Relational Model, Keys & Constraints: 5 Critical-Thinking Case Studies

Help students develop deeper understanding of the relational model, keys, and database constraints through 5 realistic, critical-thinking case studies.

Rather than simply asking students to define database terminology, these activities require them to examine realistic scenarios, identify design problems, evaluate alternatives, and justify their database-design decisions.

Students explore:

• Choosing appropriate primary and composite keys
• Understanding candidate keys and uniqueness
• Using foreign keys and maintaining referential integrity
• Identifying and applying database constraints
• Reasoning about NULL values and missing data
• Distinguishing primary-key requirements from additional business rules
• Evaluating database designs and explaining why a proposed solution may fail

The 5 case studies cover different contexts, including university course registration, course databases, student records, and a university library borrowing system.

The resource includes:

• 5 student case studies with realistic scenarios and critical-thinking questions
• Critical-thinking challenges that require students to justify their reasoning
• A concise instructor guide with suggested answers and key teaching points
• Activities designed to encourage logical reasoning and database-design thinking rather than SQL implementation

Suitable for Computer Science, Computing, Database Systems, DBMS, and introductory Database Design courses.