Course Syllabus

• Modules
• Syllabus
• Assignments

Course Description

LIS 502 – Database Concepts for Information Professionals (3 Cr): Introduces the terminology and concepts of working with relational database management systems. Emphasizes working with tables and extracting information from data using query tools based on Structured Query Language (SQL) commands. Prepares students for advanced database design courses, web design, and programming courses. Credit / no credit only. Prerequisite: none. (Prepares students for IMT 543 and IMT 544)

My detailed Course Description (PDF). This document covers what we will be doing in this course.

Note: If you are looking for a SQL course, that would be INFX 543.

Required Course Materials

Course textbook(s) and Software. This site has all of the details.

Student Data Files. There are two sets of data files. The first set is the same as if you go out to the textbook publisher's site and download the files there. The second one contains some extra examples that we will use in some of the modules. Both are ZIP files that can be extracted to your desktop or any documents folder that you choose. The Student Data Files folder will contain a separate folder for each chapter (module/week). 

• Student Data Files
• Bob's Files

Solution Sets. Each of the exercises will have an optional solution set. These solution files contain one or more possible approaches to the task; there may be others so, please don't assume that yours is wrong or any less correct if you get the right result.

Note that solution files are optional and not intended to replace your effort but are included to make sure that you do not stall in your progress. Online students can be anywhere in the world, and it is possible that you are working when there is nobody else on the Discussion boards. View these files as just one more learning tool. 

If you still don't understand, please contact your iPeers, post questions on the Discussion boards, or reach out the GAs or instructor.

Let me know how this format works for you.

• Solution Files - Contains a folder for each chapter with completed database files of the exercises.
• Annotated Solution Files - Contains a Word file for each exercise showing the results with labels and notes. It does not include the completed files.

Student Outcomes/Learning Goals

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Explain and discuss the terminology and concepts of structured database systems
• Distinguish between “data” and “information.”
• Describe how the concept of managing data as a resource has developed
• List the basic principles of the database approach
• Define key terms and characteristics of the relational data model
• Use entity-relationship (E-R) modeling techniques to develop modest data models
• Design a small relational database by converting E-R diagrams to relational tables
• Build a small relational database with linked tables
• Create a user interface, including forms, subforms, controls, buttons, and switchboards
• Retrieve data from a relational database using Structured Query Language (SQL) or Query-by-Example (QBE) skills

Recent quarters student self-estimate: On average, how many hours per week have you spent on this course, including attending classes, doing readings, reviewing notes, writing papers and any other course-related work?

I hope this is useful to you. Please note the number and percentage of responses. You might keep that in mind at the end of the quarter when I ask you to complete the course assessment. 

Student and Instructor Expectations

As a skill-building course, I expect each student to make an honest effort to complete the module materials and each assignment. New skills often come at different rates for people, so I don't expect you to master everything right way. But, if you keep moving ahead, you will succeed and be glad that you did. I expect you to work with your iPeer group to help each other to succeed just as you would a project team at work in your career field. The GAs and I are here too when you need us.

This course serves several graduate programs each with multiple possible tracks that can lead to different expectations about some skills covered. This course will strive for a basic proficiency and understanding. Some of you may want to expand on the materials included to aim for a higher level required in your area of interest. Some exercises may have optional components for just that reason. They will be marked as optional.

Similarly, each module and assignment set will be self-contained, so once you've completed a modules assignments, feel free to experiment and modify the exercise or data to suit your interests. It will not impact the next module or future assignments. In the worst case, you can always reload the student files.

To me, the only goal is skill development. With that in mind, getting help anywhere, anytime it is required is expected not discouraged. Normal industry sources like Google, iPeers (coworkers), friends, GAs, me, are all fair game. That is not to say that you shouldn't work at it or in anyway to condone copying or submitting someone else's work. I'd rather see a less than perfect result that is your best effort than have you sell your integrity and reputation for 10 points.

You can expect that if you complete the nine assignments and any assigned project that you will get credit for each assignment and the course. You can monitor your progress on the Grade page. There will be no mid-term or final so that you can concentrate on learning the fundamentals and the skills without that additional pressure. The Graduate Assistants and I are here to help you with any issues that you can't solve yourself or within your iPeer group.

Course Format

This is an online course that will begin and end on the UW start and end of quarter dates. The class is composed of a series of ten modules with nine weekly assignments. Each week there will be text readings, tutorial style exercises, and skill-building challenge assignments. There may be recorded lectures and videos most weeks. Most modules will also have additional optional materials and videos.

You will be a part of an iPeer group of two or more classmates. An iPeer group is not a project group, but a study and support team to help each member learn the skills covered. The iPeer group will exchange and review assignments, offering suggestions and support, as well as provide an opportunity for group discussions. The Graduate Assistants and I are also available for support and to answer questions.

Assignments

There are nine assignments, one per week for the first nine weeks. There is a project that will be part of the weekly assignments starting in module six. The project is a series of exercises to give you an opportunity to use the skills covered in the course to design and build a simple database.  

Grading

This course will start you on a path to the skills and knowledge required for later classes and in any information career. As such, if you make a sincere effort at the nine assignments including the project, you will get credit for each assignment and the course.

As a skill-building online course, we will use an iPeer group process to assist each of you to develop, get input and support, and stay on track. 

The following is the basic weekly assignment schedule guideline¹:

• Tuesday following the module share the assignments with your iPeers. Each assignment will explain what to share.
• By the following Friday, the iPeers will review each other's work, make suggestions, and offer encouragement.
• By the following Monday, you can make any changes or additions that you like and resubmit to the iPeers. One of the iPeers selected by the group will submit an iPeer Form (link) for the group indicating if the assignment was done. This will be the Assignment Due Date.

Each iPeer group has a lot of flexibility in how they exchange results, offer feedback, and help each other get as much out of the course as possible.

You will each bring different skills, experience, and requirements but in the end, the objective is for each to master the skills to the best of their ability and career objectives. Developing stronger iPeer members will make the project exercises go smoother.

¹ - Guideline: Feel free to adjust as needed to meet personal schedules, workload, etc. If you exchange on Tuesday and everyone is happy with the results, the form can be submitted immediately to the GAs. If a member is going to miss a due date for any reason², submit the rest of the group's results. When the person submits, just add it to the next report with a note so that the GA knows to add it.

² - I assume that we are all adults here. As such, things come up - particularly in online courses where students can be anywhere in the world. We get sick, emergencies happen in the family, work requires travel, houses get flooded or hit by hurricanes. If possible, let your iPeers know. You can cc the GAs and me, but that is not necessary. If on the other hand you are overwhelmed or procrastinating, ask for help. That is why the GAs and I are here. iPeers will often help as well if they have the time and you ask. We all want each of you to succeed.

See the How iPeers Groups Work for more information.

iPeer Assessment Form (Excel sheet).

Resources

Student Resources
A number of challenges from a variety of directions can affect your ability to bring your optimal attention and energy to a course. Student Resources is a set of links to campus resources that UW makes available to students in trying to mitigate and cope with some of these challenges.

iSchool Technology Requirements
The iSchool has a set of technology requirements for both online and residential students. We highly recommend that students adhere to these standards which are updated annually. Students who do not meet these standards may experience technology problems throughout the course.

iSchool Learning Technologies Support Site
Knowledgebase for Canvas, VoiceThread, web conferencing systems, and other learning technologies tools.

UW Libraries
In this course you may be required to access a large number of databases through the Internet. Several of these databases are publicly available, but some are proprietary and access requires authentication through the UW Libraries. Information about logging in to use these databases is available on the Connecting to the Libraries page.

Academic Conduct

Please review the iSchool Academic Policies which cover:

• Academic and Behavioral Misconduct
• Academic Integrity
• Copyright
• Privacy
• Concerns About a Course
• Evaluation of Student Work