INSS 550 DATABASE MANAGEMENT & DECISION SYSTEMS
   TENATIVE COURSE OUTLINE

Class Times:  24/08 - 20/10                                           Class Location: Aviano, Italy

Lecturer: Joyce M. Rowe, Ph.D.                                   Office Hours:  1/2 hr. before/after class;
Phone:                                                                                     by appointment 
e-mail: jrowe@faculty.ed.umuc.edu                              Course Credit: 3 semester hours

 Pre-requisite: All pre-requisite classes as listed in catalog or permission of the lecturer

  TEXTBOOK:

Database Systems:  Design Implementation and Management by Rob and Colonel, 5th Edition, Course Technology, 2000.  

 Additional Readings as assigned

  HANDOUTS: Will be distributed from time-to-time; you will be responsible for this material

COURSE DESCRIPTION

An introduction to the design and management of database systems in a business environment.  Topics include the role of databases in organizations, the management of information as a critical business resource; types and functions of database management systems; conceptual data modeling, entity-relationship and semantic data models, and the fundamental principles of relational and object-oriented database design.  The implementation and maintenance of database management systems are discussed as is the role of the database administrator. 

GRADING CRITERIA:

Homework/Participation

15 points

Database Project [Operation of DB]

20 points

Database Project [Presentation and Users' Manual]

15 points

Subject research

20 points

Final

30 points

GRADING SCALE:

90-100 = A

80 - 89   = B

70 - 79  = C

Below 70 = FA

ASSIGNMENTS

Homework/Participation--Each student will develop various models and complete small assignments, often in class, sometimes out of class.  These cases are useful in applying the methodologies discussed in class.  Additionally, each student will be assigned a topic relating to a language, a methodology, etc., to follow in the news over the eight weeks of classes and to report/summarize at class meetings. Students will discuss concepts in the book and demonstrate their applications through discussion of real-world problems.  This part of the course will familiarize students with the concepts in modern databases and the respected researchers in the field.  

Project--Students will be assigned a typical business problem. This problem will be carried through the analysis and design phase, with the appropriate DB and analysis models and brought into production with the development of queries, input and output interfaces in Access; and database population. Additionally, a complete Users' Manual will accompany the database and an in-class presentation of the project. Students will work in 3- to 4-member teams for this assignment, but each student will be required to complete sections individually and will be graded accordingly. Everyone on the team will be responsible for programming the database.

Subject Research ---Students will select one topic from a list of current database topics (tentative list at bottom of syllabus). The student will produce a 5-7 page paper along with a page of resources used,  (use the APA or MLA format, single spaced, for this bibliography, as provided on the UMd Library website), and  provide each class member a 1-page summary to be posted on-line.  Students will be graded on the quality of their work as well as the depth.

Final--Exams will consist of essay questions related to the goals listed at the beginning of each chapter and the outside readings and a comprehensive exam question. The test (worth 100 points) will be graded exactly like comprehensives; that is: 75% for content, 25% for English and organization

COURSE POLICIES/EXPECTATIONS

The following policies apply to this class. These policies are generally reflected in the student catalog.

*   ATTENDANCE POLICY: Students should access the web site several times each week. This is a web-enhanced course, not a DE course. Therefore, the material will need to be covered in 8 weeks and will require more intense work and participation on a regular basis.

*  ACADEMIC HONESTY: Students are expected to do their own work. Cheating on tests, plagiarism on written assignments, or any other form of academic dishonesty will result in a "0" for the assignment. Note that a D or an F usually results in at least 60 or 50 points, where violation of academic honesty results in none. See the European Division Catalog for the UMUC policy on academic dishonesty and plagiarism.

*  ASSIGNMENT/TEST SCHEDULES: Students are expected to hand in all assignments and complete all tests on the days they are due. If a student fails to complete any assignment or test, the resulting grade will be a "0," rather than an "F." Any other assignments will be marked down half a letter grade for each half week the assignment is late. Major tests to be missed must be taken before the date the test is to be given in class.

* CLASS PREPARATION: Students are expected to access the web site several times each week. Also, students must be prepared; i.e., assignments should be read and completed before attempting to participate in class on-line discussions.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The objectives for this course are listed in each chapter. Questions on the midterm and final will be directly related to these goals, even though the topic may not be covered in class.  Students completing class should:

• Develop database planning models
• Identify types of databases utilized within business structures 
• Identify, describe and model different database topologies 
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of databases over flat files; of different types of database

        topologies 

• Develop SQL queries
• Develop logical and physical database designs
• Produce 1NF, 2NF, and 3NF structures
• Explain centralized, decentralized, and distributed database systems  Discuss Security systems appropriate for databases
• Develop Specification Requirements for on-line databases
• Describe the process for developing applications, including development of Program Specification Requirements

The activities and assignments for this course are designed to help the student know, comprehend, and apply the basic concepts of systems analysis and design.  In addition to the academic objectives, students are expected to improve their skills in the following areas:

1. Critical Thinking: Students should improve their ability to analyze computer user situations and make appropriate suggestions for resolving business problems through computer systems.  The  projects in this class encourage students to think critically about real-world situations.
2. Writing Skills: Students should improve writing skills through development of the Feasibility Study and formal report on the major project and on the mid-term and final.
3. Oral Presentation Skills: Students should improve their presentation skills through their oral reports on the major project, class discussions, and group presentations.
4. Computer Skills: Students are expected to improve their computer skills by using word processing and project management software.  The use of  Internet and e-mail are also encouraged.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Topics Discussed

Activities

Class 1

Morning

Aug 24

Chapter 1:  File Systems and Databases; Chapter 2:  Relational Databases

Read Chapters 1-4 before class; In class problems and discussions; Assignment: Homework assignments; Select teams

Class 2

Afternoon

Aug 24

Chapter 3:  SQL; Topic Research Assignment; Teams selected

In-class lecture and discussion; problems; Chapter 4; Select paper topic and have approved

Class 3 

Morning

Aug 25

Chapter 4:  Entity-Relationship Diagrams; Project assignments; Team meetings

In-class lecture and discussion; problems; team meetings; Review Project planning techniques; Gantt Chart

Class 4

Afternoon

Aug 25

Review Project planning; Review DFD; Class Diagrams; Use Case Diagrams; Team meetings

In-class lecture and problems; Assignment: Team DFD, ERD, and Class Diagrams; Investigation activities; Chapter 5 and Access database

Class 5

Morning 

Sept 7
 

Chapter 5:  Normalization;  Presentation of investigation, DFD, ERD, Class and Use Case Diagrams; Team meetings

In-class lecture and problems; I/O interfaces 

Class 6

Afternoon

Sept 7

Prototyping; User’s Manuals; Interface specifications; Access Database tables

In-class lecture and problems; Team User Manual assignments; I/O interface assignments; DB tables

Class 7

Morning

Sept 8
 

Access Database

Team assignments reviewed and modified; Access Forms and Reports

Class 8

Afternoon

Sept 8

Access Database

Team assignments reviewed and modified; Assignment:  Study for Midterm Exam – db theory; Read Chapters 9 – 10; complete papers

Class 9

Morning
Sept 21
 

MidTerm Exam; Team reviews

 Access Queries; Access database and User’s Manual

Class 10

Afternoon 

Sept 21

Moving the project from Logical to Physical; Design and Testing Techniques

Access Database Population techniques; Macros;  Populating database and opening Macro

Class 11

Morning 

Sept 22

Normalization; Implementation techniques; Techniques for presentations; Chapter 9:  Transaction Management and Currency Control

In-class lecture and problems; Presentations of papers

Class 12

Afternoon

Sept 22

Chapter 10:  Distributed Database; Modeling for partitioning on the network

In-class lecture and problems; Assignment: Continue working on Database and users manual; Read chapters 11 an 15

Class 13

Morning

Oct 5

IFSM Reports

In-class lecture and problems; Present Database and User’s Manual

Class 14

Afternoon

Oct 5

Chapter 15:  Database Administration; INSS Reports

In-class lecture; Discuss projects/problems

Class 15

Morning

Oct 6

Chapter 11:  Database and Internet; Project presentations

Project presentations; In-class lecture; Final Exam

Class 16

Afternoon

Oct 6

Final Exam Chapters 9-11; 15; Access