D426 v2 DATA MANAGEMENT-FOUNDATIONS

Welcome, Study Plan, and Course Pacing Guide

last update 9.19.2024

NOT SURE WHERE TO START IN THE COURSE?? You are in the right place!
Your D426 instructor team has put together the following guide full of resources and course tips
to help you get the most out of this course and to help you pass the course in the most efficient
way possible!

Welcome to D426 Data Management Foundations!

This course introduces students to the concepts and terminology used in the field of data
management. We will be introduced to Structured Query Language and understand the
differentiations of data. This course also covers aspects of data management (quality, policy,
storage methodologies). Foundational concepts of data security are included.

D426 STUDY PLAN OUTLINE

(with Tips and Extra Resources!)
This study plan outline is a result of lots of student feedback on
what has helped your fellow Night Owls be successful!

Many students find that the most efficient way to complete

this course is by working through the ZyBooks lessons and the
2nd resource “Database of Fundamentals Management
Systems” eBook.
D426 RECOMMENDED STUDY PLAN

Step 1. Complete zyBook Lessons, activities, and labs working to bring the completion
percentages 90-100%.

Note: Complete each competency below in its entirety. This includes completing the ZyBook
lesson and Fundamentals Book chapters for each competency.

Sections zyBooks Lessons Topics

Introduction to Complete zyBooks • database basics
Databases Lesson 1. • database systems
• query languages
• database design
and programming
• MySQL
Relational Complete zyBooks • relational models
Databases Lesson 2. • SQL
• managing
databases
• working with
tables
• primary and
foreign keys
• referential
integrity
• constraints
Complex Queries Complete zyBooks • special operators
Lesson 3. and clauses
• simple and
Optional Section: aggregate functions
3.9 • join queries
• subqueries
• view tables
Database Design Complete zyBooks • entities,
Lesson 4. relationships, and
attributes
• discovery
• cardinality
• strong and weak
entities
• supertype and
subtype entities
• alternative
modeling
conventions
• first, second, and
third normal form
• Boyce-Codd
normal form
Data Storage Complete zyBooks storage media
Lesson 5. • table structures
• single-level,
Optional Sections: multi-level, and
Lesson 5.2 & 5.6 other indexes
• tablespaces and
partitions
• physical design
Database Complete zyBooks • MySQL
Architecture – Lesson 6. architecture
This Lesson is • cloud, distributed,
Optional and replicated
databases
• data warehouses
• business
intelligence
programs
 • other database
architectures
Case Study Complete zyBooks
(Diagrams) Lesson 7. • Cardinality
• Supertype and
weak entities
• Implementing
entities,
relationships, and
attributes
Data Modeling Complete zyBooks • binary, unary,
Lesson 9. and ternary
relations

D426 COURSE PACING GUIDE

Many students can complete this course in approx. 5 weeks.

• Week 1: Familiarize yourself with the course, solidify your study plan, read the Course
Tips and other introductory course materials. Complete zyBook lesson 1 (Introduction to
Databases) and lesson 2 (Relational Databases).
• Week 2: Complete zyBook Lesson 3 (Complex Queries) and Lesson 4 (Database Design).
• Week 3: Complete zyBook Lesson 5 (Data Storage).
• Week 4: Complete zyBook Lesson 7 (Case Study) and Lesson 9 (Data Modeling).
• Week 5: Final review and Pre-assessment.
Where to Get Help … for Each Competency/Lesson of the
Assessment!

Competency/ Where to Get Help

Lessons
Introduction to Complete zyBooks Lesson 1.
Databases
Relational • Read Fundamentals Book
Databases
Chapter 5: The Relational Database Model: Introduction

• This Data Modeling webinar video

Complex Complete Lesson 3 (zyBooks)

Queries
• SQL Link https://www.w3schools.com/sql/default.asp to help
you work through SQL commands
• LinkedInLearning.com Videos - MySQL Essential Training (2019)
Online Class | LinkedIn Learning, formerly Lynda.com

IT Database (Joins)
Database Design Complete Lesson 4 (zyBooks)

• For Normalization, watch 4 short videos at LinkedIn Learning,

following the instructions under the Data Modeling heading to
access the Programming Foundations: Databases series.

Data Storage Complete zyBooks Lesson 5.

Database zyBooks Lesson 6 is Optional
Architecture –
Case Study Complete Lesson 7 (zyBooks)
(Diagrams)
Read Fundamentals Book Chapters 2

• Entity Relationships
• SuperTypes
Data Modeling Complete zyBooks Lesson 9.

Read Fundamentals Book Chapters 2

• Entity Relationships
• SuperTypes
• Unary many-to-many example