module specification

This module builds upon the student's general understanding of database design and implementation from prior learning. It discusses the key issues underpinning database management systems and their development, provides a strong coverage to advanced SQL which helps preparing for professional certification, and introduces some current topics in database technology. In addition, the module contains a substantial practical element utilising advanced SQL and database application development tools (e.g. Oracle SQL developer, Oracle.NET developer), enabling students to gain transferable skills in designing and developing relatively complex ‘real life’ database applications.

The module will enable students to:-
• gain in-depth understanding of various key issues pertinent to the management and development of modern database applications.
• acquire skills in advanced SQL which provides an opportunity for gaining professional certification.
• be introduced to current developments in database technology thereby raising students’ awareness and understanding of the future trend in database systems development.
• design and develop relatively complex business database systems and applications using industry-standard database products (e.g. Oracle SQL developer, Oracle.NET developer).

Successful completion of Level 5 or equivalent

Database architectures, key issues in database systems and their management. LO1
Database concurrency: problems; locking mechanism; deadlock prevention and detection. LO1, LO2
Database recovery: techniques for different types of recovery. LO1, LO2
Database security: identification and authentication; discretionary access control and mandatory access control. LO1, LO2
Database query optimisation: objectives and stages of query optimisation; use of metadata. LO1, LO2, LO4
Distributed databases: distributed architectures; transparency; replication; fragmentation; distributed query processing. LO1, LO2, LO4
Types of database models and their comparison (e.g. object-oriented databases, spatial databases). LO1, LO4
Data warehousing. LO1, LO4
Advanced coverage of SQL related to SQL certification, including:
• Single-Row Functions; Aggregating Data using Group Functions; Advanced Subqueries; Manipulating Data (DML statements, merging rows, control transactions)
• Creating and maintaining constraints; Creating and maintaining other database objects including sequences, indexes and synonyms LO2, LO3, LO5
Database development environment and tools: Oracle SQL developer; PL/SQL including triggers, and trigger types; Oracle.NET developer. LO2, LO4, LO5
Designing, building and developing substantial database applications. LO2, LO5
Current developments in database technologies (e.g., data mining, cloud computing). LO4

Topics will be introduced through a combination of formal lectures, tutorials, supervised workshop sessions, and blended learning as follows:
- Lecture (1 hour / week):
Introduce the designated topics in the syllabus, ranging from key aspects of database management and development to current database technologies.
- Tutorial/ Workshop (2 hour / week):
Tutorial sessions aim to consolidate the understanding of topics covered in the lectures including class and group discussions in the tutorial sessions.
Workshop sessions facilitate students to gain adequate hands-on experience and practical proficiency of using the chosen database development environment and tools.
- Blended learning:
Lecture notes and other support learning material will be available on the university VLE network (e.g. WebLearn)
-Reflective learning:
Students will be expected and encouraged to produce reflective commentaries and an action plan for personal development on the learning activities and tasks that they carry out to complete their work, e.g. in the form of an assessed section of their coursework report.
In addition, students are strongly advised to read widely of relevant materials from books, journals and the internet in order to acquire a better understanding of the subject.

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:-

LO1: Demonstrate a clear understanding of the various key issues which affect database systems and their management;
LO2: Gain a considerable exposure to the practical issues, as well as their theoretical underpinning, pertinent to the development of modern database applications, including database development environment and tools (e.gOracle SQL developer, Oracle.NET developer).;
LO3: Demonstrate a sufficient level of knowledge and proficiency in advanced SQL which provides an opportunity to prepare for the first stage of Oracle professional certification.
LO4: Demonstrate an enhanced awareness of some current developments in database technologies;
LO5: Design and develop substantial ‘real life’ database applications for a given business scenario, with a professional approach to the system documentation.

The assessment strategy for the module aims to enable the students to demonstrate their achievement on the stated learning outcomes:
• The students’ knowledge and understanding of the key issues of database management and developments are assessed by an unseen Examination [LO1, LO2, LO4].
• The students’ practical problem-solving skills and critical thinking/evaluation on the design and development of database systems (using SQL and database development tools) are assessed by an individual Coursework based on a given business scenario [LO2, LO5] .
• The Class Test enables the students to demonstrate their knowledge and proficiency in advanced SQL relevant to professional certification [LO3].

Arrangements for formative and summative feedback:

• Formative feedback to the students is provided on an on-going basis both through informal tutorial/workshop discussions and on a one-to-one basis, covering major topics of study and students’ progress on the module.

• Summative feedback will be available following the class test and the coursework.

Link to the booklist: https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/0AB4CB75-EEBF-1631-FEF5-F47B8B9AA10C.html?embed=1&lang=en-GB

Textbooks:

Core Text:
• Connolly, T., Begg, C., Database Systems– A Practical Approach to Design, Implementation, and Management (6th ed.), Pearson, 2014.

Other Texts:
• Elmasri, R., Navathe, S., Fundamentals of Database Systems (7th ed.) Pearson, 2016.
• Date, C. J., An Introduction to Database Systems (8th ed.), Addison­Wesley, 2004.
• Zehoo, E., Pro ODP.NET for Oracle Database 11g, Apress, 2010.
• Bulusu, L. Oracle Embedded Programming and Application Development, CRC Press, 2010.

Journals:
• ACM Transactions on Database Systems (TODS), ACM New York, NY, USA
ISSN:0362-5915.
• The Computer Journal of the British Computer Society, ISSN 1460-2067 (Electronic); Publisher: Oxford: Oxford Journals, Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Websites:
• Oracle Database Online Documentation
https://docs.oracle.com/cd/B28359_01/index.htm
• SQL Quick Reference - http://www.w3schools.com/sql/sql_quickref.asp
Electronic Databases (available from the University Library)
• ACM Digital Library
• IEEE Xplore/IET Digital Library
Other
• Lynda.com