Globey’s World
Status Report
Project Number Ongo-08b
Client: Ames Community Schools
Faculty Advisors:
Dr. John Lamont
Professor Ralph Patterson
CprE/EE 492 Team Members:
Brett Gwinn
Kiat-Ee Hui
CprE/EE 491 Team Member:
Samantha Olson
DISCLAIMER: This document was developed as a part of the requirements of an electrical and computer engineering course at IowaStateUniversity, Ames, Iowa. This document does not constitute a professional engineering design or a professional land-surveying document. Although the information is intended to be accurate, the associated students, faculty, and IowaStateUniversity make no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, quality, or adequacy of the information. The user of this document shall ensure that any such use does not violate any laws with regard to professional licensing and certification requirements. This use includes any work resulting from this student-prepared document that is required to be under the responsible charge of a licensed engineer or surveyor. This document is copyrighted by the students who produced this document and the associated faculty advisors. No part may be reproduced without the written permission of the senior design course coordinator.
April 1, 2005
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Ongo-08b Status ReportSenior DesignRevision 1.2
Table of Contents
Introductory Materials
Executive Summary
Acknowledgements
Problem Statement
Operating Environment
Intended Users and Uses
Assumptions and Limitations
End-Product Description
Project Accomplishments and Status
Previous accomplishments
Present Accomplishments Spring 2004
Future Required Activities
Current Project and End-Product Status
Recommendation for Continued Effort
Documentation of Current Efforts and Results
Project Definition Activities Not applicable
Design Activities
Testing and Modification Activities
Resources and Schedules
Resource Requirements
Closure Materials
Lessons Learned
Risks and Risk Management
References
Appendix A – Ongo-08 automatic backup script
Purpose
Location
Usage
Output File(s)
List of Figures
Figure 1: Client-Server Relationship...... 3
Figure 2: Globey’s World Prototype...... 6
Figure 3: Globey’s World web application, in MySQL and PHP...... 7
Figure 4: Globey’s new look...... 8
Figure 5: Prototype of new country comparison page...... 9
Figure 6: New country comparison page...... 10
Figure 7: Old country comparison page...... 10
Figure 8: Screenshot of Globey’s World Homepage...... 11
Figure 9: Globey’s World Region Page...... 11
Figure 10: Single Sign-on Page for Ongo-08...... 12
Figure 11: Updated Globey’s World Country Page...... 13
Figure 13: Original deliverables Gantt chart for fall 2004...... 19
Figure 14: Revised project tasks Gantt chart for fall 2004...... 20
Figure 14: Revised project tasks Gantt chart for fall 2004...... 20
List of Tables
Table 1: Original estimated effort budget for fall 2004 semester (Hours)...... 17
Table 2: To-date effort budget for fall 2004 semester (Hours)...... 18
Table 3: Estimated financial budget for fall 2004 semester...... 18
Table 4: To-date financial budget for fall 2004 semester...... 19
List of Definitions
Term / DefinitionACS / Ames Community Schools
Apache / Software product that serves web pages to clients requesting them. Apache can be used in conjunction with PHP in order to produce dynamic web pages that are built and delivered to the requesting client on the fly.
CGI scripts / Perl scripts that do server-side processing of html pages, which are to be served to a web browser. These can be run on a Windows-based server, or any Unix variant.
CIA / Central Intelligence Agency of the U.S. Government
CLUE / College Level Unified Environment.
Cron / Cron is the name of program that enables Unix users to execute commands or scripts (groups of commands) automatically at a specified time and date.
CSG / Computer support group in Coover Hall.
CSS / Cascading style sheets – name of a web standard for external documents that format HTML.
DBI / Database interface for Perl, used to connect Perl scripts to MySQL (or many other types) databases.
FT / Framework team - one of the subprojects of the Ongo-08 project; Ongo-08d.
GUI / Graphical user interface - what the user looks at and interacts with while using the software.
GW / Globey’s World - one of the subprojects of the Ongo-08 project; Ongo-08b.
HTML / Hyper-Text Markup Language – the language used to describe the formatting and presentation of a web page.
IRP / Industrial review panel.
LAMP / Linux – Apache – MySQL – PHP
Linux / Open-source operating system that is optimized for use as a web application server.
MTSS / Acronym for Mathematical Teaching Software System - one of the subprojects of the Ongo-08 project; Ongo-08a.
MySQL / Open-source implementation of an SQL server.
Perl / Practical Extraction and Reporting Language commonly used for pattern matching and text processing.
PHP / Pseudo-acronym for Hypertext Preprocessor. A computer language that enables Apache web server to dynamically generate HTML documents.
SQL / Structured Query Language – the language used to retrieve information from SQL-compliant databases.
UCS / United CommunitySchool District.
USA / Uncle Sam’s America - one of the subprojects of the Ongo-08 project; Ongo-08c.
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Ongo-08b Status ReportSenior DesignRevision 1.2
Introductory Materials
This section will discuss the executive summary, which summarizes the project, the results to date, and work to be completed. The problem statement, operating environment, intended users and uses, assumptions and limitations, and the end-product description will also be discussed.
Executive Summary
This section will summarize the need for Globey’s World (GW), past accomplishments, present accomplishments, and future goals.
Need for Globey’s World
The GW project addresses the need to teach geography and other academic areas to students in grades three through six. The project provides a solution that is easier to use and more effective than physical reference material. In order to accomplish this, GW is designed to be an interactive and entertaining software tool. In the end, the product will lead the student to a greater understanding of the subject matter due to direct involvement with the subject matter and through problem-solving materials.
What is Globey’s World?
GW is an interactive, web-based software tool designed to supplement the student’s understanding of geography and math. The system uses PHP scripting to create an environment in which students can interact with the program by clicking on buttons and menu items to activate informational pages and comparisons. Additionally, students will be able to access problem sets and answer geographical and mathematical questions related to the material presented. Administrators and teachers may manage these problem sets with the future quiz building functionality.
Past Achievements
Prior to the fall 2002 semester, GW was designed as a stand-alone interactive geography tool. At that time, the stand-alone version was completed and passed on to members of the MTSS team (Ongo-08a) as a sub-project. In the fall of 2002, the look of the system was changed including a new logo and an improved web interface. At this point, the product originally intended by the GW team had been effectively realized. The spring 2003 team focused their efforts on correcting country database entries, implementing and improving the country comparison page, and providing an in depth online help system. The country comparison page and the help page were further improved in the fall of 2003. Furthermore, new maps have been implemented, replacing the previous maps used, in order to develop a much-improved GW user interface. In the spring 2004 semester, the overall look of GW was improved by converting the page layout from frames to tables and implementing CSS to provide a common look and feel throughout the site. The basic levels of the framework were implemented as well. Grading functionality was added in the fall of 2004, giving users with the required access level the ability to create and display quizzes. In addition, a single sign-on page was implemented to allow users to traverse applications without logging in multiple times.
Current Achievements
The GW team’s primary focus this semester has been to implement the grading functionality developed by the FT throughout the previous semester. The work to implement the grading functionality has been divided among the sub-teams of Ongo-08. Each team has been working on a specific portion and will then pass that off to the remaining sub-teams to implement in their own database. In addition to the implementation of the grading functionality, GW has also been focused on testing. Each team of Ongo-08 worked to finalize the alpha testing on their application as well as lay the foundation for future beta testing by outside clients. The teams also designed a system by which bug reports can be managed, as well as a small manual that can be sent to testers along with the application.
Future Goals
The GW team’s work is nearing completion. In the next semester, GW and USA will merge to finalize their applications. This will primarily include aesthetic issues and the implementation of games. Other issues that could be addressed include grade book improvements, further testing support and addressing bugs that may arise, and possibly improving the database interface such that it updates the data automatically as it changes in the CIA database.
Acknowledgements
The GW team would like to extend thanks to Dr. John Lamont and Professor Ralph Patterson, the faculty advisors, for the guidance they have provided and will continue to offer throughout this project. Also, thanks to the EE/CprE 492 team members for their invaluable help and advice and the EE/CprE 491 team members for their hard work and perseverance during their first Senior Design semester. Lastly, thank you to the teachers of the AmesCommunitySchool District, who will be providing guidance toward the final product.
Problem Statement
This section will summarize the general problem statement for GW and discuss the development team’s solution for the problem.
General Problem Statement
GW offers students a chance to learn more about world geography through an interactive software system.Students can follow the series of maps to find out information on any country of their choice. The system includes a rich database of statistics about each individual country. GW gives students an opportunity to learn more about the world while simultaneously developing their mathematical skills through carefully planned exercises involving comparisons of nations’ statistical data. The primary challenge is to work with the framework team in fully integrating GW with their design. The secondary challenge is to provide a working version of GW, complete with grading functionality, to the client by the end of the spring 2005 semester.
General Solution Approach
The new team members become well versed in PHP programming at the beginning of each semester to fully participate in the implementation of the framework provided by Ongo-08d. Time has also been devoted this semester to implementing the full grading functionality. Additional time has been set aside for minor site updates that were not completed in the previous semester.
Technical Problem
GW will utilize dynamic web pages written using PHP, SQL, and HTML. A server will store all the geographic data, math problems and student results. Each student will sit at their own computer, referred to as a client, where they will solve the problems. The server will talk to the clients via the Internet. This relationship is shown in Figure 1. Based on the information provided by the client, the server will generate a specialized webpage for that particular client. A benefit of this approach is that each student can work at his/her own pace.
Figure 1: Client-Server Relationship
Operating Environment
GW will exist and run on LAMP architecture. The web application code will be written in PHP, which runs as a module to the popular and powerful Apache web server. The software will use MySQL as its database backend and run in the Linux operating system. This will provide a powerful open-standards environment for the web application to exist.
Intended Users and Uses
This section will summarize the intended users and uses of Globey’s World.
Intended Users
The intended users for GW are students in grades three through six. Aside from the benefits seen by students, parents, teachers, and school administrators will also benefit. Parents will benefit due to the tool their children have to reinforce the skills they are learning during class time. Teachers and school administrators will see improved standardized test scores as well as improved understanding by the students.
Intended Uses
The purpose of GW is to enable students to learn world geography in a computer-based environment. Through this software students will have the ability to learn the diverse nature of countries including data such as population, land area, national flags, national anthems, natural resources, religions, manufactured products, and form of government.
Assumptions and Limitations
As with any large-scale project, there are assumptions and limitations to the design and development. These include technical and non-technical assumptions as well as challenges and limitations, which are all listed below.
Technical assumptions include the following:
- Clients are operating Internet Explorer (Version 6.0 or later) or Netscape (Version 6.0 or later).
- All client computers are connected to the Internet.
- Have a developed PHP framework to support a set of Internet educational activities.
- Internet connection and Internet bandwidth are sufficient.
- Computer/processor speed of the client machines.
Non-technical assumptions include the following:
- There will be adequate supervision with computer experience to assist the students when they are operating the system.
- The students have been exposed to the world geography topics prior to their initial use of the software. This software shall be a supplement to classroom instruction.
Challenges and limitations to development include the following:
- Team members must learn and become comfortable with PHP and MySQL.
- Primary students may not have much prior experience using computers. The client software must be easy to understand.
- Younger students may not know how to type. GW should provide means for feedback appropriate for their age level.
- Computers are not really interactive. They only respond to predefined commands. The commands available to students must make the computer appear alive. For example, when asked for a hint, the computer will supply one it has not previously supplied. When asked to picture the problem, the computer will display a figure relevant to the problem and may allow the students to rotate the figure as they see fit.
End-Product Description
At project completion, the end-product will be a web application that will be a supplement for teachers to use while teaching world geography. The application will have an extensive help system and full quizzing functionality. GW will also integrate with MTSS and USA by utilizing the framework currently being built by the FT.Students will be able to login and use any of the three applications. They will be able to first learn about geography, and then solve problems based on selected topics. Teachers, administrators, and parents will be able to access student statistics in order to gauge student performance. Teachers will also be able to add to the applications in the form of creating additional problems for students to solve.
Project Accomplishments and Status
This section outlines the previous work, present accomplishments, and any remaining work for future teams.
Previous Accomplishments
The past accomplishments for Globey’s World are outlined in the following sections.
Spring 2001
Creation of GW prototype: A Visual Basic, stand-alone application consisting of a world page, country page, and comparison page. Figure 2 shows this original prototype.
Figure 2: Globey’s World Prototype
Successes: Creating the standalone application developed a detailed blueprint for how the final application should operate. Application parameters and objectives were defined as well as the overall direction that GW would take.
Failures: Although it was a suitable prototype, the application took too long to start and was too memory intensive. Interactivity of the Globey character was not fully realized.
Fall 2001/Spring 2002
After realizing the limitations of Visual Basic and the portability of the application, it was decided to implement GW with the web-based LAMP technologies mentioned earlier. Figure 3 shows a screenshot of the original web-based design of GW.
Figure 3: Globey’s World web application, in MySQL and PHP
Successes: Imported stand-alone application to web technologies, including the creation of a MySQL database of country data accessed over the web via webpages written primarily in PHP.
Failures: Database riddled with typographical errata; minimal interaction with school administrators and teachers; aside from comparison page, a general lack of mathematical-related content. Overall presentation could use more polish. Did not leave database and machine passwords readily available for future team members.
Fall 2002
With a basic framework in place, the fall 2002 team worked on adding polish to the overall feel of GW. Figure 4 shows a screenshot of the improvements. The team updated the graphics to make Globey more presentable, and identified 50 possible mathematical integration ideas to add to GW. They also identified changes to the database that needed to be made in the future. Finally, the team leaders of all the Ongo-08 sub-teams created a cookbook for future teams to use as a reference.