The subject is oriented so that the student takes an active role in their own learning process. The teaching methodology is designed to make the subject dynamic and participatory. Lectures are combined with exercises and activities in class, as well as projects guided by the teachers of the subject.

The course lasts for two semesters, and each semester consists of two distinct parts: the theoretical part and the practical part. During the first weeks of each semester the theoretical part will be taught which consist of lectures and exercises from the professor to enable the student to acquire the knowledge. The professor provides exercises and the student takes notes and/or complete the supporting exercises. Students are expected to participate in the form of asking relevant questions or answering the questions and exercises set by the professor. In addition, practical classes that involve problem solving and / or decision making using the knowledge learned in theory are included. Specific equipment can be used, such as a computer. The teacher can invite the student to participate in class in order to assess the acquisition and / or interpretation of the concepts presented. There will be exercises to do outside the class sessions that the student will submit online.

In the second part of each semester, the subject is based on project-based learning methodology. The knowledge gained during the first part of the semester is consolidated by carrying out an almost real project of design, implementation and use of a database.

Laboratories

The practical sessions are learning sessions that aim to support and encourage the necessary and essential progression in order to successfully overcome both the realization of the projects of the subject and demonstrate contents of the subject. In these sessions, extra or complementary content will be presented that will help to consolidate the contents taught in the theory sessions as well as to carry out the projects of the subject. Periodically, the students will be expected to work in class and deliver an exercise.

The operation and the regulations of the practical sessions are described below:

• In each laboratory session, a practical exercise to be solved related to the concepts seen in the theory session will be set.
• Students will have to solve each exercise individually and submit the solution in the EStudy before the delivery date specified in the statement. Late delivery of the exercises will not be accepted.
• The Lab_grade will be calculated as the arithmetic mean of 85% of the best marks obtained in the exercises if all the exercises have at least a 4, otherwise the Lab_grade will be the lowest grade (<4).
• Exercises not delivered or with a mark lower than 4 can be retaken with a maximum mark of 5 in the extraordinary call.

Projects

The projects of the subject Database Systems are very important within the contents of the subject. There are various reasons, namely: the practical application of the theoretical concepts explained in the lecture classes, the demonstration of the student’s ability to design and implement systems of a certain volume of data, and the application of conceptual contents of databases. That is why the projects of the subject require a significant effort in terms of student’s dedication and will be monitored by the teachers in class sessions.

The basic rules that must be respected with regard to the development of projects are the following:

1. The projects of the subject are carried out in groups of 4 students enrolled in the subject. As an exception, there may be groups of 3 students depending on the total number of students enrolled in the subject.
2. Doing the project in groups is mandatory, and teachers must be notified before the PBL (Project Based Learning) sessions of composition of each group so that a project group number and other technical resources can be assigned. After this date, the creation of new groups is no longer be allowed.
3. Project groups may be different for the first and second project.
4. Group changes will be accepted for justified reasons before half of the PBL sessions have elapsed.
5. It is essential to have a group number assigned to be able to choose to present the project.
6. The later a project is submitted, the more penalties in the maximum grade would be applied. This will be detailed in the same task instructions of the project.
7. In order for a delivery to be accepted and to be qualified, 5 requirements must be met:
a. It must have been delivered to the corresponding project delivery folder (with the indicated format) before the corresponding deadline.
b. It must be properly structured and have the corresponding internal documentation.
c. It must have a correct memory.
d. Everything requested in the statement must work correctly.
e. The group that presents the project must pass an interview where they have to show individually a thorough knowledge of the project as a whole.
8. The interview grade may affect the project grade of a group member individually.
9. In the event of not having any of the projects approved, the students can re-submit in the extraordinary call.