The Computer science department is forming a Certificate of applied computer science program. They would like a database to be used in this program. The database would handle management of class scheduling, student advising, and instructor resources.
Try to design a flat file database to solve this problem. You may use multiple tables, but with no relationships. You can also use just one large table. You can design the database on paper, or you can use any computing tools you wish. All you need show is the structure of the table or tables. What would a record look like, and what are the various field domains.
Describe the problems a user might encounter when using this database. Write a short narrative describing the potential pitfalls of the system, and why you could not come up with a satisfying design.
You will have a lot of problems with part I. It is essentially impossible. The goal of this assignment is NOT to generate a perfect database using a flat file scheme. The data problem you are given is far more difficult than that. The real goal is to understand why we move to a relational model, and to motivate our later discussions on data modelling and normalization. You will be graded far more on the thoughtfullness of your response to part II than on your design in part I.
xwang@cs.iupui.edu