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505313-LLLP-1-2009-1-IT-KA2-KA2MP

Unit Title: DATABASEBY: Albani - Milani

Topic: Basic Concepts on DB and DBMS

Subject Area: Computer Science

Language: English

Language Level: B1

Target Group: 5th (final) year students from the IT course

Time : 10 hours for each of the subjects involved (IT and English)

Aims:

-Skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing in English

-Knowledge: DB and DBMS fundamentals

Methodology, classroom activities : frontal instruction, video clip viewing, group work in the IT Lab

Assessments tools: written structured testing, spoken presentation of the topics involved

Evaluation criteria:

for language: fluency in writing and speaking about the topics involved

for content: competence in the basic vocabulary and themes related to DBMS and web programming

Documents and materials:

Video clip about Database

IT English Language textbook

Info online Tutorials in English

e-learning platform

Description:

Information Technology :

DB e DBMS

  • In Italian: introduction to the topic and to storage information.
  • In English: development of the basic concepts of DB and DBMS.
  • Publication in the e-learning platform of the web link agreed upon with the English teacher, so as to enable the students to view the clip from home too.
  • Assessment by means of a structured test in English.

English:

DB and DBMS

  • Reading from the students’ English textbook of an introductory passage about the topic; comprehension and vocabulary exercises.
  • Listening to the video clip: the students get a printout of the slides involved in the clip, with blanks, they listen to the audio (no viewing now) and fill in the blanks while listening to the DB/DBMS presentation; finally, they’re allowed to view the video and check if their answers are correct.
  • Oral testing about DB/DBMS. Written test, prepared with the IT colleague; here, fluency in English is considered the prevailing criterion.

Teaching material:

Video site:

Listening exercise: Fill in the blanks while listening to the video

1 - What is a database?

A ______to ______data in a ______way so ______you can easily ______and ______it in the future.

Database ______:

IBM DB/2

Oracle

Microsoft ______Server

2 - What is DBMS?

DBMS ______for Database Management System

The software that ______you with ______to the database

Accepts ______in a language ______SQL (Structured ______Language) to ______the data structure, store data and search/______it

3 – DBMS: like a ______- ______Library

Can you ______me all my ______who are over 55?

4 – What is a ______?

Databases store their information in ______

A table is like a ______– with ______and ______

A column (field) ______a single ______of data that is stored in this table

Each row has a different ______for the column

The column has a data type ______with it

A column can also have other ______on the kind of data it stores

5 – A row (record) is a single ______of data in the table

A row contains a ______value for ______table column

ANSWER KEY:

1 - What is a database?

A place to store data in a structured way so that you can easily search and access it in the future.

Database vendors:

IBM DB/2

Oracle

Microsoft SQL Server

2 - What is DBMS?

DBMS stands for Database Management System

The software that provides you with access to the database

Accepts commands in a language called SQL (Structured Query Language) to create the data structure, store data and search/retrieve it

3 – DBMS: like a Full-Service Library

Can you show me all my contacts who are over 55?

4 – What is a table?

Databases store their information in tables

A table is like a spreadsheet – with columns and rows

A column (field) defines a single piece of data that is stored in this table

Each row has a different value for the column

The column has a data type associated with it

A column can also have other restrictions on the kind of data it stores

5 – A row (record) is a single instance of data in the table in the table

Row contains a separate value for each table column

Reading and exercises from the students’ English Language textbook:

Internet site arranged by the students and inserted into the school platform: the students searched for info about the topic and arranged it into some web pages of their own creation. Language mistakes are due to the short time given before handing over the complete work.

/ DBMS
Database
Management System
Home

In computer science, database indicates a set of data and information stored and organized according to various categories.
The possible operations can be applied to only three files:
-Adding new data
-Cancellation of errors or unnecessary information
-Edit-in case of forgetfulness or mistakes.

A database consists of an organized collection of data for one or more uses, typically in digital form. One way of classifying databases involves the type of their contents, for example: bibliographic, document-text, statistical. Digital databases are managed using database management systems, which store database contents, allowing data creation and maintenance, and search and other access.

Database architecture consists of three levels, external, conceptual and internal. Clearly separating the three levels is a major feature of the relational database model that dominates 21st century databases.

The external level defines how users understand data organization. A single database can have any number of views at the external level. The internal level defines how the data is physically stored and processed by the computing system. Internal architecture is concerned with cost, performance, scalability and other operational matters. The conceptual level is a level of indirection between internal and external. It provides a common view of the database that is uncomplicated by details of how the data is stored or managed, and that can unify the various external views into a coherent whole.

There are some specific terms to know:
Nonentity. They represent the properties of an object, also called classes (events, things, people, ..), to describe it.
-Association. They are also called reports that represent a link between two or more entities. You can have a 'Association 1:1, 1: N, N: M. It is usually represented graphically by a roar that contains the name of the association.

A database management system (DBMS) consists of software that operates databases, providing storage, access, security, backup and other facilities. Database management systems can be categorized according to the database model that they support, such as relational or XML, the type(s) of computer they support, such as a server cluster or a mobile phone, the query language(s) that access the database, such as SQL or XQuery, performance trade-offs, such as maximum scale or maximum speed or others. Some DBMS cover more than one entry in these categories, e.g., supporting multiple query languages.Examples of some commonly used DBMS are MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft Access, SQL Server, FileMaker,Oracle, RDBMS, dBASE, Clipper,FoxPro,etc. Almost every database software comes with an Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) driver that allows the database to integrate with other databases.

There are also two types of archive:
-Static, where the three operations mentioned above are seldom used, unlike the research
-Dynamic, where the Insert, Delete and Update operations are more frequent than Query operation
There are levels of design used to achieve it.
In the database there are some roles and characters. They are:
-Director: the person who has control over the entire platform
-User Programming
-Specialists
Members-random or generic
Users can interact with the database through these languages:
-QL (query language) These are the questions being asked
-DML (data manipulation language) Inserting, editing and deleting data
-DCL (data control language) and 'access control security
-DDL (data definition language) Data Definition
-DMCL (device media control language) Storing database in the appropriate media

/ DBMS
Database
Management System

Mapping is a special process that transforms the diagram E / R DBMS. This has clear rules for both entities and associations.
Rules for scope:
Each entity becomes a table-
-Each attribute becomes a field in the table
- The PK (primary key) attribute becomes a field in the PKtable
-The number of fields is called the degree of the report or table
-The number of rows in the table represents the number of instances of the entity and is called cardinality
Rules for associations:
-1:1. The two entities involved merge into a single table which will have the PK, the PK of any entity involved
and as fields, all fields of the first and second entity
-1: No The associated table to 'N amount of the part of' aggregation must take an additional field that will name FK
(Foreign key) must match in size to the field PK of the table corresponding to 'Part 1 of the entities' Association
-N: M. You must add an additional table that corresponds to a 'separate addition that transforms the' aggregation of departure in two FK PK corresponding to the two entities of departure, plus any attributes of the relationship of departure.

/ DBMS
Database
Management System

There are three types of design levels:
-Design or conceptual model.
This is an analysis of the text resulting in a silly concept. This process is called E / R
The conceptual design and modeling is a well-known technique, which must by definition be independent of implementation details, such as competition or data storage.
It aims to express the meaning of terms and concepts used to discuss the problem and find the right relationships between different concepts.
Logic-Design
This is the procedure to get to read, modify and manage data stored in database schemas or back into an established and managed by system monitoring tools and data access. To write this, a language is used on purpose, called SQL (Structured Query Language). It is used to query and manage databases through the use of programming constructs called queries.
The logical design phase aims to transform the conceptual framework, provided input from the preceding stage in a logical pattern that includes a description of the logical data structures (tables, record layouts, keys, etc.) which will be recorded in the information of the automated information system, which must then be physically implemented in mass storage in the next step.
To make the transition from the conceptual schema diagrams (also called mapping operation), are applied to a series of derivation rules that allow the transformation of the abstract model into a set of logical data structures, which take account of future operations and query handling spelled out in specific operations.
Physical design-
During the physical design is implemented physically, that is, mass storage, the logical pattern obtained in the previous phase. The result obtained is the set of files and data files that are physically recorded information system, with their precise organization, that they can better manage the purpose for which they were designed.
The design phase for most physical and sentry on the machine and provides for the declaration and the creation of tables and relationships that bind them, for their subsequent loading and processing.
Besides, this phase includes the resolution of issues concerning the future administration dl computer system, such as security and data integrity, optimization of response time, regularly backing up of data for possible restoration in case of malfunction or loss of information. These operations require the intervention of specialized staff, the complexity and sensitivity of the functions to be performed.

Final written test prepared by the IT and the English teachers

VAI CLIL PROJECT 2010-2011 16th , November 2010

Regarding the “DATA BASE Basics” video clip, answer the questions 1,2,3,4,5,6 in English and the question n.7 in Italian .

1)What’s the difference between DB and DBMS ?

2)What does the term SQL mean ?

3) What do table columns and rows represent ?

4)Where is an instance of a table stored? (in row /s or in column/s?)

5)How many data instances are in the table below ?

6)What kind of data restrictions could you set ?

7)Why in the video is database management system ideally represented like a full-service library ?