NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY

MODULE DESCRIPTOR

CG156 - Database Modelling and Design
     For Academic Year 2003

Synopsis of Module:
A brief overview of aims, contents, methods and assessment

This unit is designed to extend students understanding of, and provide sound practice in, essential modelling techniques used in Database Design. The foci of the unit will be on the use of generic modelling techniques, and how they inform the design process according to the target DBMS (specifically Relational, Object-Relational and Object DBMS, but others may be covered).This unit is a core part of the Database Thread for business students, and is available to other undergraduate courses as an option. As such it is not only an end in itself, but provides a stepping stone for those students going on to more advanced studies in the field of Databases. The unit builds on introductory material developed in the pre-requisite unit, and is essential for subsequent core database units (see pre-requisites and co-requisites, and implications for choice).The unit is delivered by means of lectures and seminar/practical sessions, and is assessed through examination. The examination will involve practical exercises and is designed to allow the student time for reflective practice during the assessment.

Prerequisite(s):
Any Module which must already have been taken at a lower level, or any stipulated level of prior knowledge required.

CG085 Relational Databases Theory and Practice

Corequisite(s):
Module at the same level which must taken with this Module.

N/a

Implications for Choice:
Possible follow-on Modules, or exclusions, or Modules which require this one as a prerequisite.

CM036 Advanced Databases

Aims of Module:
Specified in terms of general aim of the teaching in its relation to the subject.

To provide the student with the skills and knowledge needed to model and design efficient and effective databases of a variety of types.

Learning Outcomes:
Specified in terms of performance capability to be shown on completion of the Module.

On completion of this unit the students should be able to:· Model real-world objects and their relationships.· Use Normalisation to design the logical schema of a database.· Translate a conceptual model to a data model for the target database management.

Outline Syllabus:
The content of the Module, identified in a component listing.

The layered approach to database design (e.g. the 3-layer model). Modelling state and behaviour. Recognition of entities, classification into entity types, the two-way nature of relationships, degree of relationship (-to one, -to many, optionality, mutex), and generalisation/specialisation, collections. 40%The use of normalisation as a way of aggregating data; functional dependency. Uniqueness and identity. 20%Design pathways; translating the generic conceptual model into a logical model for use in a wide variety of target DBMSs; practice in such translation for at least relational, object relational, and object oriented DBMS. 40%

Learning, Teaching And Assessment Strategy:

Concepts and principles will be delivered by way of lectures and directed reading.Throughout the unit students will be given the opportunity to examine and discuss the use of modelling techniques in real and simulated situations.Seminar and practical sessions will be used to discuss concepts and principles and to practice the techniques developed in lectures. Case studies and scenarios will be used to allow students to demonstrate and develop their understanding and application of design techniques.Students will be expected to model systems using the standards taught.Students will be expected to describe and evaluate the design, diagramming and modelling techniques and principles expounded. The unit is delivered by means of lectures and seminar/practical sessions, and is assessed through examination. The examination will involve practical exercises and is designed to allow the student time for reflective practice during the assessment.

Distance Learning Delivery:

None

Indicative Reading List or Other Learning Resources:
(Note: all references to be given as per Harvard System)

Connoly, T and Begg, C “Database Systems”” 3rd ed. Pearson, 2002Muller, Robert J. “Database Design for Smarties using UML for Data Modeling” Morgan Kaufmann, 1999.R Elmasri, S B Navathe "Fundamentals of Database Systems", 3rd edition. Benjamin/Cummings, 2000.C J Date "An Introduction to Database Systems", 7th edition. Addison-Wesley, 2000.