Year
2019
Units
4.5
Contact
1 x 2-hour lecture weekly
1 x 1-hour workshop weekly
1 x 2-hour computer lab weekly
Enrolment not permitted
1 of COMP2761, COMP8711, COMP8761 has been successfully completed
Assumed knowledge
Basic mathematical and numeric concepts
Topic description
The aim of this topic is to familiarise students with the basic concepts, fundamental structures and general techniques that are needed to define, construct and manipulate a database using a Database Management System (DBMS) with the main emphasis on relational DBMSs. The topic will cover the concept of data models, basic skills in data modelling using the Entity-Relationship (ER), Extend Entity-Relationship (EER) and relational data models, their diagrammatic representations, normal forms, relational algebra, and the Structured Query Language (SQL). In addition, the topic will introduce students to data mining and knowledge discovery.
Educational aims
The aim of this topic is to familiarise students with the basic concepts, fundamental structures and general techniques that are needed to define, construct and manipulate a database using a database management system (DBMS) with the main emphasis on relational DBMSs. Furthermore students should understand the concept of data models, have practical skills in data modelling using the Entity-Relationship (ER), Extend Entity-Relationship (EER) and relational data models, their diagrammatic representations, normal forms, relational algebra, and the Structured Query Language (SQL). In addition, students will begin to explore concepts associated with data mining and knowledge discovery.
Expected learning outcomes
At the completion of this topic, students are expected to be able to:

  1. Explain the concept of data model and have basic skills in data modelling using the information (or semantics) and the relational data models
  2. Specify the activities that a database management system supports and describe common approaches to supplying this support
  3. Discuss and practise the various techniques for database system design, implementation and maintenance
  4. Specify data declarations and manipulation operations for the relational model formally using relational algebra
  5. Define and manipulate a relational database using SQL
  6. Appreciate of the role of ethics in a data modelling environment and maintaining a database management system and its environment
  7. Explain the concepts of data mining and knowledge discovery and how it is applied to databases