IST459: Introduction to DBMS
IST459 M001 Fall 2009 (1101)
12:30p-1:50p
Tues: Hinds 021
Thur: Hinds 013
Instructor:
Michael Fudge
e.
t.
o.
w.
mafudge@syr.edu
315-443-9686
110b Hinds
http://blackboard.syr.edu
Mandatory Instructor background check
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Education
BS Applied Mathematics/Computer Science
 MS In Information Management
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Employment
15+ years in the IT field, 9 of them at SU.
 Currently employed as the “Sr. Systems & IT Support
Administrator” at the iSchool.
 Work as a consultant for .NET development, Database
development
 SQL Server DBA
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Teaching
Taught various courses at the 2 year, 4 year and graduate level
in a wide variety of subjects.
 Teaching IST459, and IST346 this term
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Follow Me on Twitter
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http://twitter.com/mafudge
Announcements under the hash tag
#ist459
I’m a low volume tweeter so you
don’t have to worry about me
tweeting what I ate for breakfast.

(Database humor is hard to find.)
What is this course all about?
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Describe fundamental data and database concepts
Compare and contrast the relational database model with other database
models
Explain and use the database development lifecycle
Design databases using data modeling and data normalization techniques
Create databases using popular database management system products
Solve problems by constructing database queries using the Structured Query
Language
Develop insights into future data management tool and technique trends
Recommend and justify strategies for managing data security, privacy,
audit/control, fraud detection, backup and recovery
Critique the effectiveness of Database Management Systems in computer
information systems
This is an introduction to the subject.
We will cover a lot of material none of it in any great depth.
Required Textbook
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Databases Demystified,
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Andrew Oppel, Osborne
McGraw Hill, © 2004.
ISBN (13): 978-0072253641
ISBN (10) 0072253649
List: $21.95
The book serves as a
complement to the course
materials and will help you
grasp the concepts we cover
in class. It is a refreshingly
easy read, and allows you to
learn at your own pace.
Course Management: Blackboard
http://blackboard.syr.edu
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All required reading
are there, except
textbook
Deliverables Issued:
Study Guides, Labs,
Assignments
Your grades posted in
blackboard.
Surrender
to the
Dark Side!
Methods of Evaluation
Assessment
Qty Notes
Pts Ea
Pts Total
Study Guides
(S01-S13)
13
One for each topic; due weekly. Graded
on a 0, 5, 10 point scale.
10
130
Labs
(L02-L12)
12
One for each topic; due weekly. Graded
on a 0, 5, 10 point scale.
10
120
Assignments
A1 – 3/4
A2 – 4/29
2
Both assignments are required. You may
work with a partner or alone.
100
200
Exams
E1 – 3/11
E2 – 5/6
2
In-class exams. Work alone.
100
200
Participation
(P)
*
Based on attendance; you are allowed 2
absences without penalty
1
50
TOTAL
700
Your final grade is the ratio of points earned / points total.
General policies for student work
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Labs and Study Guides are turned in at the beginning of Tuesday’s class.
Assignments are turned via email, and are due by day’s end on the due
date. (before 11:59:59pm)
All work should be an individual effort (your own work) unless the
assignment explicitly states otherwise. I take academic integrity very
seriously.
In-class exams must be completed within the allotted class time.
All deliverables are open book; you may use any inanimate resources
you need to assist you with answering the questions.
No make-ups or late work accepted. All due dates and exam dates are
firm and clearly posted on the syllabus.
If you know you are not going to be able to turn in a deliverable by the
due date, plan on submitting it early. You may make arrangements to
submit via email if you are not going to be present in class.
Grading for Labs and Study Guides
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You will be issued one of 3 marks for every lab /
study guide:
0
– not complete and not passing
 5 – complete but not passing or incomplete and passing
 10 – complete and passing
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Complete means you finished the entire assessment
(answered all the questions)
Passing means you answered more than 70% of the
questions correctly.
Answers to the labs and study guides will be posted
after they are graded.
Exams (E1, E2)
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In-class deliverable; Individual effort
2 Exams based on lab work
100 points each, 200 points total.
Exam dates posted on syllabus.
All dates are firm so plan accordingly.
Exams are a culmination of coursework to date.
Assignments (A1, A2)
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Out of class deliverable; Work alone or with a
partner.
Gauge your ability to apply what you have
learned.
2 Assignments, 100 points each, 200 points total.
All due dates are posted on the syllabus, so plan
accordingly.
Each assignment takes in upwards of 50 hours to
complete.
Participation and Attendance
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Attendance is required for participation. If you’re not
present, than you cannot participate.
You are expected to attend and participate in every class.
Please bring your SUID card to class. Attendance is taken
electronically, and on random days.
Please arrive on-time. If you’re not present during
attendance gathering, then you are absent.
I appreciate knowing when you will not attend class, but
keep in mind there are no excused absences, since it is a
participation grade.
Once you have completed the lab you may leave.
If you complete the lab prior to Thursday's class you may
sign in for attendance and leave.
Weekly Course Structure
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Before Tuesday:
the assigned
chapters from text
 Read instructor’s notes
 Complete study guide
for topic
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 Read
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On Tuesday
 Meet
in Class (rm 111)
 Hand in study guide and
previous topic’s lab.
 Discussion, Demo, and
Q&A for topic.
Before Thursday
 Review
the lab
requirements
 Read over the lab
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On Thursday
 Meet
in the Lab (rm 013)
 Work on lab, instructor
and TA assist where
needed.
 Complete by Next
Tuesday at the latest
Recipe for course success!
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#1 Hand in everything on time
#2 Keep pace with the course
The class builds upon itself so if you
decide to take a week off you will
get lost quickly
 Read the assigned readings before Tues
 Read the lab before class Thursday
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#3 Take an interest in the course material
How does it fit with your career?
 How does it apply to your everyday life?
 How can you put the knowledge you learn in class to
practice outside of class?
 I’m here for you so come prepared to ask questions.
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Icebreaker!
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Name / Year (Fr, So, Jr, Sr)
What would you like to be
called? Susan == Sue
Your career aspirations
Something unique about
yourself you’re willing and
able to share with the rest
of the class…
IST459
Additional Questions?