ASSESSMENT TASK 3: PRESENTATION
OVERVIEW
In this task you are to record a presentation reporting on a research topic on database design and
development.
An induction day is being held for new students looking to enter Project Emerald 2021. These
students do not know what is covered in the project nor much about the topics covered in the subject.
As experienced students, this task requires you to prepare presentation slides using PowerPoint on
the topic chosen from the bank of topics given below under Part A. The topic is to be chosen through
vUWS by week 1. The choice of topic is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis on vUWS.
Student will have to choose a different topic if it has already chosen by another student.
This task consists of two parts:
• Part A: Prepare PowerPoint slides
• Part B: Pre-record the presentation.
DETAILS Weighting 25%
Type of collaboration Individual
Due dates Week 6 Wednesday 11:59 pm
Submission Online via vUWS
Format MS PowerPoint slides with coversheet
and .mp4 recording file
Length 5–10 minutes
Learning outcomes addressed 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Part A: Prepare PowerPoint slides
Your first task is to identify a suitable research topic to present to an audience of new students looking
to enrol in a database design and development subject. The research topic you select may be any
one of the topics below. If you wish to present a relevant topic that is not covered below, please
consult your teacher for approval.
Suggested research topics include (but are not limited to the following):
• The database development life cycle
• ANSI SPARC 3-level architecture and data independence
• 2-tier vs. n-tier database design
• The relational data model
• Database modelling
• (Enhanced) Entity relationship modelling
• Database normalisation explained by example
• An overview of concurrency control
• An overview of transaction management
• Advantages and disadvantages of views
• Database languages (DDL, DML)
• Structured Query Language (SQL)
• Database security best practices
• Comparison of relational database management systems
• Alternative database management systems
• Open source database software (eg MySQL, PostgreSQL, Firebird, MariaDB, etc.)
• Developing database apps for mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets (eg using Cellica,
etc.)
NoSQL database management systems (eg mongoDB)
• Database development tools for web development (eg AppGini)
• XML database
• Cloud based database development platforms (eg Caspio)
• Database design software (eg Workbench for MySQL, etc.)
• Data mining
• Current database trends
• Distributed database design
• Data warehousing
• Database security and backups
• Transaction management
• Relational algebra and its application to queries
• Key issues in normalisation
• Database administration issues.
With regards to the slides, here are some points to consider, but to which you are not limited.
• Define relevant key terms.
• Describe and conduct an in-depth analysis of all elements of your chosen topic.
• Explain how your topic either positively or negatively affects business.
• Use appropriate designs, visual aids, style, colour and diagrams/charts.
• Create the content of your presentation using PowerPoint.
• Select the font of your choice and ensure that it is easy to read and consistent.
• Ensure that your first slide is a title slide that uses the title slide layout for your chosen design
template. This slide should have your details, i.e. name, surname, student ID, and the topic of your
presentation.
• The core content of your slides should clearly state and explain the specific topic that has been
chosen by you.
• Use charts, tables, and images as part of/ to support your explanations.
• A reference list should be provided at the end of your presentation using the Harvard style.
• You are required to use at least four references with:
o one reference from a journal article,
o one reference from a book, and
o the remaining two references from:
– websites (not Wikipedia or any similar site with user-editable content),
– journal articles, and/or
– books.
