A light-weight software engineering approach to developing small-scale information systems using .NET 2.0

Abstract

Applied database management systems (DBMS) courses that require information systems projects present formidable challenges to both students and instructors. Students assume the twin responsibilities of (1) learning major theoretical concepts (e.g. the relational model, data modeling, database design, and standard structured query language (SQL)) while (2) mastering the syntax and semantics of a specific complex technology (e.g. MySQL, Oracle, MSSQL). Dealing with the project problem domain also adds to demands on student time and understanding. Consequently, instructors are increasingly challenged to organize course content, technology instruction, and project resources so that students can complete non-trivial course projects in a reasonable time frame. This tutorial will introduce a light-weight software engineering approach to guiding student project development in an introductory database management systems course. This iterative and incremental approach to database programming projects is predicated on the database application principle of firm separation of logic via the N-tier model and the software engineering tenet of well-specified requirements. Students enrolled in an introductory DBMS course follow this methodology to complete GUI client/server team projects. Database and software engineering skills and understanding developed in this course are then applied to more substantive 2- and 3-tier individual projects in an advanced DBMS course and team projects in a capstone software engineering course.