Entity-relationship modeling
is widely used for capturing data requirements and for designing databases.
Object-oriented analysis approaches use similar techniques to help in
application design. This one-day training course introduces the basics of data
modeling, including how to gather data requirements and analyze business rules
that constrain data. The relationship between data models and relational
databases is explored in some detail, as well as the role of UML. Students
learn how to convert from one to the other. Practical issues related to the use
of data modeling in real project settings are discussed. Several hands-on
modeling exercises based on realistic examples provide an opportunity to apply
the concepts.
Brochure for ITC15 in pdf format
8:30 Course Overview & Welcome
8:45 Data modeling defined
- Why data models?
- When to data model?
- Who needs to create and/or understand data models?
- A brief history of data modeling
9:00 Entity-relationship basics
- Entities, relationships and attributes
- Cardinality constraints
- Derived data
- Commonly-used ER and object-relationship notations
- Similarities and differences between data modeling and object modeling
- Converting ER models to database tables
9:45 Refreshment Break
10:00 Modeling Exercise I
11:00 Further modeling concepts
- Week entities
- When an attributes is really an entity
- N-ary relationships
- Converting new ER concepts to database tables
11:30 Modeling Exercise II
12:00 Lunch served at the course location
1:00 Modeling Exercise II
2:00 Practical matters
- Alternative notations
- Sources of data requirements
- Documenting(large) data models
- ER models vs. table diagrams
- Typical CASE tool data modeling functions
2:30 Refreshment Break
2:45 Data Analysis Exercise
3:45 Using UML for data modeling
4:15 Course wrap-up
Reference materials include a set of course notes for each student.
Andrew McAllister is a Professor in the Faculty of Computer Science at UNB. During his career he has served in various roles in large-scale commercial information systems development projects, ranging from programmer to system architect and project manager. This experience includes 4 years as a full-time consultant with DMR Group Inc. He taught his first programming course at UNB 20 years ago, and since then has taught a wide variety of subjects, including systems analysis & design, database development, software engineering and programming in a number of languages, including Java. He has many years of experience in delivering commercial training courses for clients all over North America.