Project Guidelines
Overview
The final project for this course is the creation of a database proposal and implementation plan report that will address the needs of a given scenario. The purpose of this assessment is to assess the students' understanding of simple database structure, functions, and terminology from an information management perspective.
You are to design a simple database framework that addresses the needs of Birchwood Lane Schools and the development of a strategy for implementing that database. Your submissions will include the relational database model you have designed, including diagrams (e.g., Microsoft Visio), a plan for implementation, and a persuasive presentation to stakeholders, in this case the Birchwood Lane School Board. The persuasive presentation will build off the work completed for this database proposal and implementation plan report and is due in Module Eight. For more details about the presentation, reference the "Final Presentation Guidelines and Rubric" document in the Assignment Guidelines and Rubrics section of the course.
The project is supported by four formative milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Two, Three, Four, and Five. The final submission of your database proposal and implementation plan report will occur in Module Seven.
At the end of your degree program experience, you will develop a portfolio that will provide a clear representation of your mastery of program outcomes, skills, and abilities. The artifact that is suggested for use from this course is the case needs analysis section of your proposal and plan. It is strongly recommended that you save this document in a place where it can be accessed again at a later date.
Outcomes
This assessment will evaluate your mastery with respect to the following course outcomes:
• Apply the appropriate terminology of the realm of data and information management to real-world scenarios
• Develop and address complete and valid data requirements for business cases
• Design and plan to implement a simple relational data model using standard database management methods
• Differentiate between the uses, benefits, and limitations of commonly used tools and technologies in data and information management
• Present database management proposals in a persuasive manner given the needs of specific audiences
Prompt
You will be developing your submissions (a relational database model, and plan for implementation) around the following scenario: Birchwood Lane Schools currently records all student, instructor, and course data on paper. To meet state and federal requirements, Birchwood Lane Schools must implement an application system that records all student, course, and instructor data electronically. You will design a DBMS model and develop a strategy for implementation, which you will flesh out in a comprehensive written report.
Current data needs include the following:
1. Student data (full name, full address, phone, email, birthdate, enrollment date, graduation date, courses taken, courses currently enrolled)
2. Instructor data (full name, full address, phone, email, birthdate, hire date, courses taught, courses currently assigned)
3. Course data (course name, course start date, course end date, course category, instructor, students)
Each student and instructor may have multiple addresses, each student may be enrolled in multiple courses during a term, and each instructor may teach multiple courses during a term.
Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed in your submission:
I. Case Needs Analysis: Determine the data requirements of Birchwood Lane Schools.
a. What data from the scenario is needed for the database and why?
b. To what extent is additional information needed to develop complete data requirements? II. Relational Database Model
a. Based on the requirements you have determined, design a relational database model. Be sure to include applicable entities and proper relationship mapping.
b. Develop a logical database model based on the entities present in your visual conceptual database model.
III. Database Selection: Select an appropriate DBMS (Oracle, IBM DB2, MS SQL Server, or an open-source database) for Birchwood Lane Schools and explain your reasoning.
a. Why did you choose this DBMS? Be sure to lists all uses, benefits, and limitations for each of the following: data size limit, purchase cost, administration, operating system/hardware and requirements, features, and performance/scalability. What differentiates your selection from other selections?
b. To what extent are there additional or alternative technologies that might assist Birchwood Lane Schools in managing its data? Compare these technologies in terms of their applicability to the needs of Birchwood Lane Schools.
IV. Implementation Plan: Outline a process for implementing the new database.
a. Be sure to include all relevant information and steps.
b. Are there additional pieces of information necessary to develop a full plan for implementation or that may impact implementation success? For example, these could include DBMS management requirements, man hours, or data input.
Milestones
Milestone One: Group Discussion: Defining the Audience
In task 2-3, you will submit your contribution to a small group collaborative discussion exploring how you would want to present the information to different audiences that will view the presentation. Now, who specifically is your target audience? In other words, who are the consumers? Describe the types of people who will read the report and presentation. What will they do with the material? What kind of evidence do you use to support your ideas? Finally, imagine you are making this presentation to a chief information officer (CIO). How do you present the information differently? In responding to your classmates, comment on approaches that you may not have considered. What makes you believe in these approaches? Why is using evidence important? This milestone is graded with the Discussion Rubric.
Milestone Two: Group Discussion: Business Case for the Database Framework
In task 3-2, you will submit your contribution to a small group collaborative discussion exploring the business case for the final project. Explain your perspective on the need for the new approach to managing data via a database management system and modeling data according to standards. Why does Birchwood Lane Schools need a database? Begin to develop ideas for a logical database model. Include your personal experience, and consider the diversity of perspectives from your group. In your response, comment in detail on your view of their approach and how your view is similar to or different from theirs. Highlight your view of the business value (or lack of value) of database management to Birchwood Lane Schools, and address the issue of data collection. This milestone is graded with the Discussion Rubric.
Note: You will submit an individual proposal in Module Four for your final project that includes the case needs analysis and your conceptual database model. Use this discussion to finalize your ideas.
Milestone Three: Proposal Draft
In task 4-3, you will submit to the instructor a two- to three-page individual proposal as a Word document. In your proposal, you should include the first two elements of your project: case needs analysis and the relational database model. Use what you have discussed in your collaborative groups to finalize your proposal. This milestone will be graded using the Milestone Three Rubric.
Milestone Four: Data and Database Management System (DBMS) Comparisons Wiki
In task 5-2, you will compare different DBMS components in the Data and Database Management System (DBMS) Comparisons Wiki. For this milestone, you are going to discuss the attributes to consider for selection of an appropriate DBMS for the Birchwood Schools. That is, what are the needed attributes? This task will be done in a whole class wiki so the whole class can view all the ideas. You should view all the posts before finalizing your recommendations for your individual proposal. The wiki is graded with the DMBS Comparisons Wiki Rubric.
Final Submission: Database Proposal and Implementation Plan-Individual Report
In task 7-2, you will submit your database proposal and implementation plan report. The report should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final product. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course.