Unit rationale, description and aim

In the information age we live in, data is recognised as a vital asset for organisations. Databases have become an essential technology for the organisations to record, process and manipulate data and information efficiently, and preserving data quality and security. This unit will provide you with foundational knowledge and practical skills in database design and implementations. The unit further develops your practical skills in identifying and modelling organisational information requirements; developing using conceptual data models and verifying its structural characteristics with normalisation techniques; implementing and utilising a database using a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) and Structured Query Language (SQL) to manipulate data and generate information. In addition, the unit introduces essentials of data security and quality management, and legal and ethical consideration in handling organisational data. 

The primary aim of this unit is to provide students with knowledge and practical skills needed to design, implement database solutions to address real-world needs of organisations while preserving data privacy and security to support the dignity of humans served by the organisation.

2025 10

Campus offering

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  • Term Mode
  • Semester 1Campus Attendance
  • Semester 2Campus Attendance
  • Term Mode
  • Semester 1Campus Attendance
  • Semester 2Campus Attendance
  • Term Mode
  • Semester 1Campus Attendance
  • Semester 2Campus Attendance
  • Term Mode
  • Semester 1Campus Attendance
  • Semester 2Campus Attendance

Prerequisites

Nil

Incompatible

DATA200 - Data and Information Management, ITED200 Data and Information Management

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

Describe the fundamental concepts of data and info...

Learning Outcome 01

Describe the fundamental concepts of data and information management, and the functions, advantages and challenges of database management systems
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC9

Discuss security, legal, ethical and quality issue...

Learning Outcome 02

Discuss security, legal, ethical and quality issues in managing organisational data for the dignity of the human person
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC9

Analyse real-world problems to identify data requi...

Learning Outcome 03

Analyse real-world problems to identify data requirements and apply data modeling techniques including ER diagrams and normalisation to create a conceptual database design
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC8

Apply SQL for creating database and manipulating d...

Learning Outcome 04

Apply SQL for creating database and manipulating data stored in databases and generating meaningful information
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC2, GC10

Content

Topics will include:

• Database concepts/foundations

• Types of data and databases

• Data quality

• The relational database model

• Data modelling & Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD)

• Normalisation of database tables

• Database Management Systems

• Database application case studies

• Structured Query Language (SQL)

• Database security

• Legal and ethical issues in data management

Assessment strategy and rationale

To pass this unit, students are required to achieve an aggregate mark of at least 50%. Marking will be in accordance with a rubric specifically developed to measure the level of achievement of the learning outcomes for each item of assessment. Students will also be awarded a final grade which signifies their overall achievement in the unit. 

The assessment strategy for this unit is based on the need to determine authentic student achievement of the learning outcomes. The first assessment provides students with an opportunity to apply database design and development through a series of hands-on exercises. In the second assessment, students apply relational data modelling techniques to develop a logical database desing for a given scenario/case. The third assessment requires students to convert the logical-level database design, created in assessment 2, to a physical-level database using a database management system software. It also requires developing queries to generate information and manipulate data. This assessment also requires students to demonstrate the Catholic Social Teaching principle of dignity of the human person: how organisations organise, use, manage and secure data in organisations to maintain the dignity, privacy and rights of a person.

Overview of assessments

Assessment Task 1: Developmental Exercises This...

Assessment Task 1: Developmental Exercises

This assessment consists of a series of exercises and quizzes including identifying database concepts, conceptual database design using ER diagrams, database normalisation, using a RDBMS and basic SQL commands for data manipulation. This task requires students to demonstrate their theoretical knowledge and practical skills gained in the unit in the creation of a database and applying SQL.

The feedback from this assessment will help students to apply the database concepts in the next assessments.

Submission Type: Individual

Assessment Method: Practical Tasks

Artefact: ER Diagram + Database files

Weighting

35%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment Task 2: Conceptual Database Design Th...

Assessment Task 2: Conceptual Database Design

This assessment task requires students to develop a logical-level design of a database for a given case study and verify its structural characteristics with normalisation techniques.

Students will have the opportunity to revise their conceptual database design to be further used as the basis for physical database design in the final assessment.

Submission Type: Individual

Assessment Method: Report

Artefact: Written report including ER Diagram 

Weighting

30%

Learning Outcomes LO3

Assessment Task 3: Database Implementation This...

Assessment Task 3: Database Implementation

This assessment task requires students to convert the logical-level database they have created in assessment 2 to a physical-level database using a RDBMS and generate information and manipulate data, perform user account management, and enhance the security of the database. In addition, it requires a report detailing actions performed to improve security and demonstration of the understanding of Catholic Social Teaching principle of dignity of the human person: how organisations use, manage and secure data in organisations to maintain privacy and security.

To ensure academic integrity students are required to present their assignment work in-class or through a recorded presentation.

Submission Type: Individual

Assessment Method: Practical task

Artefact: Database file + Report + Presentation

Weighting

35%

Learning Outcomes LO2, LO4

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

Students should anticipate undertaking 150 hours of study for this unit over a twelve-week semester or equivalent study period, including class attendance, readings, online forum participation and assessment preparation.

This unit is offered Attendance mode only.

Attendance Mode 

In attendance mode, students will require face-to-face attendance in blocks of time determined by the School. Students will have face-to-face interactions with lecturer(s) to further their achievement of the learning outcomes. This unit is structured with required upfront preparation before workshops. The online learning platforms used in this unit provide multiple forms of preparatory and practice opportunities for you to prepare and revise.  

Representative texts and references

Required text:

Coronel, C & Morris, S 2022, Database systems, design and implementation and management, 14th ed, Cengage Learning, Boston, MA

Online resources:

  • Azure Data Fundamentals: Explore core data concepts
  • Azure Data Fundamentals: Explore relational data in Azure
  • Azure Data Fundamentals: Explore non-relational data in Azure
  • Azure Data Fundamentals: Explore modern data warehouse analytics in Azure

Recommended references

Friedrichsen, L, Ruffalo, L, Monk, E., Starks, JL, Pratt, PJ & Last, MZ 2021, Concepts of database management, 10th ed, Cengage Learning US.

Silbershatz, A, Korth, H, Sudarshan, S 2019, Database System Concepts, 7th ed, McGraw-Hill Education.

Connolly TM & Begg D 2015, Database systems: a practical approach to design, implementation and management, 6th edn, Addison Wesley, Boston, MA. 

Kroenke DM & Auer, DJ, Vandenberg, SL, Yoder, RC 2019, Database concepts, 9th ed, Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ.

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