ICS 421: Database Systems

(Spring 2009)


This schedule is tentative; some readings will be adapted to the interests of students enrolled








Date Session Topics Readings Activities, exercises,
quizzes handed over		 Due
Jan 19 01 Course introduction and logistics. Introduction to databases; Database applications.  
  • Students survey
  
Jan 26 02 Introduction to databases (Cont.) C&B: ch. 1
  • Case study exercise
  • Student introductions
  • Students survey
  • Examples of DB applications
  • Possible projects
Feb 2 03 Database environment; The relational model; Relational algebra. C&B:
ch. 2, 3, 4
  • MS Access tutorial 1 and exercise
  • Case study exercise
Feb 9 04 Entity-relationship modeling. Enhanced entity-relationship modeling. C&B:
ch. 11, 12
  • MS Visio tutorial and exercise
  • Quiz 1
  • MS Access exercise 1
  • Group formation
Feb 16 05 Database planning, design and administration; Fact finding techniques C&B:
ch. 9, 10
  • Interview questions exercise
  • MS Visio exercise
  • Project report 1
  • Project journal 1
  • Schedule group meeting with instructor on project progress.
Feb 23 06 SQL: Data Manipulation Language; Data Definition Language; Query by Example

C&B:
ch. 5, 6, 7
  • MS SQL Server tutorial and exercise
  • MS Access tutorial 2 and exercise
  • Interview questions exercise
Mar 1 07 Normalization; Conceptual, logical and physical database designs for the relational model C&B:
ch. 13,
15, 16,17
  • MS Access tutorial 3
  • MS Access tutorial 4
  • Homework 1
  • MS SQL Server exercise
  • MS Access exercise 2
  • Project report 2
  • Project journal 2
  • Schedule group meeting with instructor on project progress.
Mar 8 08 Mid-semester assessment  
  • Midterm
  • MS Access tutorial 3
  • MS Access tutorial 4
  • Homework 1
Mar 15 09 Web Technology and DBMSs; Introduction to XML and CSS. C&B: ch. 29;
Ric: ch. 1, 2, 10		  
  • Midterm
Mar 22 10 Semistructured Data and XML; Creating interactive web sites; ASP and Javascript C&B: ch. 29, 30
Ric: 11
  • Homework 2
  
Mar 29   NO CLASS
SPRING BREAK		      
Apr 5 11 Developing database applications for the Web; ODBC and ASP. C&B: ch. 29, 30;
Ric: ch. 12		  
  • Project report 3
  • Project journal 3
  • Online group meeting with instructor on project progress.
Apr 12 12 PHP & MySQL 1 Dietel et al:
ch. 26
  • homework 3
  • Homework 2
Apr 19 13 PHP & MySQL 2      
Apr 26 14 Coldfusion 1 Dietel et al:
ch. 27
  • homework 4
  • homework 3
May 3 15 Coldfusion 2    
  • Project report 4
  • Project journal 4
  • Online group meeting with instructor on project progress.
May 10   NO CLASS
(but homework 4 due!)		    
  • homework 4
May 12-16 Finals week 16 Group project assessment - Projects presentations    
  • Final project report
  • Final project journal
  • Final project poster
  • Project CD