Data Bases
Lecture and Case Studies
Module 2: Tuesday, July 9 th through Wednesday, July 10 th 2002
- data models + data bases
- UML
Abstract
information is for human beings - it is a network, it is robust and it is effective.
data is for computers - it is distinct, it is easy to disturb and it can be effective,
sometimes. we will speak about the transformation of information into data structures.
we will touch some acronyms like UML, XML, SQL and we will try not to get hurt
by them.
Course Outline
Life is stranger than fiction. Our leitmotif during the two days will be a fictional
but realistic situation from which we will derive requirements and a data model.
Day One (Lecture)
Morning:
The real life situation.
Questions to be answered:
- If we know how things work, why do we still have to model them?
- What makes data bases so special?
- What are objects and what have they to do with data bases?
Afternoon:
Questions to be answered:
- What is the Unified Modeling Language (UML)?
- Why do I need only two out of seven diagrams of UML?
- How do I use a Use Case Diagram?
- How do I use a Class Diagram?
Day Two (Exercise)
Morning:
Use Case Analysis of the real life situation.
Afternoon:
Class Diagram for the Use Cases of the real life situation.
Objectives:
The participants will learn the difference between human and technical information
handling. It is the gap we need to close. They will learn to understand basic
technical concepts of data manipulation and storage as well as the basic semantical
concepts of the object paradigma.
They will know where the UML comes from, what it's purpose is and which parts
of it they probably will not use. They will be able to analyze a given situation
and formulate it as one or more Use Cases. They will practice how to derive a
data model as Class Diagram from a Use Case.
Due to the integrated approach of UML we will occasionally cross the border between
Use Cases and the Class Diagram, so there will be no strict separation between
morning and afternoon topics on the second day.
What the participants will certainly not learn is: reliably creating a reliable
data model, transferring a data model into a data base design, using UML for round-trip
engineering. In short, they will not become programmers… but learn to communicate
with programmers.
Media
software
integrated UML-tool