© 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from Slide 1 A First Course in Database Management Jeanne Baugh Department of Computer and Information Systems Robert Morris University Pittsburgh PA

© 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from Slide 2 First Database Course Topics Database Terminology Database Terminology Relational Design Relational Design E-R Model E-R Model Normalization Normalization SQL SQL Administration Administration

© 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from Slide 3 If the student only takes one Database course, what can be done to enhance the experience? Allow each student to modeled a problem of his choice and create a custom database to meet the problem specifications Allow each student to modeled a problem of his choice and create a custom database to meet the problem specifications

© 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from Slide 4 Course Organization DESIGN IS THE KEY DESIGN IS THE KEY –Cant successfully model any problem without a good design –Present Many Entity Relationship Diagrams in class –Present the related database implementations

© 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from Slide 5 Beauty Salon Example Keep track of Customer Appointments, what service they want done and the employee who will perform it. (A customer can have more than one service at an appointment) Send out promotional notices when specials are offered at the Salon Keep track of what types of services each employee is able to offer Print a list of all Appointments per day for each employee

© 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from Slide 6 Salon Sample Design

© 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from Slide 7 Sample Access Screen

© 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from Slide 8 Student Project Proposal What is the central focus of the database? What is the central focus of the database? What kinds of things will this database be able to do? What kinds of things will this database be able to do? What kinds of information will the database provide the user? What kinds of information will the database provide the user? Is it a real project created for the students use or for anothers use? Is it a real project created for the students use or for anothers use?

© 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from Slide 9 Evaluation of Student Proposals Is the idea a valid one? Is the idea a valid one? Is the project something the student could reasonably finish in the time allotted? Is the project something the student could reasonably finish in the time allotted? Will the design provide approximately 10 to 15 tables once implemented? Will the design provide approximately 10 to 15 tables once implemented? Will there be sufficient relationships among the data? Will there be sufficient relationships among the data? Will there be sufficient attributes to be defined? Will there be sufficient attributes to be defined?

© 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from Slide 10 Sample Student Projects - 75% - Real Automotive parts supply Co. Automotive parts supply Co. Ebay family sales information Ebay family sales information Marine Personnel Information Marine Personnel Information Phi Beta Lambda Student Business Organization Phi Beta Lambda Student Business Organization Security company scheduling Security company scheduling Sports Cards Collection Sports Cards Collection Heating and Air Conditioning Business Heating and Air Conditioning Business RMU Track practice and Meet Information RMU Track practice and Meet Information Newspaper Route / customers / payments Newspaper Route / customers / payments Cattle Farm/ breeding/Vet info… Cattle Farm/ breeding/Vet info…

© 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from Slide 11 Entity-Relationship Diagram Individual attention Individual attention Detailed description provided by student Detailed description provided by student Basis of entire project Basis of entire project Approval needed before physical implementation Approval needed before physical implementation Logical Design Physical Design Logical Design Physical Design

© 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from Slide 12 Project Phase I Define tables, keys, constraints, etc… Define tables, keys, constraints, etc… Create all forms, including a main opening form with buttons. Sub forms are also required. Create all forms, including a main opening form with buttons. Sub forms are also required. Create no reports Create no reports Create all relationships Create all relationships Create a professional look Create a professional look

© 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from Slide 13 Phase I Evaluation

© 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from Slide 14

© 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from Slide 15 Often Students were helped in the evenings over the phone

© 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from Slide 16 What would we do without ?

© 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from Slide 17 Phase II Requirements Correct all Phase I problems Correct all Phase I problems Create at least 8 reports ( at least one sub report) Create at least 8 reports ( at least one sub report) Add functions to forms and reports Add functions to forms and reports Create update query, delete query, and macro to be run from buttons Create update query, delete query, and macro to be run from buttons Create query screen for custom searches Create query screen for custom searches Create Data Dictionary Create Data Dictionary Create Users Guide Create Users Guide Document database, including ER-Diagram and table documentation Document database, including ER-Diagram and table documentation

© 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from Slide 18 Problems with Access

© 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from Slide 19 Problems with Access Sub-forms linked to multiple fields on the master form (same problem with sub reports) Sub-forms linked to multiple fields on the master form (same problem with sub reports) Update queries Update queries Macros Macros Combo boxes Combo boxes Field indexing Field indexing Expressions Expressions Sub-query used as a criteria Sub-query used as a criteria Referring to values on other forms in queries, on reports, etc… Referring to values on other forms in queries, on reports, etc…

© 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from Slide 20 Student Results Grade #Students Grade #Students A 20 A 20 B 13 B 13 C 10 C 10 F 4 F 4 Final grade was calculated using two exams, a comprehensive final, the project and various other assignments Final grade was calculated using two exams, a comprehensive final, the project and various other assignments

© 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from Slide 21 Student Survey 60% very interested in the project 60% very interested in the project 75% would not have rather had a pre-designed project 75% would not have rather had a pre-designed project 75% said they spend considerable more time on this class than on other ones 75% said they spend considerable more time on this class than on other ones 90% got individual help from the instructor on the project 90% got individual help from the instructor on the project 98% felt the project aided in learning database management 98% felt the project aided in learning database management

© 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from Slide 22 Student Survey Remarks I think this may have helped me decide what career path I want to follow I think this may have helped me decide what career path I want to follow This project was a real challenge for me. I would definitely take an advanced course in database if offered This project was a real challenge for me. I would definitely take an advanced course in database if offered Im really glad I got the opportunity to do a real project. Im really glad I got the opportunity to do a real project. I am so glad I had the opportunity to take this class I am so glad I had the opportunity to take this class This class is one of the most challenging I had. I am glad to have taken it This class is one of the most challenging I had. I am glad to have taken it

© 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from Slide 23 Conclusions and Recommendations Teaching a first database course with individual projects is time consuming Teaching a first database course with individual projects is time consuming Structure how much time will be spent in class in the demonstration of Access features Structure how much time will be spent in class in the demonstration of Access features Be careful to limit the scope of each student s project Be careful to limit the scope of each student s project A detailed evaluation of the first phase is necessary in order for the student to complete the second phase A detailed evaluation of the first phase is necessary in order for the student to complete the second phase The students will need fairly good Microsoft Access skills to complete the project The students will need fairly good Microsoft Access skills to complete the project A high speed Internet connection is a must for this course A high speed Internet connection is a must for this course A solid design is the heart of the student s database project A solid design is the heart of the student s database project Topics covered in a first database course should be monitored and updated as needed, in an effort to keep students current Topics covered in a first database course should be monitored and updated as needed, in an effort to keep students current

© 2003 By Default! A Free sample background from Slide 24 Thank You