2015/16 | Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences Intranet

MODULE TITLE	Database Theory and Design	CREDIT VALUE	15
MODULE CODE	ECM2419	MODULE CONVENER	Dr Alberto Moraglio (Coordinator)

DURATION: TERM	1	2	3
DURATION: WEEKS	12

Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated)	36

DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content

This module will give you an insight into the theoretical and technical issues underlying current and future database management systems. You will acquire practical and theoretical competence in database modelling and design, as well as gaining familiarity with modern state-of-the-art database technology.

Prerequisite module: ECM1408, ECM1409, ECM1413 or equivalent.

AIMS - intentions of the module

The intention of the module is to equip you with the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to design, develop and manage database systems using modern database management systems. You will get hands-on experience on a selected database management system that is currently in commercial use. By the end of the module you will be competent with the methods for designing, developing and managing database systems and their associated forms-based applications.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1 outline the ACID properties of database systems;

2 develop and interpret database schemas and queries expressed in SQL-92;

3 develop conceptual designs and transform them into SQL-92 schemas;

4 demonstrate an understanding of relational theory and its use in database design;

5 demonstrate an understanding of the transaction concept and its use in integrity and recovery;

6 express queries in a declarative language.

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:
7 interpret an informal requirement specification;

8 express designs at different levels of abstraction and map between them;

9 design with a data-centric view;

10 systematically analyse information and make appropriate design choices;

11 develop appropriate data for testing a set-orientated model.

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge:

12 use on-line resources to develop advanced computer languate skills;

13 write a technical report incorporating the design, implementation and testing of a database system.

SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module

- the relational model and its expression in SQL-92;
- information modelling and mapping to SQL;
- database design theory;
- transactions and their use in integrity and recovery management;
- physical database implementation;
- dynamic modelling and user interaction via forms.

LEARNING AND TEACHING

LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities	50.00	Guided Independent Study	100.00	Placement / Study Abroad	0.00

DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled learning and teaching activities	20	Lectures
Scheduled learning and teaching activities	10	Workshops
Scheduled learning and teaching activities	20	Individual assessed work
Guided independent study	100	Guided independent study

ASSESSMENT

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT - for feedback and development purposes; does not count towards module grade

Form of Assessment	Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length)	ILOs Assessed	Feedback Method
Conceptual level design	10 hours, open book	3,7,8,9,10	Written and oral
Relational algebra worksheet	6 hours, open book	4	Written and oral
SQL coding	6 hours, open book	2,3,4,6,11,12	Written and oral

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)

Coursework	30	Written Exams	70	Practical Exams	0

DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT

Form of Assessment	% of Credit	Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length)	ILOs Assessed	Feedback Method
Coursework (analysis and design)	20	18 hours	3,4,7,8,9,10,13	Written and oral
Coursework (implementation )	10	6 hours	2,3,4,6,7,11,12,13	Written and oral
Written exam	70	18 hours	1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11	Written and oral

DETAILS OF RE-ASSESSMENT (where required by referral or deferral)

Original Form of Assessment	Form of Re-assessment	ILOs Re-assessed	Time Scale for Re-reassessment
All above	Written exam	All	August

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES

Referred students will be re-assessed for a maximum of 40%. For students deferred in the exam only, the uncapped exam mark will be combined with marks from coursework according to the stated percentage weightings. For students deferred in the whole module, the uncapped exam mark will be used.

RESOURCES

INDICATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES - The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener

ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk

Reading list for this module:

Type	Author	Title	Edition	Publisher	Year	ISBN	Search
Set	Elmasri and Navathe	Fundamentals of Database Systems	5th	Addison-Wesley	2011	032141506X	[Library]
Set	Howe, David	Data Analysis for Database Design	3rd	Butterworth-Heinemann	2001	978-0750650861	[Library]
Set	Connolly, Thomas and Begg, Carolyn	Database Systems: A Practical Approach to Design, Implementation and Management	6th	Pearson	2015	1292061189	[Library]
Set	Ramakrishnan and Gehrke	Database Management Systems	5th	McGraw-Hill	2007	007-1151109 (Int)	[Library]
Set	Silberschatz, A, Korth, H F, and Sudarshan, S	Database System Concepts	6th	McGraw-Hill	2013	9332901384	[Library]

CREDIT VALUE	15	ECTS VALUE	7.5

PRE-REQUISITE MODULES	ECM1413, ECM1408, ECM1407
CO-REQUISITE MODULES

NQF LEVEL (FHEQ)	5	AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING	No
ORIGIN DATE	Friday 09 January 2015	LAST REVISION DATE	Friday 09 January 2015

KEY WORDS SEARCH	Database; design; modelling.

Computer Science

ECM2419 - Database Theory and Design (2015)