Basic Information

This course serves as an introduction to databases. Through both hands-on assignments and conceptual learning, students will become comfortable designing, manipulating, implementing, and coding for relational databases.

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Zybook Activities - ZyBook "participation" activities and readings are should be read before the class they are assigned.  Each section usually takes on average 10 minutes complete (although some might take a little more time and some might take a little less time).  "Challenge" activities are more like regular homework and should be tried as you read the material so that you have time to ask questions about them in class. Both zybook participation and challenge activities for the week are due each Friday at midnight (11:59:59pm).

In-Class Lab Work - At different points in the class, we will pause from regular lectures to implement a learned concept during an in-class lab. These in-class labs are meant to give you experience outside of your textbook environment with a real database. In-class labs are typically meant to be finished within the regular class period, but if they are not completed in class, they must be completed by 11:59pm on the day they are assigned.


Date Readings before class Topics/Notes Due Dates
(all due by 11:59pm unless otherwise stated)
Week #1
8/22
Get the online textbook:
Instructions here
Class Notes - Course Introductions
8/24 zybook 1.1 - 1.3 Introduction to Databases
8/26 zybook 1.4 - 1.5 Introduction to Databases
Demonstration of Lab 1.6
zybook participation and challenges: week #1  
Week #2
8/29
 zybook 2.1 Relational Databases
Lab 1.6 - Finish
Lab 1.6 due 
8/31  zybook 2.2- 2.3 Relational Databases
Class Notes - NULL Logic
9/2  zybook 2.4-2.5 Relational Databases
(Note: 2.5 activities due the following week.)
zybook participation and challenges: week #2 
Week #3
9/5
Holiday, no class
9/7 zybook 2.5 - 2.6 Relational Databases
Practice Exercise - JOIN Practice
9/9 zybook 2.7 Relational Databases and Questions
Exam 1 Study Guide
zybook participation and challenges: week #3
Week #4
9/12
Exam #1 - zybook chapters 1 and 2
9/14 zybook 2.8 Normal Forms
Practice Exercise - Normal Forms (Part 1)
Class Notes - Normal Forms (Part 1)
9/16 zybook 2.8 Normal Forms
Class Notes - Normal Forms (Part 2)
zybook participation and challenges: week #4
Week #5
9/19
zybook 3.1 - 3.3 Structured Query Language (SQL)
9/21 zybook3.4 - 3.5
9/23 No Class Work on labs 3.12, 3.13, 3.14 zybook participation and challenges: week #5
Week #6
9/26
zybook 3.6
Structured Query Language (SQL) Labs 3.12, 3.13, 3.14 due
8/28 In-Class Lab Work on labs 3.15, 3.16, 3.17, 3.18
9/30 Exam 2 review
Exam 2 Study Guide
zybook participation and challenges: week #6
Labs 3.15, 3.16, 3.17, 3.18 due
Week #7
10/3
   Exam #2 - zybook chapter 2.8-3.6
10/5 zybook 3.7 - 3.8
start 3.9 (not graded yet)
Structured Query Language (SQL)
10/7 In-Class Labs Work on labs 3.19, 3.20, 3.21, 3.22, 3.23 zybook participation and challenges: week #7
Week #8
10/10
zybook 3.9 Class Notes - Local Variables
Structured Query Language (SQL)
Labs 3.19-3.23 due
10/12 zybook 3.10 Structured Query Language (SQL)
10/14 No Class Work on lab 3.24 zybook participation and challenges: week #8
Week #9
10/17
zyBook 3.11 Structured Query Language (SQL)
Work on Lab 3.25
Lab 3.24 due
10/19 Finish zyBook 3.11 Structured Query Language (SQL) Lab 3.25 due
10/21 zybook 4.1-4.2 Database Design zybook participation and challenges: week #9
Week #10
10/24
In-class Review Exam #3 Review
Study Guide for Exam #3
10/26 Exam in WRT 112 Exam #3 - zybook chapters 3.7-3.11 and 4.1-4.2
10/28 zybook 4.3 Database Design
Example Schema - 4.3
zybook participation and challenges: week #10
Week #11
10/31
zybook 4.4-4.5  Database Design
Example Schema - 4.4
Example Schema - 4.5
11/2 zybook 4.6 - 4.8 Database Design
Example Schema - 4.6 through 4.8
11/4 zybook 4.9
(this section due next week)
Database Design and Creation
Final Schema
Database creation script
zybook participation and challenges: week #11
Week #12
11/7
No Class No Class, get caught up
11/9 zybook 9.5 Database Programming
Python code
11/11 In-class Lab Bring your laptop!
Lab 9.5 directions: Install the mysql python connector and use pip to install the python connector library. Show me that you can run main() on Wednesday's sakila_starter.py program.
zybook participation and challenges: week #12
Week #13
11/14
Review Review for Exam #4
Study Guide for Exam #4
Lab 9.5 due
11/16 Exam in WRT 112 Exam #4
11/18 No class Introduction to Hands-On Project Video
What if grade spreadsheet and Grade Sheet Explanation Video
Final Project Specification
(Due Thurs 12/8 at 11:59pm)
Week #14
11/28
Project Work Day Quick Topics:
(1) Creating a discovery statement for your new database
(2) Thinking about data importing
 
11/30 Project Work Day Quick Topics:
(1) Defining keys, relationships, and attributes
 
12/2 Project Work Day Quick Topics:
(1) Forward-engineering the EER diagram to a database
(2) Creating sql file for your queries with comments
Week #15
12/5
Project Work Day Quick Topics:
(1) Python Questions
12/7 Project Work Day Quick Topics:
(1) Turning everything in
Final Project Due 12/9 at 11:59pm
12/9 Optional Final Review Optional Final Review Study Guide  
12/13 (Tues) Final in SAB 102
1-2:50pm
Optional Final