Note: This unit is an archived version! See Overview tab for delivered versions.
INFO2120: Database Systems 1 (2013 - Semester 1)
| Unit: | INFO2120: Database Systems 1 (6 CP) |
| Mode: | Normal-Day |
| On Offer: | Yes |
| Level: | Intermediate |
| Faculty/School: | School of Computer Science |
| Unit Coordinator/s: |
A/Prof Roehm, Uwe
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| Session options: | Semester 1 |
| Versions for this Unit: | |
| Site(s) for this Unit: |
http://www.it.usyd.edu.au/~info2120/ |
| Campus: | Camperdown/Darlington |
| Pre-Requisites: | INFO1003 OR INFO1103 OR INFO1903 OR INFS1000 OR DECO1012. |
| Prohibitions: | INFO2820 OR COMP5138. |
| Brief Handbook Description: | The ubiquitous use of information technology leaves us facing a tsunami of data produced by users, IT systems and mobile devices. The proper management of data is hence essential for all applications and for effective decision making within organizations. This unit of study will introduce the basic concepts of database designs at the conceptual, logical and physical levels. We will place particular emphasis on introducing integrity constraints and the concept of data normalization which prevents data from being corrupted or duplicated in different parts of the database. This in turn helps in the data remaining consistent during its lifetime. Once a database design is in place, the emphasis shifts towards querying the data in order to extract useful information. The unit will introduce different query languages with a particular emphasis on SQL, which is industry standard. Other topics covered will include the important concept of transaction management, application development with a backend database, an overview of data warehousing and OLAP, and the use of XML as a data integration language. |
| Assumed Knowledge: | None. |
| Lecturer/s: |
A/Prof Roehm, Uwe
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| Tutor/s: | Bryn Jeffries (TA), Sasha Bermeister, Adam Chalmers, Callan McNamara, Scott Maxwell, Blake Riosa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Timetable: | INFO2120 Timetable | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Time Commitment: |
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| T&L Activities: | A variety of learning situations will be employed during the unit of study, including lectures, on-line demos, tutorials, directed computer laboratory exercises, self-learning SQL exercises (`SQL Challenge`), assessed assignments and a small practical database project. To benefit fully from this unit it is necessary to participate fully in all aspects of the unit of study. Laboratory: Laboratory and Tutorial work includes hands-on use of DBMS, the SQL Challenge system, and also practice in problem-solving related to the INFO2120 content. Independent Study: Work on assignments and homeworks, reading material from notes/references, etc; this should allow students to engage with the material and to integrate it into their understanding. Project Work - own time: Group Work on a practical database application project assignment (extra to time provided in Lab sessions) |
Attributes listed here represent the key course goals (see Course Map tab) designated for this unit. The list below describes how these attributes are developed through practice in the unit. See Learning Outcomes and Assessment tabs for details of how these attributes are assessed.
| Attribute Development Method | Attribute Developed |
| Schema design including integrity constraints that capture business rules as part of tutorial work and online quizzes/exam. Design of database-backed application to meet user needs, in the Practical Assignment. | Design (Level 2) |
| Theory and Practice of Relational Database Management Systems, throughout the unit | Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 2) |
| In-depth coverage of the relational data model and introduction to conceptual modelling using entity-relationship model and UML. | Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 2) |
| Learning of database systems and SQL editors through online documentation for the lab tasks; topics on information security and integrity as part of the lecture. | Information Seeking (Level 2) |
| The subjects covers basics of best-practices for SQL coding, schema naming conventions, database security, authorization mechanisms, and protection against SQL injection attacks. | Professional Conduct (Level 2) |
| Team assignment (with disparate members), in the practical database project assignments. | Project and Team Skills (Level 2) |
For explanation of attributes and levels see Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table.
Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. They are listed according to the course goal supported by each. See Assessment Tab for details how each outcome is assessed.
Design (Level 2)
1. Ability to design a schema which says how information about a particular domain will be stored in a relational DBMS (given a conceptual data model); also ability to apply normalization theory to evaluate or improve a relational schema. Ability to capture business rules as integrity constraints in a database schema.
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 2)
2. Understanding of the concept of a DBMS: differences from other ways to store and share data; DBMS role in organizations; the types of work done with a DBMS.
3. Ability to work with data stored in a relational database management system (understand table definitions including integrity constraints, extract information through SQL queries, modify information through SQL queries, use views and permissions for security)
4. Experience of how application software can use data stored in a DBMS (eg a dynamic content web site) and understand the basic architectural alternatives for data management applications.
5. Understanding of the basic concepts of transaction management.
Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 2)
6. Understanding of the relational data model
7. Ability to connect general database concepts to both theoretical abstract formulations, and details of specific software platforms.
Professional Conduct (Level 2)
8. Understanding of the SQL mechanisms for basic concepts of data security and privacy
Project and Team Skills (Level 2)
9. Work effectively in a team with members whose skills and interests differ
| Assessment Methods: |
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| Assessment Description: |
1. Marked tutorial exercises on DBMS Concepts; Relational Model and Algebra; Relational Design and Normalization; Transaction and Indexing Concepts. Some of these exercises are conducted as online tests using the University`s eLearning system, some are marked homework. 2. Practical SQL query formulation exercises during the first half of the course using the online Challenge system. 3. DB Design: First part of a practical database project (group assignment) on modeling a real-world scenario as an E-R diagram. 4. DB Schema: Second part of a practical database project (group assignment) on mapping a given E-R diagram to a relational schema. 5. DB Programming: Third part of a practical database project (group assignment) on programming a database application for a given database. 6. Final written examination (2 hours) We expect students to follow the University`s `Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism in Coursework` policy and to always honestly submit their own results (in case of a group assignment: the result of the corresponding team). Where material has been used from a third source or person, this must be properly disclosed in the submission. If in doubt, students should contact their tutor before submission and clarify these expectations. Students should note that all assignments and online tests submitted in this unit of study will be submitted to similarity detecting software. |
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| Assessment Feedback: | Any submitted homework will be returned with feedback the following week, and example solutions will be discussed in the tutorials. For submitted online tests and assignments, feedback including example solutions will be given within 10 working days via the unit`s eLearning site. |
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| Grading: |
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| Policies & Procedures: | IMPORTANT: School policy relating to Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism. In assessing a piece of submitted work, the School of IT may reproduce it entirely, may provide a copy to another member of faculty, and/or to an external plagiarism checking service or in-house computer program and may also maintain a copy of the assignment for future checking purposes and/or allow an external service to do so. Other policies All university policies can be found at http://sydney.edu.au/policy Policies and request forms for the Faculty of Engineering and IT can be found on the forms and policies page of the faculty website at http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/forms |
| Recommended Reference/s: |
Note: References are provided for guidance purposes only. Students are advised to consult these books in the university library. Purchase is not required.
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| Online Course Content: |
Lecture slides, tutorial handouts and documentation are available through the University of Sydney eLearning portal (Blackboard), and on a specific course website at http://www.it.usyd.edu.au/~info2120/ On the unit`s eLearning site, there will be also available a discussion forum, feedback for online quizzes and assignments, as well as lecture recordings. Self-study exercises on SQL are available through the School of IT's Challenge system. |
| Note on Resources: | On-line manuals for the PostgreSQL database platform. |
Note that the "Weeks" referred to in this Schedule are those of the official university semester calendar https://web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp
| Week | Description |
| Week 1 | Introduction and Administrativa |
| Week 2 | Conceptual Data Modeling |
| Week 3 | The Relational Data Model |
| Week 4 | Relational Algebra and SQL |
| Week 5 | Complex SQL: Nested Queries and Grouping |
| Week 6 | Data Security and Integrity |
| Assessment Due: DB Design | |
| Week 7 | Schema Refinement and Data Normalization |
| Week 8 | DB Application Development |
| Assessment Due: DB Schema | |
| Week 9 | Transaction Management |
| Week 10 | Indexing and Tuning |
| Week 11 | Introduction to Data Warehousing and OLAP |
| Week 12 | Introduction to XML and Semistructured Data |
| Assessment Due: DB Programming | |
| Week 13 | Revision |
| Exam Period | Assessment Due: Final Exam |
Course Relations
The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.
Course Goals
This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:
| Attribute | Practiced | Assessed |
| Design (Level 2) | Yes | 17.15% |
| Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 2) | Yes | 41.04% |
| Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 2) | Yes | 26.09% |
| Information Seeking (Level 2) | Yes | 0% |
| Communication (Level 2) | No | 0% |
| Professional Conduct (Level 2) | Yes | 11.15% |
| Project and Team Skills (Level 2) | Yes | 4.5% |
These goals are selected from Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table for details of the attributes and levels to be developed in the course as a whole. Percentage figures alongside each course goal provide a rough indication of their relative weighting in assessment for this unit. Note that not all goals are necessarily part of assessment. Some may be more about practice activity. See Learning outcomes for details of what is assessed in relation to each goal and Assessment for details of how the outcome is assessed. See Attributes for details of practice provided for each goal.
