submission must be made by the due date otherwise penalties will be enforced.

You must negotiate any extensions formally with your campus unit leader via the in-semester special consideration process: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/equity/special-consideration.html.

Returning assignments

Students can expect assignments to be returned within two weeks of the submission date or after receipt, whichever is later

Resubmission of assignments

At the Chief Examiners discretion, students may be permitted to resubmit assignments where serious medical issues or problems have impacted a students work.

Referencing requirements

Students are required to use the APA style of referencing for this unit - details are available from:

  • http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/tutorials/citing/apa.html
  • http://guides.lib.monash.edu/content.php?pid=88267&sid=656564
  • Chapter 10 of the Faculty of Business and Economics Q Manual (http://www.buseco.monash.edu.au/publications/qmanual/qmanual.pdf)

Other Information

Policies

Monash has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University's academic standards, and to provide advice on how they might uphold them. You can find Monash's Education Policies at:
http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/academic/education/index.html

Key educational policies include:

Student services

The University provides many different kinds of support services for you. Contact your tutor if you need advice and see the range of services available at www.monash.edu.au/students The Monash University Library provides a range of services and resources that enable you to save time and be more effective in your learning and research. Go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au or the library tab in my.monash portal for more information. Students who have a disability or medical condition are welcome to contact the Disability Liaison Unit to discuss academic support services. Disability Liaison Officers (DLOs) visit all Victorian campuses on a regular basis

Getting the most from your studies in this unit:

Lecture: During the lecture, your lecturer will introduce key theoretical concepts and demonstrate various approaches to data management tasks. The time in lectures is quite brief, please ensure you gain the best advantage from this time by:

  • Prior to the lecture
    • reading the study guide for the appropriate week, and
    • downloading and reading the lecture slides,
  • During the lecture
    • annotate a set of lecture slides as the lecture proceeds, and
    • participate, question, seek clarification 
  • After the lecture
    • read over your notes and make sure you understand the concepts
    • seek help if you are unsure

Laboratory/Tutorials: The labs consist of a set of graded exercises which allow you to put the theory presented in the lecture to work in creating, designing and using data and databases. The labs will also include issues that you will need to discuss with your fellow classmates and tutors. Before the lab you should carefully read through the lab activities. The teaching staff will presume that you have completed all the posted lab tasks each week and build subsequent activities on this assumption. For this reason it is very important that you complete all the posted tasks (please note you will not be able to complete them in the allocated 2 hours, these will be completed in your self study 8 hours). Given the cumulative nature of the learning, it is easy to fall behind if either you do not complete the required work or fail to understand key tasks/concepts. If you are having problems with lab exercises, please ensure you speak to your tutor and gain some assistance.

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