Databases (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Content scheduling

In this course, students learn to use and design relational databases as well as understand differences to document databases.
Weekly meetings.Topics (and hours used in teaching sessions):
- Relational DBMS and DB use 4h
- Basics of SQL 13h
- Relational database design 7h
- Introduction to document database MongoDB 4h

Objective

After completing the course the student can:
- understand different types of databases and evaluate their feasibility for different purposes.
- plan and implement a database based on requirements and search and modify data in the database
- use at least one well-known database management system
- describe database management tasks

Content

- Different types of databases
- Definition, planning and implementation of databases
- SQL basics
- Database administration with DBMS
- Management principles for databases

Materials

Lecture slides
Internet material about SQL

Supporting book about nosql:
Connolly, Thomas M.; Begg, Carolyn E. - Database Systems: A Practical Approach to Design, Implementation and Management - 4. edition or later
Vaish, Gaurav: Getting Started with NoSQL. Packt Publishing Ltd 2013. Check Ebrary for online version

Teaching methods

The course consists of 1) exercises (db queries and design tasks) 2) practical work tasks and 3) exam. Exercises are divided into weekly topics. These are practiced both individually and with the help of the teacher in the session. Each session begins with an introduction to the topic of the week, which includes practical examples with lecture slides.

Exam schedules

The exam is performed in Ville system.
1st exam is organized in the class room (during the regular meeting time) where Internet use is allowed for information retrieval. 2nd and 3rd exams as e-exams in the aquarium premises where Internet use is not allowed. E-exams are open the rest of the year.

Pedagogic approaches and sustainable development

Learning by doing, trial-error, listening carefully the teacher, and collaborating with other students, self- and peer-assessments.

Completion alternatives

Participation in the teaching session is not compulsory, but highly recommended. Each week we introduce a new topic that builds on top of previous weeks.

Student workload

Recommended 8 hours / week for lectures, solving exercises and practical work tasks, if you are new to relational databases.

Participating weekly in teaching sessions: a' 2 hours * 13 = 28h
Individual work:
for exercises 60h
Practical work 40h
Exam 10h

Evaluation methods and criteria

The course is graded from 0-5. The grade is based on collected points.
Each exercise is 1 point unless mentioned otherwise. The exam must be passed.

Exercises: 65 points,
Practical work: 55 points
Exam 70 points;
Total 190 points

Grading by points:
Points Grade
0-89 NOT PASSED
90-107 1
108-124 2
125-144 3
145-159 4
160-190 5

Further information

We will use a DBMS environment for practical training (MySQL), which needs installation on the personal computer.
Highly likely, the environment for using DBMS is some LAMP stack with graphical UI like UwAmp, but you can use similar like XAMPP.
In addition to DBMS environment, we will use MongoDB cloud for practicing document databases.