IST 210: Organization of Data
	Penn State Altoona, Offered Spring semester
Click here to move forward on this page to the
* Course Description * Course Outline * Class Policies & Grading *

INSTRUCTOR: 	Charlotte Eudy McConn, M.S., CDP
			101A Eiche Building, Penn State Altoona
			Phone: 949-5292, Email:	cxe6@psu.edu
 
TEXTS:  Databases, Design, Development, & Deployment, by Rob & Semaan, 
	McGraw Hill.
SUPPLIES: Several of 1.4MB diskettes

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
      IST 210 provides an introduction to the storage, retrieval, 
manipulation, analysis and display of information. This course 
includes an introduction to data storage techniques, database models
and database management systems, database analysis and design,
information retrieval and  query languages, user-interface design, 
database administration, and policy and social concerns in data 
management. Students learn to use a commercial database management 
system and are given case study assignments and projects.
     This course is a required course for the 2IST degree and also satisfies
one of the MIS course options for the 2BA/MIS degree and is an elective
course for other majors.
			Prerequisite: IST 110 or MIS103 or equivalent.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

     1. Create an efficient database design to manage organizational data.

     2. Explain and chart the relationship between information stored in 
separate files utilizing the entity-relationship model.

     3. Use a commercial DBMS to define data structure and implement 
a case study data base.

     4. Create appropriate information retrieval methods in a form 
that converts raw data into information utilizing data base queries, 
user-designed reports, screens, and menus.

     5. Secure data by using different user views, password features, and 
backup procedures.

     6. Develop and practice communication skills as well as technical
and analytical skills through application of the concepts that define 
the course. This course incorporates collaborative and action-learning 
experiences. 


TENTATIVE IST 210 COURSE OUTLINE
 
   Introduction to Data Organization, Database concepts and terminology, 
     and Database Models. (1 week)

   Relational Database Analysis and Design: database project management,
     Data-driven design techniques, entity-relationship and other
     modeling approaches, table design and normalization techniques,
     integrity constraints (3 weeks)  
	Understanding organizational rules as part of the design
	Data Types, Key Fields, File Structure
	Master Files vs. Transaction Files
	Data Integrity - insuring the correctness of data

	Assignment: DATA BASE DESIGN PROJECT 

  Software Introduction using a Commercial Data Base Management 
      Systems (DBMS)(2 weeks)
	Starting the program, using the menus
	Data Base definition versus data manipulation
	Creating data base tables (files)
	Data Protection: Backup and recovery procedures
	
 Data retrieval, Converting data to information, selecting 
     and sorting data. SQL and other query facilities. (2 weeks)

 Data Retrieval using report generators, User views revisited (2 weeks)

 User Interface Design:  (2 weeks) 
     Menus, Forms, Data Security - creating 'views' of the data base to 
     protect privileged information, and insuring the proper use of data.
     Custom designed data entry screens and menus. 

 Programming in the data base language, creating and using macros. (2 weeks)
  
 Data Base Administration: Performance improvement, indexing, documentation 
     of systems, software evaluation and installation, vendor support,
     and other issues involving the operational management and 
     administration of data resources. 
	Policy and Social Concerns in Data Management: security concerns
     in data storage and transmission, privacy issues, transborder data
     flow, data encryption, copyright and other emerging policy and
     societal issues (Discussed at various stages of the course) 


** Check the course web site throughout the semester for details on assignments
and tests. Schedule with Dates: IST210 - Calendar.
Course readings and handouts are also available on the o:\labdata network drive. 
 Here is the completer path for handouts for this course:
	o:\labdata\mcconn\ist210\handouts\


Clink on the underlined word to see:
	Class Policies and Grading

Professional Internet Links of note:
	Online MS Access Tutorial
	Microsoft Corporation
	Oracle Corporation

last update 1/2001