Year
2023Credit points
10Campus offering
No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.Prerequisites
Nil
Incompatible
DATA200 - Data and Information Management, ITED200 Data and Information Management
Teaching organisation
150 hours over a twelve-week semester or equivalent study period
Unit rationale, description and aim
In the information age we live in, data is recognised as a vital asset for organisations. Databases have become an essential technology for the organisations to record, process and manipulate data and information efficiently, and preserving data quality and security. This unit will provide you with foundational knowledge and practical skills in database design and implementations. The unit further develops your skills in identifying and modelling organisational information requirements; developing using conceptual data models and verifying its structural characteristics with normalisation techniques; implementing and utilising a database using an advanced Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) and Structured Query Language (SQL) to manipulate data and generate information. In addition, the unit introduces and ethical consideration in handling organisational data. This unit is designed in alignment with Microsoft’s curriculum and provides a pathway to the DP-900: Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals certification.
The primary aim of this unit is to provide students with knowledge and practical skills needed to design, implement database solutions to address real-world needs of organisations while preserving data privacy and security to support the dignity of humans served by the organisation.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:
LO1 - Describe the main components, functions, advantages and challenges of database management systems (GA5, GA8)
LO2 - Discuss security, professional, legal and ethical issues in managing organisational data for the dignity of the human person (GA1, GA5)
LO3 - Apply conceptual database design techniques including ER diagrams and normalisation to create a conceptual database design for a given case study (GA5, GA8)
LO4 - Apply SQL for creating database and manipulating data stored in databases and generating meaningful information (GA5, GA10)
Graduate attributes
GA1 - demonstrate respect for the dignity of each individual and for human diversity
GA5 - demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession
GA8 - locate, organise, analyse, synthesise and evaluate information
GA10 - utilise information and communication and other relevant technologies effectively.
Content
Topics will include:
- Database concepts/foundations
- The relational database model
- Non-Relational databases
- Data modelling & Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD)
- Normalisation of database tables
- Structured Query Language (SQL)
- Database security
- Modern data analytics in Azure
- Professional, legal and ethical issues in data management
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This unit is offered in different modes. These are: “Blended” mode and “Online” mode. This unit is offered in different modes to cater for the learning needs and preferences of a range of participants and maximise effective participation for isolated and/or marginalised groups.
Blended Mode
In a blended mode, students will require face-to-face attendance in blocks of time determined by the School. Students will have face-to-face interactions with lecturer(s) to further their achievement of the learning outcomes. This unit is structured with required upfront preparation before workshops. The online learning platforms used in this unit provide multiple forms of preparatory and practice opportunities for you to prepare and revise.
Online Mode
This unit uses an active learning approach to support students in the exploration of knowledge essential to the discipline. Students are provided with choice and variety in how they learn. Students are encouraged to contribute to asynchronous weekly discussions. Active learning opportunities provide students with opportunities to practice and apply their learning in situations similar to their future professions. Activities encourage students to bring their own examples to demonstrate understanding, application and engage constructively with their peers. Students receive regular and timely feedback on their learning, which includes information on their progress.
Students should anticipate undertaking 150 hours of study for this unit, including class attendance, readings, online forum participation and assessment preparation.
Assessment strategy and rationale
To pass this unit, students are required to achieve an aggregate mark of at least 50%. Marking will be in accordance with a rubric specifically developed to measure the level of achievement of the learning outcomes for each item of assessment. Students will also be awarded a final grade which signifies their overall achievement in the unit.
The assessment strategy for this unit is based on the need to determine authentic student achievement of the learning outcomes. The first assessment provides students with an opportunity to apply database design and QSL through a series of hands-on exercises. Assessment 2 allows students to demonstrate the depth of their knowledge and understanding of database technology concepts and tools through Microsoft Certification Exam. Assessment 3 requires students to convert the logical-level database design to a physical-level database using a database management system software. It also requires developing queries to generate information and manipulate data. This assessment also requires students to demonstrate the Catholic Social Teaching principle of dignity of the human person: how organisations organise, use, manage and secure data in organisations to maintain the dignity, privacy and rights of a person.
Overview of assessments
| Brief Description of Kind and Purpose of Assessment Tasks | Weighting | Learning Outcomes | Graduate Attributes |
|---|---|---|---|
Assessment Task 1: Developmental Exercises This assessment consists of a series of exercises including conceptual database design using ER diagrams, database normalisation, using a RDBMS and SQL programming for data manipulation. This task requires students to demonstrate their theoretical knowledge and practical skills gained in the unit in the creation of a database and applying SQL programming. The feedback from this assessment will help students to apply the database concepts in the next assessment. Submission Type: Individual Assessment Method: Practical Tasks Artefact: ER Diagram + SQL code | 25% | LO3, LO4 | GA5, GA8, GA10 |
Assessment Task 2: Certification Exam This assessment task requires students to undertake Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals DP-900 Certification Exam. The exam assesses students’ foundational knowledge of core data concepts and how they are implemented using Microsoft Azure data services. This exam reports on a scale of minimum 100 and maximin 1000 with a passing score of 700. The exam contains 53 questions and students have 60 minutes to complete it. Submission Type: Individual Assessment Method: Microsoft Certification Exam Artefact: Certification | 35% | LO1 | GA5, GA8 |
Assessment Task 3: Database design and Implementation Project This assessment task requires students to develop a logical-level design of a database for a given case study and verify its structural characteristics with normalisation techniques. Also, it requires students to convert the logical-level database to a physical-level database using a RDBMS. This task also requires students to create SQL queries to generate information and manipulate data, perform user account management, and enhance the security of the database. In addition, it requires a report detailing actions performed to improve security and demonstration of the understanding of Catholic Social Teaching principle of dignity of the human person: how organisations use, manage and secure data in organisations to maintain privacy and security. To ensure academic integrity students are required to present their assignment work in-class or through a recorded presentation. Submission Type: Individual Assessment Method: Practical task Artefact: Database file + Report + Presentation
| 40% | LO2, LO3, LO4 | GA1, GA5, GA10 |
Representative texts and references
Required text:
Coronel, C & Morris, S 2022, Database systems, design and implementation and management, 14th edn, Cengage Learning, Boston, MA
Online resources:
- Azure Data Fundamentals: Explore core data concepts
- Azure Data Fundamentals: Explore relational data in Azure
- Azure Data Fundamentals: Explore non-relational data in Azure
- Azure Data Fundamentals: Explore modern data warehouse analytics in Azure
Online resources:
Azure Data Fundamentals: Explore core data concepts
Azure Data Fundamentals: Explore relational data in Azure
Azure Data Fundamentals: Explore non-relational data in Azure
Azure Data Fundamentals: Explore modern data warehouse analytics in Azure
Recommended references
Friedrichsen, L, Ruffalo, L, Monk, E., Starks, JL, Pratt, PJ & Last, MZ 2020, Concepts of database management, 10th edn, Cengage Learning US.
Silbershatz, A, Korth, H, Sudarshan, S 2019, Database System Concepts, 7th edn, McGraw-Hill Education.
Connolly TM & Begg D 2015, Database systems: a practical approach to design, implementation and management, 6th edn, Addison Wesley, Boston, MA.
Kroenke DM & Auer, DJ, Vandenberg, SL, Yoder, RC 2019, Database concepts, 9th edn, Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ.