CIS-311-OL


	Syllabus for CIS-311-OL

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Database Management Systems provides students with fundamental concepts of databases and Database Management Systems (DBMS). It offers terminology, conceptual approaches, and practical approaches when designing and implementing different database types. Students will learn design considerations and solutions with a DBMS, using various industry standards and models available. Analytical and problem-solving skills will be strengthened.

The material also includes common tools and techniques utilized to optimize performance and secure the database and related resources. Other topics covered include:

Entity Relationship Diagrams (ERD)
Structured Query Language (SQL)
Information and decision making
Data Normalization

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COURSE OBJECTIVES

On successfully completing this course, you should be able to:

Describe the basic database systems and database models.

Explain the benefits of a relational database and construct its components.

Use Structured Query Language (SQL) to create database table structures, perform various types of data manipulation and data administration, and query the database to extract useful information.

Explain and provide examples of major database features that must be supported in current-generation databases and models.

Compare the various application architectures used to connect databases to the Internet.

Evaluate a variety of database administration strategies.

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COURSE MATERIALS

You will need the following textbook to do the work of the course. The text is available from the College's textbook supplier, MBS Direct.

Rob, Peter & Coronel, Carlos (2009). Database Systems: Design, Implementation, and Management, 8th ed. Boston, MA: Thomson Course Technology. (ISBN-13: 978-1-4239-0201-0)

Required Software: Open Office (can be downloaded at OpenOffice.org for free or at www.officebestdeal.com for $11.95)

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COURSE STRUCTURE

Database Management Systems is a three-credit, online course, consisting of six (6) assignment modules. You are required to participate in five (5) graded class discussions, complete four (4) written assignments, take five quizzes, and complete a final project.

Each assignment module includes learning objectives, a study assignment, a discussion activity, and a written assignment or a quiz.

For the course's six assignment modules, go to the Assignment Modules area of the course Web site. See also the course Calendar.

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ONLINE PARTICIPATION

In addition to an ungraded "Introductions" forum in module 1, Database Management Systems requires you to participate in five (5) graded online discussion forums.

Communication with the mentor and among fellow students is a critical component of online learning. Participation in online discussions involves two distinct activities: an initial response to a posted question and subsequent comments on classmates' responses.

You will be evaluated both on the quality of your responses (i.e., your understanding of readings and concepts as demonstrated by well-articulated, critical thinking) and quantity of your participation (i.e., the number of times you participate meaningfully in the assigned forums). Responses and comments should be properly proofread and edited, professional, and respectful.

Meaningful participation in online discussions is relevant to the content, adds value, and advances the discussion. Comments such as "I agree" and "ditto" are not considered value-adding participation. Therefore, when you agree or disagree with a classmate, the reading, or your mentor, state and support your agreement or disagreement.

Deadlines for posting responses to the discussion questions are given in the course Calendar.

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WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS

The four written assignments consist of specific topics contained within the chapters from the textbook. Each written assignment may include several essay questions.

Prepare your written assignments using whatever word processing program you have on your computer. Include your name at the top of the paper, as well as the course name and code and the semester and year in which you are enrolled.

Before submitting your first assignment, check with your mentor to determine whether your word processing software is compatible with your mentor's software. If so, you can submit your work as you prepared it. If not, save your assignment as a rich-text (.rtf) file, using the Save As command of your software program. Rich text retains basic formatting and can be read by any other word processing program.

When satisfied that your assignment represents your best work, submit it to your mentor by means of the

>>View/Complete Assignment

link provided at the bottom of the respective assignment page. Use the Browse button within this link to locate and attach your assignment file. Click to turn in the assignment.

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QUIZZES

There will be five graded quizzes for this course. The quizzes should be taken after you complete the reading assignments and online discussion for each module. There will be twenty (20) multiple choice questions on each of the quizzes, each worth 5 point. Each quiz will cover a particular module.

To access quiz links, go to the Tests & Quizzes area of the course Web site. Consult the course Calendar for test deadlines.

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FINAL PROJECT

There will be a final project using Open Office software due in place of an online final examination. Consult the course Calendar for the deadline for submitting this project.

Statement about Cheating
The quizzes in this course are un-proctored. That means you will not be supervised while taking the test. You are on your honor not to cheat during the exam. Cheating means:

Looking up any answer or part of an answer in an unauthorized textbook or on the Internet, or using any other source to find the answer.

Copying and pasting or in any way copying responses or parts of responses from any other source into your online test. This includes but is not limited to copying and pasting from other documents or spreadsheets, whether written by yourself or anyone else.

Plagiarizing answers.

Asking anyone else to assist you by whatever means available while you take the exam.

Copying any part of the exam to share with other students.

Telling your mentor that you need another attempt at the exam because your connection to the Internet was interrupted when that is not true.

If there is evidence that you have cheated or plagiarized in your exam, the exam will be declared invalid, and you will fail the course.

Please also note that the exam is time-limited. That means you only have the allotted time in which to complete the exam. If you exceed the time limit on the exam, you will be penalized by having two points deducted for every minute that you exceed the time limit. This may also result in your failing the course.

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GRADING AND EVALUATION

Your grade in the course will be determined as follows:

Discussion forums (5)	25 percent
Written assignments (4)	20 percent
Quizzes (5)	25 percent
Final project	30 percent

To receive credit for the course, you must earn a letter grade of D or higher on the weighted average of all assigned course work (e.g., exams, assignments, discussion postings, quizzes, etc.). You will receive a score of 0 for any work not submitted.

Letter grades for online participation, written assignments, exams, and quizzes are based on the following numerical grades:

A	=	93–100	C+	=	78–79
A–	=	90–92	C	=	73–77
B+	=	88–89	C–	=	70–72
B	=	83–87	D	=	60–69
B–	=	80–82	F	=	Below 60

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STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS

First Steps to Success
To succeed in this course, take the following first steps:

Read carefully the entire Syllabus, making sure that all aspects of the course are clear to you and that you have all the materials required for the course.

Take the time to read the entire Online Student Handbook. The Handbook answers many questions about how to proceed through the course, how to schedule exams and arrange for proctors, and how to get the most from your educational experience at Thomas Edison State College.

Arrange to take your examination by following the instructions in the Online Student Handbook. Then complete the "Proctor Request Form" and submit it to the Office of Test Administration (OTA). You must make arrangements to take your examination and send in your "Proctor Request Form" to OTA before the end of the first week of the current semester. (See Administrative Forms in the General Information area of the course Web site.)

Familiarize yourself with the Blackboard environment—how to navigate it and what the various course areas contain. If you know what to expect as you navigate the course, you can better pace yourself and complete the work on time.

If you are not familiar with Web-based learning, or specifically with the Blackboard platform, be sure to review the processes for posting responses online and submitting assignments before class begins.

Study Tips
Consider the following study tips for success:

To stay on track throughout the course, begin each week by consulting the course Calendar. The calendar provides an overview of the course and indicates due dates for submitting assignments, posting discussions, scheduling and taking your examination, and submitting your final project. For details on each assignment module and a complete listing of learning activities, go to the Assignment Modules area of the course Web site.

Check the Announcements page and class Discussion Board regularly for new course information.

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Syllabus Index

This document contains the following main sections:

Course Description

Course Objectives

Required Textbooks

Course Structure

Online Participation
Written Assignments

Quizzes

Final Project

Grading and Evaluation

Strategies for Success