Information of Value Before the Semester Starts

Class Policy The class policy statement include rules about grading, due dates, withdrawals, etc. Class Policy statement

Credit/NoCredit Info on the option of taking this course as a (Pass/Fail) class

The midterm and final exam are in-person exams to be held on the Phelan campus on Saturday March 10 and Saturday May 19, 2012
The class has no other required in-person meetings.

Software Versions: This class uses Oracle 11g as installed on the CCSF student server. The easiest way to do the assignments for this class is to use the Oracle 11g system as provided by CCSF. When you are enrolled in the class you will have access to the Oracle software after the semester starts. You will need to download SQL Developer from Oracle; this is a free download and will be discussed in unit 4 of the class.

Get the textbook: Jason Price; Oracle Database 11g SQL; Oracle Press/Osborne Press/McGrawHill; ISBN: 978-0-07-149850-0. The list price is $50. (it discounts for about $30)
I post extensive notes for this class and most students rely on the notes first and the book second. I do not give assignments from the textbook

Email address: Your CCSF Email account Class email, including info on Insight and email I send you about adding from the Waitlist, is sent to the email account that CCSF displays on the class list. Check your email address from the Web4 page.

WaitList: This class has a waitlist set up. If the class is full when you try to enroll, add yourself to the waitlist. Waitlisted students will be added by the system if other students drop during the preregistration period. Refer to this Link for information on waitlists. I generally add all students on the waitlist. If you are on that waitlist, I will contact you at the start of the semester to see if you still want the class. Other requests for AddCodes will be handled after the waitlisted people.

NoShow Policy If you do not log into the Insight page for this class by Sunday Morning Jan 22 10:00 am, I will consider you a NoShow and may remove you from the class list and replace you with a student from the waitlist. Email me before that date if this is a problem and you want to continue in the class.

Insight Notes for my classes This is a document that explains the way my classes are set up on Insight; this is sufficient for most students to use Insight for this class. Remember that the class is not open to login until the semester starts. Orientation Notes

Plan: When are you going to do the work for this class?
Organization Ideas This is a 3 unit class so you need to set aside a period of time to work on the class material on at least two days during the week. This is not a "self-paced" class. There will be weekly readings and assignments will be due almost every week.

Software: Your software needs for CS 151A include a way to connect to the hills Unix server at CCSF in order to access Oracle and a way to upload and download files in order to run scripts for assignments.
Most of our students who use a windows based local computer use SSH Secure Shell which you can download from the CCSF site. This is a program that allows you to connect to a remote server and also has a drag-and-drop FTE client for uploading and downloading files.
Info on obtaining SSH Secure Shell is posted here SSH SecureShell. Students who use Mac computers usually use the built-in communication program to connect to the hills server. The ACRC lab recommends the use of the SFTP Fugu program to upload and download files. Information on Fugu can be obtained from the ACRC. Use the link here the ACRC handouts.

On the First Day or Two of Class, You Need to Do the Following

Log into the class Insight web site. Please click on this Orientation Link for info on Insight.

General Preparation for Classes

You can visit http://www.ccsf.edu/Departments/Distance_Education/students.htm to prepare for learning online.

Students who need academic accommodations should request them from the Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) located in the Rosenberg Library,Room 323 on the Ocean Campus. Telephone: 415-452-5481 (V) 415-452-5451 (TDD). DSPS is the campus office responsible for verifying disability-related need for academic accommodations, assessing that need, and planning accommodations in cooperation with students and instructors as needed and consistent with course requirements.

General Information for CS 151A

This is a first semester course in the use of Oracle SQL. This class focuses on the standard non-procedural SQL access to data in Oracle databases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why learn Oracle?
A: Oracle has been a major player in the database field for many years. Many companies use Oracle because it is designed to handle multi-user system with a high degree of security. Oracle keeps developing and improving their database systems while maintaining backwards compatibility.

Q: Why learn SQL?
A: Most companies store their data on a database. If you are going to work with computer systems you will be working with databases. SQL is the standard language for working with a database. Using SQL is a much different approach to accessing data than the traditional programming approach. The different companies that produce database systems have different versions of SQL. It is helpful to know more than one version so that you start to see how a "standardized language" varies by vendor.

Q: What background do I need for this class?
A: There is no specific prerequisite for this class but I do assume that you have some basic computer experience.

Q: What if I have already taken another SQL class or a database programming class? Is this worth my time?
A: That is a bit harder to answer in general. I have found that many students need to learn SQL at least twice to really understand it. Often you do not fully understand the initial concepts until the end of the semester. And with Oracle SQL we have a chance to look at some fairly complex SQL concepts such as the analytical functions, hierarchical queries, user-defined-types in tables, XML data and functions.

Q: What about writing procedures in Oracle?
A: If you want to learn Oracle? programming concepts usinf PL/SQL, the class you want is CS 151P.
CS 151P is generally offered every third semester and is being offered Spring 2012

Q: Which version of Oracle are we using?
A: Currently we are using Oracle 11g.