Course Guide - Just getting started with D427?
This Course Guide provides a study plan and course pacing
information. It also provides extra tips and resources for the performance assessment, including how to avoid common
mistakes that often lead to having to make revisions.
D427 DATA MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS
Welcome, Study Plan and Course Pacing Guide!
last update: 1.18.23
NOT SURE WHERE TO START IN THE COURSE?? You are in the right place!
Your D427 instructor team has put together the following guide full of resources and course tips
to help you get the most out of this course and to help you pass the course in the most efficient
way possible!
In this course you’ll be learning how to use the Structured Query Language (SQL) to create
database objects and to retrieve data from a database. You’ll also learn about database design
and database indexing to make SQL queries more efficient.
You will be completing 1 Hybrid Objective Assessment. This assessment includes multiple-
choice questions and questions that will require you to perform tasks including the following:
• Normalizing a dataset through third normal form. Commented [EL1]: Suggest spelling this out: “third
• Defining relationships between tables (one-to-one, one-to-many, or many-to-many). normal form”
• Writing SQL Statements such as CREATE TABLE, INSERT, CREATE VIEW, CREATE INDEX, Commented [MS2R1]: @Eric Lagally - Thank you, Eric.
I've made the suggested changes.
SELECT-FROM-WHERE and SELECT statements that join one or more tables.
D427 STUDY PLAN OUTLINE
This study plan outline is a result of student feedback on
what has helped your fellow Night Owls be successful!
Many students find that the most efficient way to
complete this course is to follow this sequence:
Review the lessons.
Take the pre-Assessment.
Review any weak areas from your coaching report.
Take the objective Assessment.
D427 RECOMMENDED STUDY PLAN
(with Tips and Extra Resources!)
The study plan below has helped many students in the course be successful. However,
everyone learns differently. Please schedule time to speak with your course instructor to
discuss building a customized study plan that works best for you!
1. Complete the lessons. You will find hands-on labs in each lesson that will help solidify what
you are learning.
Prioritized Chapters/Sections:
Chapter 1: All
Chapter 2: All
Chapter 3: Section 3.6
Chapter 4: 4.1 – 4.4, 4.6, 4.10 – 4.12, 4.15
Chapter 5: 5.2 thru 5.4, 5.6, 5.10-5.12
Chapter 6 and 7
2. Take the Pre-assessment and then use your coaching report to determine if any areas need
further review. The table below may be helpful in determining which lessons are linked to
each section of the coaching report:
Coaching Report Sections Corresponding ZyBooks Lesson(s)
Section 1 on Coaching Report Lesson 1 – Relational Databases
(Implements Databases and Database Lesson 4 – Database Design
Management Systems – 29%) Lesson 5 – Data Storage
Lesson 6 – Case Study
Section 2 on Coaching Report Lesson 1 – Relational Databases
(Queries Tables and Views – 19%) Lesson 2 – Structured Query Language
Lesson 7 – SQL Labs Practice
Section 3 on Coaching Report Lesson 1 – Relational Databases
(Create Data Manipulation Language Lesson 2 – Structured Query Language
Statements – 31%) Lesson 7 – SQL Labs Practice
Section 4 on Coaching Report Lesson 2 – Structured Query Language
(Implements Joins and Aggregate Lesson 7 – SQL Labs Practice
Functions – 21%)
3. Take and pass the Objective Assessment
If you need additional help: call, email or set up a time to meet with your course
instructor, or use the list of supplemental resources for each section on the following
pages!
D427 COURSE PACING GUIDE
The amount of time any course will take you to complete depends on many factors, including
your background, previous experience with the course material, and the amount of time you
can devote to studying. Many students are able to complete this course in 4 weeks. To help
you stay motivated while making progress toward your goals, your course instructor group has
put together a 28 Day Challenge! for this course. To meet the challenge, we suggest the
following pacing:
Week 1: Chapters 1, 2, and 3 (prioritized sections) - Take the D427
read chapters, complete chapter 2 labs
Data Management
Week 2: Chapters 4, 5, and 6 (prioritized sections) - Applications
read chapters, complete chapter 6 labs
28-Day Challenge!
Week 3: Chapter 7 - read chapter, complete labs;
Complete Performance Assessment. Please review the
information in this document to avoid Common Pitfalls
that result in tasks being returned for revisions.
Week 4: Take the Pre-assessment and review areas
from the coaching report that are below the `
competency mark. Take the Objective Assessment.
If you need longer than 4 weeks take the extra time needed to review chapters or complete the
exams (4-6 weeks).
Don’t forget, your course instructor is here to help! If this plan doesn’t fit well with the amount
of time you believe you’ll need for this course, be sure to contact your course instructor to
discuss a customized pacing plan that will work for you!
Where to Get Help … for Each Section of the Assessment!
1) Implements Databases and Database Management Systems – 29% of the assessment
• LinkedIn Learning Video Series – MySQL Essential Training
• Datacamp – Intermediate SQL (Choose Sign in with Google and then enter WGU email
address.)
• MySQL Data Types
• DDL / DML
• Entity Relationship Modeling recording - unary relationships discussed near the end of the
recording.
• Dr. Daniel Soper – Database Indexes (video)
• Indexes for query optimization
2) Queries Tables and Views – 19% of the assessment
• LinkedIn Learning Video Series – MySQL Essential Training
• Datacamp – Intermediate SQL (Choose Sign in with Google and then enter WGU email
address.)
• CREATE TABLE
• ALTER TABLE
• DROP TABLE
• CREATE VIEW
• ALTER VIEW
• DROP VIEW
• Creating a foreign key reference statement
3) Creates Data Manipulation Language Statements – 31% of the assessment
• LinkedIn Learning Video Series – MySQL Essential Training
• Datacamp – Intermediate SQL (Choose Sign in with Google and then enter WGU email
address.)
• ALTER TABLE
• CREATE INDEX/CREATE UNIQUE INDEX/DROP INDEX
• INSERT INTO
• UPDATE
• DELETE
4) Implements Joins and Aggregate Functions – 21% of the assessment
• LinkedIn Learning Video Series – MySQL Essential Training
• Datacamp – Intermediate SQL (Choose Sign in with Google and then enter WGU email
address.)
• SELECT
• SELECT DISTINCT
• GROUP BY
• HAVING Clause
• Subquery - Difference between row subquery and table subquery
• ORDER BY
• JOIN
• Aggregate functions – SUM, AVG, and COUNT
• Left joins / Right Joins / Outer Joins - Examples
