DATABASE Spring 2025

Class: TuTh 9:25-10:40 
LAB: 
3:00-4:50 F 

BOOK:
It is not required to purchase a textbook.  
Two valuable textbooks:
Elmari Fundamentals of Database Systems

Principles of Database Management: The Practical Guide to Storing, Managing and Analyzing Big and Small Data 1st Edition
by Wilfried Lemahieu (Author), Seppe vanden Broucke (Author), Bart Baesens (Author)

Instructor: Dr. Keith Tookey
Office: GREEN 117 or CYBERSPACE
Phone: x1286
Email: keith.tookey@vermontstate.edu 
Office Hours: Immediately after class,
or by appointment

https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Database-Management-Practical-Analyzing/dp/1107186129/

Many materials will be available on CANVAS and at:
http://lemuria.cis.vermontstate.edu/~ktookey/DB

Overview & Outcomes:
This course covers methods for designing relational databases; the use of QBE and SQL to define and access a database; and the use of production-level database management systems to implement a relational database system. The student completes a project in which they implement a real-world example relational database. Additional topics that may be discussed if time allows include integrating databases into applications or websites; alternative database paradigms; database design/engineering tools; and underlying implementation of databases. (Advanced Web Design covers web page interfacing with a database.)
The best way you learn to design a database is… by designing a database!  The same applies to other homework for this class.  Learn by doing! Individual work should be done without outside help.  Your solution should not be identical to anything on the Internet or any work done by a classmate. Class and small group examples MAY be used as models as needed.

Group Work – There will be times, in class and in labs, when you will be working in small groups to solve problems. Groups work together and hand in one solution.  Each member of the group must INDIVIDUALLY send to the professor your estimation of how much work was done by each member of the group.  Percentages MUST add up to 100%. 

Exams: Exams include written (short essay) questions designed to assess conceptual knowledge given prior to the exam, as well as more focused practical database questions. There will be a midterm and a final, each worth 20% of your grade.
There is an individual substantial Final Project assigned for this class, the grade for the project will count as an exam grade, making the project also 20%.

Due Dates:
The target grade for completion of homework is ONE WEEK from when it is assigned, except for the final project.  No credit will be given for assignments handed in later than TWO WEEKS, unless otherwise announced.  Assignments do not complete themselves—if you are having difficulty, ask for help!

Grading:
Normally, the grade will be 60% exams, 30% individual and group (lab) work, and 10% attendance and class participation.  Roughly, 90% will be the lowest A, 80% the lowest B, etc.  The semester project counts as an exam.

CANVAS and email:
Announcements for this class will be made by email, or via CANVAS.  You are responsible for knowing anything that is posted on CANVAS for this class. I do not update CANVAS instantly.  It is ALWAYS acceptable to email, asking if you have any missing work, or what your grade standing is.
Most homework can be submitted by email or by CANVAS. However, executable files are better to submit via Canvas.  Include the name of your class (e.g. DB) and your name as well as the assignment or topic in the subject of the email.

The Project/Presentation:
You must pick a relevant idea/system and submit it for approval when called for in class, in the first two weeks. It can be a database for a campus organization, a charity, or a business.  It must be an organization that you are very familiar with, and you have no trouble getting any information you need.  You will be called on to design (and probably implement) a Database for this problem/challenge/ opportunity/topic you have chosen.  You must footnote any idea that is not yours, and include a references section.  Please note that I have not yet seen a good write-up that was less than 10 pages or more than 30 pages, typed double spaced.  You should be prepared to talk for 20 minutes MINIMUM to the class on your scheduled day of presentation, which will most likely be during the last week of classes for the semester.  Presentations are just as much part of class as lecture, and will be tested on. This should be the kind of quality work you would be proud to show prospective employers.  
If your project is on the small side, expect to fully implement your project.  If it is on the large side, you need to at least complete the design of the system.  Feel free to discuss project size.

Punctuality: 
One of the easiest ways to fail this course is to put off doing required work. Procrastination is usually fatal in this class.  If you are having trouble completing work, the BEST thing to do is to go to office hours early and often.   The WORST thing to do is to wait, hoping the homework will magically complete itself.  It won’t. 
Labs and homework should be completed within two weeks of being assigned, except for the project.

Makeup Exams:
If you need to take an exam at a different time, you must arrange it BEFORE the week of the exam.  If you will miss due to unforeseen emergency, you MUST email me as soon as you know you will miss, and not later than the time of the exam.  If I have not received a communication from you (or your next of kin) by the day of the exam, you will get a zero on the exam.  Only students who have called as soon as reasonably possible will be allowed a makeup option. If you miss an exam for a campus event, you MUST take the exam early.

Attendance Policy:
Class attendance is required. Attendance by ZOOM counts, but you are expected to be in the ZOOM room for the whole period, have your camera on, and have a working microphone.  Classes are normally recorded.  You are responsible for material covered and announcements made whether you are there or not. Attendance and class participation are included in your grade. It is solely the option of the instructor what to do about classes missed for any reason. If you MUST miss, an E-mail to my office must be made as soon as you know you will miss. If you miss class for ANY reason, you are still responsible for learning missed material. You may come by office hours to review work missed. If you tell me at class time of a future absence, please also send me an email. Religious observances and College sponsored events may be a valid reason to miss class, but must be arranged PERSONALLY BY YOU in advance, and you still need to learn missed material. There will be some small group work in this class. Missing a day on which there is small group work or a lab means that you need to do the work by yourself instead of with help, or get a ZERO for the assignment.

Academic Integrity:
Academic integrity is a core value which insures respect for all. VTSU expects that students will conduct themselves in an honest and ethical manner and respect the intellectual work of others.  Please ask about my expectations regarding permissible or encouraged forms of student collaboration if they are unclear.   At minimum, all sources of help must be reported.  The minimum penalty for academic dishonesty is a 0 for the work in question.  Academic Honesty violations will be reported.
Collaboration in a classroom small group project is perfectly fine; forming study groups is an excellent idea; collaboration on individual assignments is academic dishonesty unless approved and reported in advance.

Failure to Complete Work:
Anyone who fails to do required work, misses an exam, has inappropriate classroom conduct, or has serious attendance problems, will be warned and if the problem is not corrected will be failed.  Failure to hand in or present an assignment is sufficient grounds to be dropped.  (Keep a backup copy of anything important.  NEVER hand in the only copy.)  

Commitment to a Positive Learning Environment:
If you are picked on, bullied, harassed, discriminated against, assaulted, or suffer any other problem which interferes with your participation in the learning environment, please contact the appropriate office.  Faculty are legally required to report problems, such as physical assault, if they become aware of them.  Your instructor is willing to help, or find you help, if you need it. Every student deserves equal opportunity to participate in the class. 

Classroom and Student Conduct:
Please do your part to make the classroom a constructive learning environment for everyone by restraining from engaging in distracting behaviors. Unprofessional behavior by students during the course is grounds for dismissal. Any distraction from class counts as an absence.  Please be on time.  Be professional.     If your behavior becomes a distraction in the classroom, you will be warned, and if the problem is not corrected, you will be removed from the class.

Accommodations for learning disabilities
Anyone who feels they may be eligible for an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me to arrange an appointment to discuss the course format and the sorts of support that may be needed.  I rely on the Learning Specialist’s Office for assistance in verifying the need for accommodations and developing accommodation strategies. 

Center for Academic Success
All students are strongly encouraged to utilize available resources, for help in the writing and revision process. In addition to offering invaluable tutoring services in English, Student Support Services provides all students access to innovative assistive technology practices and systems. The Center for Academic Success operates facilities in Randolph Center (Conant Hall), and in the 400 Building of the Williston Campus. Appointments are available on a regular basis, free of charge. Please visit them for more information, either in person or via their presence on the Vermont Tech website.   

Adding/Dropping and Withdrawing from the class
The final day to add or drop a course, or Withdraw with a W, is on the academic calendar.

Additional resources:
If anyone needs additional resources, please ask the professor for help in obtaining services. 

Assignments:
Normally, there will be assignments made regularly, at least weekly, often a small group assignment, followed by an individual assignment.  
Some examples and assignments can be completed using ACCESS.  If you will be using ACCESS to submit ANY work for this class, mention which version of ACCESS you are using. ACCESS is often available if you have Microsoft Office on your machine. On my office machine, ACCESS is located at: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16\MSACCESS.exe.  
	We will have available PostgreSQL on Lemuria (lemuria.cis.vermontstate.edu) or its successor system Zeta (zeta.cis.vermontstate.edu).  Our system will be administered by Professor Chapin.
	If you use a different database system, you must specify what system you are using.  In rare cases, you may have to personally demonstrate running a database by ZOOM.
	
The Project Presentation:
	The last week of classes before final exams is reserved for presentations. You should be prepared to talk for 20 minutes MINIMUM to the class on your scheduled day of presentation.