ILS3A01 Learning Guide 2025

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ILS3A01 – INFORMATION SYSTEMS 3A

 ILS3A01 Learning Guide 2025
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Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 3
1.1 Welcome..................................................................................................................... 3
1.2 Lecturer information.................................................................................................. 3
2. MODULE AND PROGRAMME INFORMATION ............................................................ 4
2.1 Learning units forming part of ILS3A01 ................................................................... 4
2.1.1 Theory Component ............................................................................................. 4
2.1.2 Practical Component .......................................................................................... 5
2.1.3 Tutorials ............................................................................................................... 6
3. ADMINISTRATIVE AND ORGANISATIONAL INFORMATION ..................................... 7
3.1 Assessment criteria................................................................................................... 7
3.2 The semester mark calculation ................................................................................ 7
3.3 Supplementary Assessment ..................................................................................... 8
3.4 Sick supplementary assessment.............................................................................. 9
3.5 Moodle access and use ............................................................................................. 9
4. STUDY COMPONENTS ................................................................................................ 9
5. STUDENT CONDUCT ................................................................................................. 13
5.1 Rights and responsibilities of students ................................................................. 13
5.2 Class attendance ..................................................................................................... 13
5.3 Plagiarism ................................................................................................................ 13
6. COMMUNICATION WITH LECTURERS ..................................................................... 14
6.1 Email Etiquette......................................................................................................... 14
6.2 Availability of lecturer and tutors ........................................................................... 14
6.3 Feedback to learners ............................................................................................... 15
6.4 Grievances and appeals .......................................................................................... 15
APPENDIX A – Application to write the sick test ............................................................ 16

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1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Welcome
Information Systems 3A introduces you to database design techniques and promotes the
understanding of current database technologies. Database design concepts and procedures
and practical problem-solving are presented in this module so that students can fully develop
real and useful design skills.

This module is part of Information Systems 3, and ILS3B01 will follow in the second semester.
It is at NQF level 7, with 24 credits. One credit equals 10 notional hours, translating to 240
notional hours for this module. ILS3A01 will be presented over a 14-week period.

This module consists of a theory and a practical component. You need to master both. You
will design, draw and optimise database designs in the theory component. In the tutorial
classes, you will receive additional exercises and assistance from the tutors. In the practical
component, you will implement a database in SQL Server and write useful queries to access
the required data in the database.

Your learning guide is designed to assist you through this module and will guide you with
preparation for classes, assignments and tests.

Please take note of the following important aspects:

1. The module will follow the continuous assessment method.
2. There will be no formal exam during the exam period.
3. All assessments contribute towards the semester mark.
4. Your semester mark needs to be above 50% to pass the module.
5. There is no re-examination.

1.2 Lecturer information

Prof Tania Prinsloo
Office telephone number: 011-559-1222
Office number: Block G Purple 4 Bunting Road Campus
Email address: [email protected]
Consulting times: Please email for an appointment.

1.3 Prescribed textbook

Database Systems: Design, Implementation, & Management 14th

Edition
By: CARLOS CORONEL, STEVEN MORRIS

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Additional resources:
• Additional learning material will be provided on Moodle.
• Note that this module makes extensive use of Moodle, therefore students have a
responsibility to use Moodle and access it frequently from the start.
• Failure to access Moodle is no excuse for not doing what the student is expected to do.

2. MODULE AND PROGRAMME INFORMATION

2.1 Learning units forming part of ILS3A01

2.1.1 Theory Component

Learning Content covered Chapter in Week of:

unit textbook

1 Database Systems Chapter 1 10/02/2025

2 Data Models; The Relational Chapters 2 and 3 17/02/2025

Database Model Part I

3 The Relational Database Model Part Chapter 3 24/02/2025

II

4 Entity-Relationship Modeling Chapter 4 03/03/2025

4 Entity-Relationship Modeling Chapter 4 10/03/2025

5 Normalization Part I Chapter 6 17/03/2025

Semester Test 1 – Chapters 1 - 4 24/03/2025

Mid-semester break

5 Normalization Part II Chapter 6 07/04/2025

8 Database Design Chapter 9 14/04/2025

9 Business Intelligence and Data Chapter 13 21/04/2025

Warehouses Part I

9 Business Intelligence and Data Chapter 13 28/04/2025

Warehouses Part II

Semester Test 2 – Chapters 6, 9, and 13 05/05/2025

Group Project Demonstrations 12/05/2025

End of Semester Assessment 19/05/2025

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2.1.2 Practical Component

Learning Content covered Chapter in Week of:

unit textbook

No practical activity 10/02/2025

Introduction and instructions on how to install SSMS 17/02/2025

6 Creating and loading your database; Chapter 7 24/02/2025

constraints and data types e.g int,
varchar, primary key

6 Single-table SQL Queries: SELECT; Chapter 7 03/03/2025

FROM; ORDER; WHERE; ALTER
table, UPDATE table, DELETE

6 Multiple-table SQL queries; multiple- Chapter 7 10/03/2025

table SQL queries focusing on JOIN
operators

6 Functions, group queries and search Chapter 7 17/03/2025

conditions

Semester Test 1 – Chapters 7 24/03/2025

Mid-semester break

6 Subqueries Chapter 8 07/04/2025

6 The Database Schema; Table Chapter 8 14/04/2025

structures; data manipulation;
UNION, UNION ALL, INTERSECT,
and MINUS.

6 Stored Procedures; Create views Chapter 8 21/04/2025

and stored procedures, working with
variables.

7 Triggers; Looping; the IF ELSE Chapter 8 28/04/2025

statement in a script, use a WHILE
statement in a script, create
BLOCKS of code, create a CASE
statement.

Semester Test 2 – Chapters 7 and part of 8 05/05/2025

7 Integrating SQL with other Additional notes. 12/05/2025

programming languages, specifically
C#.

End of Semester Assessment 19/05/2025

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2.1.3 Tutorials
The weekly tutorial classes aim to provide extra exercise activities, mainly, but not exclusively,
to the theory component. The tutorial classes will commence in the week of 24/02/2025.

Learning Content covered Chapter in Week of:

unit textbook

No tutorial. 10/02/2025

No tutorial. 17/02/2025

Tutorial 1: Creating and loading your database; constraints 24/02/2025

and data types

No formal tutorial. Tutors are available to assist with any 03/03/2025

queries.

Tutorial 2: Single- and Multiple-table SQL queries; JOIN 10/03/2025

operators

No formal tutorial. Tutors are available to assist with any 17/03/2025

queries.

Semester Test 1 – Chapters 1 – 5; 7 24/03/2025

Tutorial 3: Functions, group queries and search conditions; 07/04/2025

Subqueries

No formal tutorial. Tutors are available to assist with any 14/04/2025

queries.

Tutorial 4: Stored Procedures; Create views and stored 21/04/2025

procedures, working with variables.

Tutorial 5: Triggers; Looping; the IF ELSE statement in a 28/04/2025

script, use a WHILE statement in a script, create BLOCKS
of code, create a CASE statement.

Semester Test 2 – Chapters 5 – 9, 13 05/05/2025

No formal tutorial. Tutors are available to assist with any

queries.

End of Semester Assessment 19/05/2025

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3. ADMINISTRATIVE AND ORGANISATIONAL INFORMATION

3.1 Assessment criteria
Two semester tests, comprising both a theoretical and practical section, will be written.
There will also be weekly class activities and homework, two group assignments and an
end-of-term assessment during the last week of the semester.

3.2 The semester mark calculation

Reassess-
Assessment
Weight ment Scope
Date
Date
24 March 2025
8:00 – 10:30
Theory:
APB: CON Learning Unit 1 - 4
COWAN (Chapter 1- 4 of the
To be
Semester Test 1 10% COMP LAB textbook)
G11, G15 advised Practical:
Learning Unit 6 (Chapter 7
APK: E-Les of the textbook)
201

5 May 2025
8:00 – 10:30
Theory:
Learning Unit 5, 8, and 9
APB: CON
(Chapter 6, 9, and 13 of
COWAN
To be textbook)
Semester Test 2 15% COMP LAB
G11, G15 advised Practical:
Learning Unit 6 and 7
(Chapter 7 and 8 of the
APK: E-Les
textbook)
201

Weekly Theory
5% Continuous n/a
Class Activities

Weekly Practical
5% Continuous n/a
Class Activities

Weekly Tutorial
15% Continuous n/a
Activities

Theory Group Moodle by 11

5% n/a
Assignment 1 April 2025
Theory Group
Assignment 2 and 12 to 16 May
15% n/a
Project 2025
Demonstration
19 to 23 May To be
End of Semester 30% All.
2025 advised
Assessment
TOTAL
100%

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3.3 Supplementary Assessment

There will only be one re-assessment per module for learners who produce a valid doctor’s
certificate after missing an assessment together with a completed application for writing the
sick test (See Appendix A). All assessments are compulsory. A weighted average of 50%
constitutes a pass. Assessments not handed in on due date will not be marked and 0%
awarded.
This does not apply in the case of official absenteeism:
• Medical certificates.
• Prior application (with confirmation from the sports bureau or cultural office) for
participating in provincial, national or international sports or cultural events.
• The death of a close family member or friend (a copy of the death certificate or funeral
letter must be included as proof).
• Other excuses deemed acceptable to the assessor.

Medical certificates need to comply with the following:

The Ethical and Professional Rules of the Medical and Dental Professions Board of the
Health Professions Council of South Africa

In terms of the Ethical and Professional Rules of the Medical and Dental Professions Board of
the Health Professions Council of South Africa, the medical profession has introduced the
following rules with respect to medical certificates:

Rule 15.(1) : A practitioner shall only grant a certificate of illness if such certificate contains
the following information, namely:
a. the name, address and qualification of the practitioner.
b. the name of the patient.
c. the employment number of the patient (if applicable).
d. the date and time of the examination.
e. whether the certificate is being issued as a result of personal observations by the
practitioner during an examination, or as the result of information received from the
patient and which is based on acceptable medical grounds.
f. A description of the illness, disorder or malady in layman's terminology with the informed
consent of the patient: Provided that if the patient is not prepared to give such consent,
the medical practitioner or dentist shall merely specify that, in his or her opinion based on
an examination of the patient, the patient is unfit to work.
g. Whether the patient is totally indisposed for duty or whether the patient is able to perform
less strenuous duties in the work situation.
h. the exact period of recommended sick leave.
i. the date of issuing of the certificate of illness.
j. a clear indication of the identity of the practitioner who issued the certificate which shall
be personally and originally signed by him or her next to his or her initials and surname in
printed or block letters.

Rule 15(2): If pre-printed stationery is used, a practitioner shall delete words which are
irrelevant.

Rule 15(3): A practitioner shall issue a brief factual report to a patient where such a patient
requires information concerning himself or herself.

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3.4 Sick supplementary assessment

A supplementary assessment will only be given to students with a completed sick test
application form (See Appendix A) and a valid doctor’s certificate. Learners must apply for
the assessment within 7 working days after the assessment by completing an application
form with relevant documentation with the secretary/lecturer.

3.5 Moodle access and use

Moodle will be used extensively in this module for the following purposes:
• Announcements
• Assessments where applicable.
• Lecture slides, test papers, and memorandums, additional resources.
• All assessment marks for the module.

4. STUDY COMPONENTS
Learning Unit 1: Chapter 1: Database Systems
Learning Outcomes Assessment Criteria
After completing this learning unit, you You will be assessed as competent if
will learn: you can:
• The difference between data and • Differentiate between data and
information. information.
• What a database is, the various types of • Define a database.
databases, and why they are valuable • Discuss the importance of database
assets for decision-making. design.
• The importance of database design. • Understand flaws in file system data
• How modern databases evolved from management.
file systems. • Discuss the main components of the
• About flaws in file system data database systems.
management. • Discuss functions of DBMS.
• The main components of the database
system.
• The main functions of a database
management system (DBMS).

Learning Unit 2: Chapter 2: Data Models; Chapter 3: The Relational Database Model
Part I
Learning Outcomes Assessment Criteria
After completing this learning unit, you You will be assessed as competent if
will learn: you can:
• About data modelling and why data • Elaborate why data models are
models are important. important.
• About the basic data-modelling building • Discuss the basic data-modelling
blocks. building blocks.

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• What business rules are and how they • Implement business rules into database
influence database design. design.
• How the major data models evolved. • Understand components of tables and
• About emerging alternative data models design simple tables using SQL.
and the need they fulfil.
• How data models can be classified by
their level of abstraction.
• That the relational database model
offers a logical view of data.
• About the relational model’s basic
component: relations.
• That relations are logical constructs
composed of rows (tuples) and columns
(attributes).
• That relations are implemented as
tables in a relational DBMS.

Learning Unit 3: Chapter 3: The Relational Database Model Part II

Learning Outcomes Assessment Criteria
After completing this learning unit, you You will be assessed as competent if
will learn: you can:
• About relational database operators, the • Understand components of tables and
data dictionary, and the system catalog. design simple tables using SQL.
• How data redundancy is handled in the
relational database model.
• Why indexing is important.
• The main characteristics of entity
relationship components.

Learning Unit 4: Chapter 4: Entity-Relationship Modelling

Learning Outcomes Assessment Criteria
After completing this learning unit, you You will be assessed as competent if
will learn: you can:
• How relationships between entities are • Draw ERD using business rules.
defined, refined, and incorporated into • Extract business rules from ERD.
the database design process.
• How ERD components affect database
design and implementation.

• That real-world database design often

requires the reconciliation of conflicting
goals.

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Learning Unit 5: Chapter 6: Normalisation of Database Tables

Learning Outcomes Assessment Criteria
After completing this learning unit, you You will be assessed as competent if
will learn: you can:
• What supertypes and subtypes are • Further apply skills on an ERD to
used, and why are they relevant in include supertypes and subtypes.
database design. • Draw an ERD using disjointed,
• About disjointed, overlapping, and overlapping, and completeness
completeness constraints. constraints.
• How specialization and generalization • Create and use the correct primary key
extend the data model. in an ERD.
• Why some entities are clustered for
simplification of the ERD.
• How to select the correct primary key/s
in a given scenario.

Learning Unit 6: Chapter 7: Introduction to Structured Query Language

Learning Outcomes Assessment Criteria
After completing this learning unit, you You will be assessed as competent if
will learn: you can:
• The basic commands and functions of • Use basic commands and functions of
SQL. SQL.
• How to use SQL for data administration • Use SQL to query data for useful
(to create tables and indexes). information.
• How to use SQL for data manipulation • Create schemas.
(to add, modify, delete, and retrieve • Create tables.
data). • Use SQL to insert data into a database.
• How to use SQL to query a database for • Use SQL to update data.
useful information. • Use SQL to delete data.
• Create queries to retrieve data from a
database.

Learning Unit 7: Chapter 8: Advanced SQL

Learning Outcomes Assessment Criteria
After completing this learning unit, you You will be assessed as competent if
will learn: you can:
• How to use the advanced SQL JOIN • Use SQL JOIN, subqueries,
operator syntax • UNION, UNION ALL, INTERSECT, and
• About the different types of subqueries MINUS
and correlated queries. • Create views, stored procedures
• How to use SQL functions to manipulate • Use the IF ELSE statement in a script.
dates, strings, and other data. • Use a WHILE statement in a script.
• About the relational set operators • Create BLOCKS of code.
UNION, UNION ALL, INTERSECT, and • Create a CASE statement
MINUS.

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• How to create and use views and

updatable views.
• How to create and use triggers and
stored procedures.
• How to create embedded SQL.

Learning Unit 8: Chapter 9: Database Design

Learning Outcomes Assessment Criteria
After completing this learning unit, you You will be assessed as competent if
will learn: you can:
• That a sound database design is the • Explain sound database design.
foundation for a successful information • Use the SDLC for successful
system, and that the database design information systems development.
must reflect the information system of • Explain the DBLC and its uses in sound
which the database is a part. database development.
• That successful information systems are • Revise and review the SDLC and
developed within a framework known as DBLC.
the Systems Development Life Cycle • Describe and use different database
(SDLC). design strategies.
• That within the information system, the
most successful databases are subject
to frequent evaluation and revision
within a framework known as the
Database Life Cycle (DBLC).
• How to conduct evaluation and revision
within the SDLC and DBLC frameworks.
• About database design strategies: top-
down versus bottom-up design and
centralized versus decentralized design.

Learning Unit 9: Chapter 13: Business Intelligence and Data Warehouses

Learning Outcomes Assessment Criteria
After completing this learning unit, you You will be assessed as competent if
will learn: you can:
• Understand the difference between • Explain OLTP and OLAP in terms of
OLTP and OLAP and the relationship data
between these concepts and business • Create a simple data warehouse (“data
intelligence, data warehousing and data mart”).
mining. • Use different data types in database
• Understand how structured, semi- design, including structured, semi-
structured, and unstructured data are all structured and unstructured data.
essential elements of enterprise
information and knowledge
management.

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5. STUDENT CONDUCT
5.1 Rights and responsibilities of students
1. Theory classes are compulsory (students must attend a minimum of 80% of their classes)
2. Practical sessions are compulsory (students must attend a minimum of 80% of their
practical sessions).
3. Learners must consult with their lecturer if they experience any problems (please ensure
that you consult the lecturer timeously and not when the problem becomes a crisis).
4. Students must buy the textbook and not rely on class notes only. Students cannot
photocopy the textbook as this infringes on copyright laws. Should a photocopied textbook
be in a student’s possession, proper action will be taken against that student.
5. If you have difficulties with this subject, please contact your tutor for additional help.

5.2 Class attendance

All classes/lectures will be held be held face-to-face on the APB campus. Please refer to your
timetables for more details. Please note that it is the learner’s responsibility to catch up on any
missed classes, irrespective of why he/she missed the class.

5.3 Plagiarism
Dishonesty and plagiarism will not be tolerated. The University and the Faculty view the issue
of plagiarism in a serious light. Evidence of plagiarism or dishonesty will be dealt with
according to the University’s and/or Faculty’s Regulations. The issue of plagiarism as referred
to in the Faculty Guidelines for Ethics in Research.

Plagiarism is to:
• present the ideas, words or results of another person as your own, without acknowledging
the original author.
• use the ideas or words of another person without giving due credit to that person or source.
• use sentences, paragraphs or parts of articles and books without quotation marks and/or
appropriate acknowledgement.
• download sentences, paragraphs or sections of writings from the Internet and to use them
without quotation marks and/or proper acknowledgement.
• use another person’s direct words without quotation marks, even when you acknowledge
the source.
• use ideas without making them properly your own, even though you might have
acknowledged the original source.
• formulate your words so closely to those of the original author that it is obvious that you
could not have written them without having had the source next to you, i.e. your
paraphrasing of the author’s words is too close to the original author’s use of the words,
even if you did acknowledge your source.
Source: Booth, et al. and Schuklenk

Plagiarism is wrong because:

• It is theft of intellectual property.

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• The person (plagiarist) lies about the contribution made to the project.
• The person (plagiarist) cannot give a true account of how the research was carried out.

Source: Udo Schuklenk (University of the Witwatersrand)

Benefits to be derived from consciously avoiding plagiarism:

By deliberately avoiding plagiarism, learners learn:
• the value of doing original work.
• to develop professional skills such as doing research, giving attention to detail, and
analysing arguments.
• to act with honesty and integrity in their professional lives.
• to write professionally and engage in debate.

Source: Faculty of Law, the University of the Witwatersrand

6. COMMUNICATION WITH LECTURERS

6.1 Email Etiquette
Please follow the guidelines below to compile a professional email:
• Please include an appropriate title in the subject line indicating the purpose of the email.
Do not type your entire message in this line.
• Always greet the recipient of the email, for example, Good Morning Prof, Prinsloo or Dear
Prof Prinsloo…
• Explain the email's purpose and ensure your message is clear. Ensure that there are no
spelling errors in your email.
• DO NOT type the contents of the email in capital letters, as this denotes shouting.
• Sign off your email with the following details: First name and Surname, student number,
module code, and campus, for example:
Ditebogo Nkosi
2010123456
ILS1A01
APB
• You will receive a response from me within 48 hours unless you receive an out-of-office
message from me. I will only respond then when I am back in the office. If you did not
receive a response from me, I did not receive your email. Always check the email address
you have typed, as you may have got this incorrect.

6.2 Availability of lecturer and tutors

• Emails and other forms of communication will only be addressed and answered on
weekdays from 8:00 until 17:00.
• If you should have an urgent query, you only get a response between 8:00 and 17:00, so
please plan ahead.
• No communication channels will be available over weekends and holidays.

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6.3 Feedback to learners

Feedback on assessments will be available within 14 days. The results will be posted on
MAMS. Please consult it regularly.
Please note that no marks will be changed after seven working days from the date it
was posted on MAMS.

6.4 Grievances and appeals

Learners must consult with their lecturer if they experience any problems (please ensure that
you consult the lecturer timeously and not when the problem becomes a crisis).

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APPENDIX A – Application to write the sick test

DEPARTMENT OF
APPLIED INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Application for Deferred Test

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