GeekAustin MySQL Certification Class starts Tuesday, May 18th

This year's GeekAustin MySQL Associate Certification Class begins Tuesday, May 18th. The class will meet every Tuesday at 7PM for ten weeks, and is taught by Mark Lehmann and Boyd Hempill.

The goal of the class is to prepare you to pass the MySQL Associate Certification (CMA). However, if you are simply looking to learn about MySQL from a couple of pros who have been working with it for years, this is also an excellent opportunity.

The class will be held at Cospace, on Anderson Rd. and Lamar. (directions)

The cost of the class will be $50. (Compare this to $1900 for the "official" class). This covers the cost of the facilities and materials. You may split this into two payments ($25 for the first five classes, $25 for the second five classes). You can pay by cash or check at the first class, or if you prefer, we can provide a paypal link. Needless to say, GeekAustin offers this class as a community service.

This is the tentative syllabus and requirements for the class.

Google Group for the class
http://groups.google.com/group/geekaustin-mysql-class

Book
MySQL® 5.0 Certification Study Guide
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0672328127/
Safari: http://my.safaribooksonline.com/0672328127

If you don't mind reading the book online, at Safari you can read the certification manual plus four other books for ten dollars a month. (You have to sign up for the $20 plan, then once you login, switch to the hidden $10 plan).

Dates/Times

* First Class 18th of May
* Every Tuesday
* Time: 7pm to 9pm

Prerequisites

* 3 months experience working with MySQL
* Understand use of MySQL command line client
* Write basic DML statements (insert, update, delete)
* Understand how to create and drop tables

Expectations

* Must have a laptop with MySQL installed.
* Own a copy of the MySQL 5.0 certification guide
* Must commit to doing reading before coming to class.

Format

For the first six weeks, classes will be roughly two hours with two 20
minute labs. The next three weeks will be practicums on key topics
(disaster recovery,schema design, use of the information schema). The
final week will simply be a Q&A cram session.

Schedule

• May 18
  o Reading: 1,7,9,11
  o Topics:
  + use of the mysql command line client
  + use of the mysqldump client
  + installing the world and sakila databases.
  + basic select queries
  + open discussion of work related issues
• May 25
  o Reading: 9,10
  o Topics
  + SQL DML (insert,update,delete,select)
• June 1
  o Reading: 5,8
  o Topics:
  + database object creation (tables)
  + data types
• June 8
  o Reading: 5,8,14
  o Topics:
  + database object creation (tables, views, indexes)
  + data types
• June 15
  o Reading: 5,8,14,29
  o Topics:
  + database object creation
  + data types
  + storage engines
• June 22
  o Reading 15,32
  o Topics:
  + Import & Export
  + Backup and Recovery
• June 29
  o Reading: http://www.zmanda.com/backup-mysql.html,
  o Reading: white papers from here: http://network.zmanda.com/zrm-whitepapers.php
  o Practicum: Developing and Implementing Disaster Recovery
  Measures for When not If.
• July 6
  o Reading: http://www.mysql.com/products/workbench/
  o Reading: http://www.mysql.com/why-mysql/white-papers/mysql-wp-workbench.php
  o Practicum: Designing schema while considering
  requirements, normalization, data types, indexing, and change
  management.
• July 13
  o Reading: 31
  o Practicum: Uses of the information schema in the life of
  a DBA.
• July 20
  o Reading: Review all above chapters (minus practicum
  readings)
  o Topics:
  + How to register for the test (bring your credit
  card)
  + Cram session
  + Go over available example questions

For questions or further details about this or other GeekAustin classes, send a note to classes@geekaustin.org.