Title: Week 6
Course: Introduction to Database Management Systems

Normalisation

The topic aims at imparting knowledge on normalisation. Normalisation is basically a process for restructuring a database, normally a relational database with the objective of removing redundancy and improving the integrity of data. The topic will hence explore the process of normalisation, up to the third normal form.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the week, you will be able to:
1. Comprehend the need for normalisation
2. Describe the different types of dependencies
3. Normalise a given relation up to at least the third normal form

Over to you
This section involves you looking through the learning resources and summarizing the chapters provided. Thereafter, you will work on the e-tivities to demonstrate whether you understood and internalized the content.

Pre-Topic
Review the videos provided on Normalization while capturing relevant notes. The videos give an introduction of the term normalization then looks at the process of practically normalizing. The videos are to be reviewed before the face to face session to ensure that students understand concepts highlighted.

Basic Concept of Normalisation

First Normal Form

Second Normal Form

Third Normal Form

Due date Tuesday 23:59
Estimated study time: 1 hour

FACE-TO-FACE

- Review week 5 quiz
- Highlight concepts related to normalisation.
- Group discussion on a Mini Case study inline with Normalisation

Task
Identify the fields/attributes that could formulate the database. Further, perform normalisation up to 3NF for the case. The resulting 3NF will be used in the face to face activity for week 8.

E-TIVITIES

E-tivity 6.1 (Mandatory)

The purpose of this e-tivity is to explore the process of normalisation. For this e-tivity, you will be required to perform the tasks listed below based on the running case. At the end of the topic, you will as an individual undertake normalisation upto 3NF.

Task 1
Keeping in mind e-tivities 3.3 and 4.1 from the previous weeks and the background of the running case (found in the learning resources - Week 4) you are required to read chapter 10, 11 and 12 of the Database Design course textbook covering ER Modelling, Functional Dependencies and Normalisation and chapter 13 of the Relational Database Systems - Why and How course textbook on Normalisation and Why it Matters.
As you go through the topic’s materials, be sure to capture and make summary notes in any format of your choice. You may also opt to notate keys aspects as you read through the materials. I am sure by now you know how to notate!!

Task 2
Upon completion of task 1 and keeping in mind of the running case tasks, attempt the following
1. Identify fields/attributes that will formulate a database for the case.
2. Determine the fields that could be used as unique fields.
3. Undertake the full process of normalisation to 3NF for Tender stores.

Due date Sunday 23:59
Estimated study time: 5 hours

Keep a copy of your work in your e-portfolio folder.

ASSESSMENT

: