Week 1
Teaching and Learning Methods to be Employed
1. Introductory illustrated lecture
2. Interactive discussion: Where do we encounter databases in Nigeria daily?
3. Demonstration: Opening a sample database in MySQL Workbench
4. Think-Pair-Share: Differences between a file system and a database
Learning Outcomes / Objectives
By the end of this week, students should be able to:
1. Define data, information, and knowledge and explain their relationship.
2. Explain the concept of information management and its importance.
3. Distinguish between a file-based system and a database system.
4. Define a database and a Database Management System (DBMS).
5. List the key advantages of the database approach over file-based systems.
1.4 What is a Database?
A database is a shared collection of logically related data and a description of this data, designed to meet the information needs of an organisation.
Key aspects of this definition:
1. SHARED: Multiple users and applications access the same data
2. LOGICALLY RELATED: Data is organised to reflect real-world relationships
3. DESCRIBED: The database includes metadata (data about the data) called the schema
4. ORGANISED: Data is structured for efficient storage and retrieval
EXAMPLES OF DATABASES IN NIGERIA:
|
Organisation |
Database Content |
|
NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) |
Oil well locations, production data, pipeline maintenance records, revenue |
|
FRSC (Federal Road Safety Corps) |
Driver licence records, vehicle registrations, accident reports |
|
WAEC (West African Examinations Council) |
Student registrations, examination results, school accreditation records |
|
Flutterwave |
Merchant accounts, transaction records, payment routes, exchange rates |
|
Nigerian Prison Service |
Inmate records, sentence information, release schedules |