That being the case maybe it is time to go to the Head of Department, or the Dean. This sort of approach by the instructor isa totally unreasonable - unless he wants to specify some more pre-reqisites for the course.

Put it this way, when I was lecturing postgraduates if I had done this I would have expected a trip to the academic board - and would consider I had got off lightly with just a reprimand.

I appreciate your plea, that you want to do your own. I can offer no better assistance than the directions you have already been pointed in. Much of what is written will refer to other DB's, but that should be of little issue. I might also suggest "MySQL and Perl for the WEB" by Paul duBois. Paul has a very easy to read style and is full of good info. It should not be a great jump to Oracle after that.

Good Luck

jdtoronto