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 practical 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 a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) and Structured Query Language (SQL) to manipulate data and generate information. In addition, the unit introduces essentials of data security and quality management, and legal and ethical consideration in handling organisational data.
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.
Describe the fundamental concepts of data and info...
Learning Outcome 01
Discuss security, legal, ethical and quality issue...
Learning Outcome 02
Analyse real-world problems to identify data requi...
Learning Outcome 03
Apply SQL for creating database and manipulating d...
Learning Outcome 04
Content
Topics will include:
• Database concepts/foundations
• Types of data and databases
• Data quality
• The relational database model
• Data modelling & Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD)
• Normalisation of database tables
• Database Management Systems
• Database application case studies
• Structured Query Language (SQL)
• Database security
• Legal and ethical issues in data management
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 development through a series of hands-on exercises. In the second assessment, students apply relational data modelling techniques to develop a logical database desing for a given scenario/case. The third assessment requires students to convert the logical-level database design, created in assessment 2, 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
Assessment Task 1: Developmental Exercises This...
Assessment Task 1: Developmental Exercises
This assessment consists of a series of exercises and quizzes including identifying database concepts, conceptual database design using ER diagrams, database normalisation, using a RDBMS and basic SQL commands 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.
The feedback from this assessment will help students to apply the database concepts in the next assessments.
Submission Type: Individual
Assessment Method: Practical Tasks
Artefact: ER Diagram + Database files
35%
Assessment Task 2: Conceptual Database Design Th...
Assessment Task 2: Conceptual Database Design
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.
Students will have the opportunity to revise their conceptual database design to be further used as the basis for physical database design in the final assessment.
Submission Type: Individual
Assessment Method: Report
Artefact: Written report including ER Diagram
30%
Assessment Task 3: Database Implementation This...
Assessment Task 3: Database Implementation
This assessment task requires students to convert the logical-level database they have created in assessment 2 to a physical-level database using a RDBMS and 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
35%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
Students should anticipate undertaking 150 hours of study for this unit over a twelve-week semester or equivalent study period, including class attendance, readings, online forum participation and assessment preparation.
This unit is offered Attendance mode only.
Attendance Mode
In attendance 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.
Representative texts and references
Required text:
Coronel, C & Morris, S 2022, Database systems, design and implementation and management, 14th ed, 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
Recommended references
Friedrichsen, L, Ruffalo, L, Monk, E., Starks, JL, Pratt, PJ & Last, MZ 2021, Concepts of database management, 10th ed, Cengage Learning US.
Silbershatz, A, Korth, H, Sudarshan, S 2019, Database System Concepts, 7th ed, 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 ed, Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ.