Introduction to Databases & SQL

Course outline and learning expectations

This is a tutor-led course. The outline shows what your tutor will cover; teaching materials and examinations are provided directly to enrolled students.

What you will learn

• Explain relational database concepts and why organisations use databases
• Design a simple schema using tables, fields, primary keys, foreign keys and relationships
• Create and manage a SQLite database
• Write SQL queries using SELECT, WHERE, ORDER BY and aggregate functions
• Combine related data using INNER JOIN and LEFT JOIN
• Insert, update and delete records safely
• Use Python sqlite3 with parameterised queries and transactions
• Connect a database to a small Python application
• Apply basic privacy, access and ethical data-handling practices
• Design, query and present a database for a practical African use case

Modules

1. 1

   Database foundations and local use cases

   Understand relational databases and why organisations use them

   What is a databaseRelational database conceptsTables, rows and columnsPrimary keysSACCO, school and small-business examples
2. 2

   SQL querying foundations

   Retrieve and filter data from a table

   SQLite workspaceSELECTColumn aliasesDISTINCTWHEREComparison and logical operators
3. 3

   Sorting, summarising and joining data

   Create useful reports from related tables

   ORDER BYLIMITAggregate functionsGROUP BY basicsINNER JOINLEFT JOIN
4. 4

   Simple database schema design

   Turn real requirements into clear related tables

   Entities and attributesPrimary and foreign keysOne-to-many relationshipsData typesConstraintsBasic normalisation
5. 5

   SQLite with Python

   Create, query and update a database from Python

   Python sqlite3 moduleConnections and cursorsCREATE TABLEINSERT, UPDATE and DELETEParameterised queriesTransactions and error handling
6. 6

   Connecting a database to a small app

   Build a simple data-driven application workflow

   Command-line or simple form inputCRUD operationsInput validationSearch and reportingSeparating database codeTesting common workflows
7. 7

   Data privacy and ethics

   Handle personal and organisational data responsibly

   Uganda data protection and privacy principlesData minimisationConsent and purposeAccess controlBackups and retentionSafe test data
8. 8

   Capstone database project

   Design and query a practical database for an African use case

   RequirementsSchema and relationshipsSample dataSQL queries and reportsPython connectionPrivacy reviewProject demonstration