After 90 min: Ability to extract, filter, and analyze data from a real database
Design a Relational Database
After 90 min: A properly structured database for a real application or business problem
Design a Relational Database is a technical skill that opens real doors once you have it. This 90-minute plan is ideal for learners with some foundation — you can complete it from the comfort of home with the materials listed above, no special background required. The goal is not to leave you with theoretical knowledge but with a tangible, lived experience: by the end of this session, you will a properly structured database for a real application or business problem. That concrete outcome is what separates structured plans from casual self-study — you always know what you're working toward and whether you've arrived.
The session moves through 5 carefully ordered steps, covering understand normalization, define entities, create er diagram, and implement database. Each block has a specific time window so you know exactly how long to spend before moving on. The sequencing is intentional: early steps build foundational awareness and muscle memory, while later steps apply those fundamentals under slightly more demanding conditions — the same way a skilled instructor would structure a first lesson. By the time you reach the final step, you will have touched every core element of design a relational database at least once.
One thing most beginners miss: Think about queries before designing. Avoid unnecessary joins. Use meaningful names. Keeping that in mind throughout the session will dramatically improve your results. After this 90-minute foundation session, you'll have a clear picture of which aspects of databases feel natural and which need more deliberate practice. That self-knowledge is the most valuable thing you take away — it turns a one-off session into the start of a genuine learning path.
What you need
The 90-Minute Plan
Learn about database normalization rules (1NF, 2NF, 3NF) to avoid data redundancy.
Identify tables and columns for your application. List all attributes needed.
Draw entity relationships using a tool. Show primary and foreign keys.
Write CREATE TABLE statements. Set up constraints and indexes.
Insert sample data. Test relationships. Next: optimize with indexes.
Think about queries before designing. Avoid unnecessary joins. Use meaningful names.
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