Students

COMP1350 – Introduction to Database Design and Management

2021 – Session 2, Special circumstances

Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update

The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.

This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.

Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Charanya Ramakrishnan
Contact via Email
By appointment
Lecturer
Jian Yang
Contact via Email
By appointment
Tutor
Bayzid Hossain
Tutor
Cameron Pappas
Tutor
Carl Svensson
Tutor
Frances Louise
Tutor
Hijab Alavi
Tutor
Kristi Ovsthus
Tutor
Mahdieh Rezaeian
Tutor
Natalie Batshon
Tutor
Queen Aigbefo
Tutor
Sarah Ali Siddiqui
Tutor
Sepehr Torfeh Nejad
Tutor
Zawar Hussain
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit introduces students to the principles and concepts of data storage, modelling and management with an emphasis on the role of data and information in organisations. The unit will cover conceptual modelling techniques, converting conceptual data models into relational data models and verifying its structural characteristics with normalisation techniques, and implementing and utilising a relational database using a database-management system. Fundamental data modelling techniques such as ER Modelling and query languages such as Structured Query Language (SQL) will be used. Concepts relating to data warehousing, governance, administration, security and privacy, ethical and green approaches to the collection, backup, use and storage of data and the construction of systems are also discussed. Overall, this unit concentrates upon building a firm foundation in information representation, organisation and storage with particular emphasis upon the application of database systems.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Analyse data requirements and design and develop conceptual database models.
  • ULO2: Implement system models into databases, design and create simple databases for business information systems and write programs to produce interactive queries.
  • ULO3: Use data analysis and data modelling techniques and tools for introductory level database design and specification
  • ULO4: Explain the role and nature of ethics and sustainability in the IT environment related to databases

General Assessment Information

ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE

A more detailed description of each task is given below.

Weekly Quiz

Workshops are combined practicals and tutorials. Each week, you will receive a maximum of 0.5 marks for active participation in the class activities by attempting the online quiz for the corresponding week. Failure to attend the workshops will mean the marks for online quizzes will be made zero. The attendance in the workshops alone does not count towards any mark. There are 13 weeks of workshops, however, the total participation mark is limited to 5 throughout the semester. 

Diagnostic Quiz

This quiz will be an individual assessment; You will be attempting an online quiz that will be conducted in week 3 in the workshop you've enrolled in. You will be answering questions from concepts covered in weeks 1 and 2. This quiz aims to determine students' individual strengths, weaknesses, knowledge and skills to develop a baseline of what students know about the topic. You will have to attend the workshop you're enrolled in to attempt the quiz. No reattempts will be granted.

Assignments

There are 2 assignments. Both assignments are individual assessments

  1. The first assignment requires you to apply and develop your understanding of data modelling concepts and submit a professionally presented document demonstrating the use of data modelling skills. The document must be prepared using a standard word processor such as Word and diagrams created using a modelling tool/website. 
  2. The second assignment assesses your ability to construct a database and provide interactive queries using MySQL. 

You are encouraged to:

  • set your personal deadline earlier than the actual one;
  • keep backups of all your important files;
  • make sure that no one else picks up your printouts.

If you cannot submit on time because of illness or other circumstances, please contact the convenor before the due date. 

No extensions will be granted unless there is a special consideration approved. Late assignments will be accepted up to 72 hours after the submission deadline.  There will be a deduction of 10% of the total available marks made from the total awarded mark for each 24 hour period or part thereof that the submission is late (for example, 25 hours late in submission – 20% penalty). This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for special consideration is made and approved. 

Assignment submission in this unit is NOT a hurdle requirement. However, if you do not make a reasonable attempt at all the assignments, you are unlikely to have sufficient knowledge to pass the exam or sufficient total marks to be able to pass the unit.

Final Examination

For this unit, a final examination will test your learning and knowledge of learning outcomes #1, #2, #3 and #4. The final examination accounts for 50% of the final mark. A take-home exam will test your knowledge of the concepts and ability to apply the learning material from weeks 1-12. If you receive special consideration for the final exam, a supplementary exam will be scheduled. By making a special consideration application for the final exam, you are declaring yourself available for a resit during the supplementary examination period and will not be eligible for a second special consideration approval based on pre-existing commitments. Please ensure you are familiar with the policy prior to submitting an application. Approved applicants will receive an individual notification one week prior to the exam with the exact date and time of their supplementary examination.

Regarding the examination process, note that

  • you must attend all required classes and submit all required assessments, otherwise the Executive Dean of the Faculty or delegated authority has the power to refuse permission to attend the final examination.
  • the University Examination period for Second Half Year is mid-November to mid-December.
  • you are expected to present yourself for examination at the time and place designated in the University Examination Timetable.
  • the timetable will be available in Draft form approximately eight weeks before the commencement of the examinations and in Final form approximately four weeks before the commencement of examinations.
  • no early examinations for individuals or groups of students will be set. All students are expected to ensure that they are available until the end of the teaching semester, that is the final day of the official examination period.
  • the only exception to not sitting an examination at the designated time is because of documented illness or unavoidable disruption. In these circumstances, you may wish to lodge an application for special consideration. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Weekly Quiz 5% No All Weeks (Weeks 1-13)
Diagnostic Quiz 5% No Varies: During Week-3 Workshop
Assignment One 20% No Week 7
Assignment Two 20% No Week 12
Final Exam 50% No See Exam Timetable

Weekly Quiz

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 2 hours
Due: All Weeks (Weeks 1-13)
Weighting: 5%

 

Online quizzes will be made available to students every week. The best 10 out of 13 marks will be taken into consideration. Please note, since these quizzes are replacing in-class participation, quiz marks will only be counted, if you attend the registered workshop.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse data requirements and design and develop conceptual database models.
  • Implement system models into databases, design and create simple databases for business information systems and write programs to produce interactive queries.
  • Use data analysis and data modelling techniques and tools for introductory level database design and specification
  • Explain the role and nature of ethics and sustainability in the IT environment related to databases

Diagnostic Quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 2 hours
Due: Varies: During Week-3 Workshop
Weighting: 5%

 

This quiz will be an individual assessment; You will be attempting an online quiz that will be conducted in Week 3 in the workshop you've enrolled. You will be answering questions covering concepts covered in Weeks 1 and 2. This quiz aims to determine students' individual strengths, weaknesses, knowledge and skills to develop a baseline of what students know about the topic

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse data requirements and design and develop conceptual database models.
  • Use data analysis and data modelling techniques and tools for introductory level database design and specification

Assignment One

Assessment Type 1: Design Task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 27 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 20%

 

This assignment is an individual assignment. This assignment will involve both a top-down and a bottom-up approach in database modelling. You will be assessed based on the development of an EER diagram, logical transformation, and normalisation of tables for a given problem description.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse data requirements and design and develop conceptual database models.
  • Use data analysis and data modelling techniques and tools for introductory level database design and specification

Assignment Two

Assessment Type 1: Programming Task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 27 hours
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 20%

 

This assignment is an individual assignment. This assignment will involve designing and executing database queries to demonstrate the knowledge of SQL. You will be assessed based on the successful execution of SQL queries for a given problem description

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Implement system models into databases, design and create simple databases for business information systems and write programs to produce interactive queries.

Final Exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: See Exam Timetable
Weighting: 50%

 

A take-home exam will test your knowledge of the concepts and ability to apply the learning material from weeks 1-12.

 

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse data requirements and design and develop conceptual database models.
  • Implement system models into databases, design and create simple databases for business information systems and write programs to produce interactive queries.
  • Use data analysis and data modelling techniques and tools for introductory level database design and specification
  • Explain the role and nature of ethics and sustainability in the IT environment related to databases

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

COMP1350 is taught via lectures and workshops. The feedback that you receive also plays an important role in your learning. Make sure you read the feedback you are given, attend lectures that provide assignment feedback and compare your solution with sample solutions provided.

Lectures are used to introduce new material, provide motivation and context for your study, guide you in what is important to learn and explain more difficult concepts.

Workshops are small group classes that give you the opportunity to interact with your peers and with a tutor who has a sound knowledge of the subject. This also gives you a chance to practice your technology skills.

You have many opportunities to seek and receive feedback. During live lectures/consultation, you are encouraged to ask the lecturer questions to clarify anything you might not be sure of. You may also arrange to meet with your tutor or the lecturer or attend the consultation hours of any tutor. Each week, you will be given activities and problems to solve in workshops. Both assignments are individual submissions. The comments and the solutions provided will help you to understand the material in the unit, prepare you for the work in assignments as well as for the final exam. It is important that you keep up with these problems every week. Assignments have been designed to deliver continuous feedback on your work.

Each week you should:

  • Attend lectures, take notes, ask questions
  • Attend your workshops and seek feedback from your tutor on your work
  • Read assigned reading material (ideally before the lecture), add to your notes and prepare questions for your lecturer or tutor
  • Start working on any assignments immediately after they have been released. 

Lecture notes are made available each week but these notes are intended as an outline of the lecture only and are not a substitute for your own notes or reading of the textbook or other additional material.

Classes

Lectures

Each week you should attend two hours of lectures (or watch the recorded lecture(s)) and a 2-hour workshop. For details of days, times and rooms consult the timetables webpage.

Note that workshops commence in week 1.

Resources to assist your learning

iLecture

Digital recordings of lectures will be available through the web page of the unit on iLearn.

Textbook

Various reading materials will be provided throughout the semester

Technology

MS Word, LucidChart/draw.io, MySQL Workbench

Websites

The web page for this unit can be found at http://ilearn.mq.edu.au/

Discussion Boards

The unit makes use of discussion boards hosted within iLearn. Please post questions of general interest there (for example, about assessment tasks), they are monitored by the unit staff but students may also provide answers. 

Unit Schedule

In the table below, for each week, the lecturer, the topics to be covered are listed below. Online resources will be provided on iLearn

Week

Lecturer

Topic

Ramakrishnan

Introduction to unit and Conceptual Data Modelling

2

Ramakrishnan

Conceptual Data Modelling

Ramakrishnan

Conceptual Data Modelling

Ramakrishnan

Conceptual Data Modelling+ Logical Modelling

Ramakrishnan

Logical Modelling+ Normalisation

Ramakrishnan

Normalisation+SQL concepts

Ramakrishnan

SQL concepts

Ramakrishnan

SQL concepts

Yang

Database Application Development

10 

Yang

Data Warehousing

11 

Yang

Data Quality 

12 

Yang

Big Data & Green IT

13 

Ramakrishnan & Yang

Revision, Exam Preparation

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.


Unit information based on version 2021.01R of the Handbook