James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2001

CP1500:03

Introduction to Information and Database Systems

Townsville, Cairns

Inadmissable Subject Combination: CO1801 CO3811 CP2500 CP3010

39 lectures, 26 tutorials. First semester.

Information and its importance; computers as information processing machines; building information systems using the relational model; social, economic and legal impacts of information systems.

Learning Objectives:

  1. understand the importance of information and the effects it and computer technology in general has had and is having on society;
  2. be familiar with the use of common types of software, such as spreadsheets, word-processors and database management systems, for the storage and manipulation of information;
  3. understand the fundamental principles involved in designing a relational database using the entity-relationship model;
  4. implement a relatively simple database using an E-R diagram and be able to pose queries using SQL.

Assessment in this subject involves significant on-course assessment including assignments and tests and an examination at the end of the semester. The full details of the assessment are handed out to students in the class in the first week of the semester in which the subject is offered and posted on the Web.