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A First Course in Database Management

A First Course in Database Management. Jeanne Baugh Department of Computer and Information Systems Robert Morris University Pittsburgh PA. First Database Course Topics. Database Terminology Relational Design E-R Model Normalization SQL Administration.

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A First Course in Database Management

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  1. A First Course in Database Management Jeanne Baugh Department of Computer and Information Systems Robert Morris University Pittsburgh PA

  2. First Database Course Topics • Database Terminology • Relational Design • E-R Model • Normalization • SQL • Administration

  3. If the student only takes one Database course, what can be done to enhance the experience? • Allow each student to modeled a problem of his choice and create a custom database to meet the problem specifications

  4. Course Organization • DESIGN IS THE KEY • Can’t successfully model any problem without a good design • Present Many Entity Relationship Diagrams in class • Present the related database implementations

  5. Beauty Salon Example • Keep track of Customer Appointments, what service they want done and the employee who will perform it. (A customer can have more than one service at an appointment) • Send out promotional notices when specials are offered at the Salon • Keep track of what types of services each employee is able to offer • Print a list of all Appointments per day for each employee

  6. Salon Sample Design

  7. Sample Access Screen

  8. Student Project Proposal • What is the central focus of the database? • What kinds of things will this database be able to do? • What kinds of information will the database provide the user? • Is it a real project created for the student’s use or for another’s use?

  9. Evaluation of Student Proposals • Is the idea a valid one? • Is the project something the student could reasonably finish in the time allotted? • Will the design provide approximately 10 to 15 tables once implemented? • Will there be sufficient relationships among the data? • Will there be sufficient attributes to be defined?

  10. Sample Student Projects - 75% - Real • Automotive parts supply Co. • Ebay family sales information • Marine Personnel Information • Phi Beta Lambda Student Business Organization • Security company scheduling • Sports Cards Collection • Heating and Air Conditioning Business • RMU Track practice and Meet Information • Newspaper Route / customers/payments • Cattle Farm/ breeding/Vet info…

  11. Entity-Relationship Diagram • Individual attention • Detailed description provided by student • Basis of entire project • Approval needed before physical implementation • Logical Design Physical Design

  12. Project Phase I • Define tables, keys, constraints, etc… • Create all forms, including a main opening form with buttons. Sub forms are also required. • Create no reports • Create all relationships • Create a professional look

  13. Phase I Evaluation

  14. Often Students were helped in the evenings over the phone

  15. What would we do without Email?

  16. Phase II Requirements • Correct all Phase I problems • Create at least 8 reports (at least one sub report) • Add functions to forms and reports • Create update query, delete query, and macro to be run from buttons • Create query screen for custom searches • Create Data Dictionary • Create User’s Guide • Document database, including ER-Diagram and table documentation

  17. Problems with Access

  18. Problems with Access • Sub-forms linked to multiple fields on the master form (same problem with sub reports) • Update queries • Macros • Combo boxes • Field indexing • Expressions • Sub-query used as a criteria • Referring to values on other forms in queries, on reports, etc…

  19. Student Results • Grade#Students • A 20 • B 13 • C 10 • F 4 • Final grade was calculated using two exams, a comprehensive final, the project and various other assignments

  20. Student Survey • 60% very interested in the project • 75% would not have rather had a pre-designed project • 75% said they spend considerable more time on this class than on other ones • 90% got individual help from the instructor on the project • 98% felt the project aided in learning database management

  21. Student Survey Remarks • “I think this may have helped me decide what career path I want to follow” • “This project was a real challenge for me. I would definitely take an advanced course in database if offered” • “I’m really glad I got the opportunity to do a real project. • “I am so glad I had the opportunity to take this class” • “This class is one of the most challenging I had. I am glad to have taken it”

  22. Conclusions and Recommendations • Teaching a first database course with individual projects is time consuming • Structure how much time will be spent in class in the demonstration of Access features • Be careful to limit the scope of each student’s project • A detailed evaluation of the first phase is necessary in order for the student to complete the second phase • The students will need fairly good Microsoft Access skills to complete the project • A high speed Internet connection is a must for this course • A solid design is the heart of the student’s database project • Topics covered in a first database course should be monitored and updated as needed, in an effort to keep students current

  23. Thank You

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