K-12 Teaching K-12 Teaching Application Support and Application Support and

SoftwareSoftwareOngo-08Ongo-08

ClientClientAmes Community SchoolsAmes Community Schools

AdvisorsAdvisorsDr. John W. LamontDr. John W. Lamont

Professor Ralph PattersonProfessor Ralph Patterson

Tuesday November 08, 2005Tuesday November 08, 2005

Tiffany SchweerTeam Leader

Jennifer CarlsonCommunications

Coordinator

David WireMTSS

Laurie BidrawnGW/USA

Samantha OlsonGW/USA

Nichole DuganSASF

Aaron Hurd

Sara Murphy

Michael Fong

John Saterfiel

Dustin Fee

Jennifer Carlson

Nathan Evans

Nathan Gordon

Parikshit Advani

Dominic Kuk

E. Ryan Adamson

TerminologyTerminology• API• ASP ASP.NET CVS FW GW MTSS MySQL PHP

• PSA SASF SQL USA

Introductory MaterialsIntroductory Materials

History LessonProblem StatementOperating EnvironmentIntended Users & UsesAssumptions & LimitationsEnd Product & Deliverables

History LessonHistory Lesson

MTSS started as a design projectGW and USA began as separate

projectsThe three projects combined

because of their similar goalsThe Framework team was created

to help manage the three projects

Problem Statement (1/3)Problem Statement (1/3) General Purpose - design Internet-based teaching

software applications teaching mathematical problem solving and geography

Provide children in elementary school grades 3-6 the opportunity to exercise their computer skills while learning about important lessons

Applications– MTSS – Math– GW & USA – Geography– Framework – Web Tools

Problem Statement (2/3)Problem Statement (2/3)

Proposed Approach – Create Web-Based Software

Accessible from the students’ own computer Accessible via the Internet

– Populate a Database Example Problems Homework Problems Practice Quizzes Performance Quizzes

Problem Statement (3/3)Problem Statement (3/3) Proposed Approach Continued

– MTSS Create an algorithm to teach the students the problem solving

process Provide quizzing and homework problems

– GW and USA Provide educational games Provide facts and comparisons for different geographical locations

– Framework Support web tools which will aid the students and teachers with

scores, quizzes, and lessons Framework created with PHP, SQL, and HTML

Operating EnvironmentOperating Environment

PHP Script

Engine

Database

Server

Teachers

PHP Webpage

My SQL DB

Students Administrators

Internet

Intended UsersIntended Users

Elementary students grades 3-6Teachers Elementary school administratorsParents of students

Intended UsesIntended Uses Supplemental tool for students in the areas of:

– Math– US Geography– World Geography

Quizzing tool Supplemental homework Track students’ progress

AssumptionsAssumptions Internet Explorer Version 6.0 or Netscape Version

7.0 Client connected to the Internet Supplement to classroom instruction Adequate supervision to help students with

computer and application problems Not intended to be written to accommodate

handicapped children Can be used at home and in the classroom Frame work will have high stability All team members will have access to the server

LimitationsLimitations New team members may not be familiar with

PHP or MySQL The size of the database is limited by MySQL Younger students may not have prior

experience using computers or know how to type

The total number of users from all participating school districts will be no more than 40,000

End Product & DeliverablesEnd Product & Deliverables Already Delivered

– Prototype of the K-12 Teaching Application Math quizzes Reference tool of world and US geographical

information Ability to record student scores

Future Deliverables– Instruction manual– Prototype of K-12 Teaching Application that

includes: Ability to walk students through the process of

solving a math problem Interactive games enforcing world and US geography

Accomplishments and ActivitiesAccomplishments and Activities

Previous AccomplishmentsPresent AccomplishmentsFuture Required ActivitiesApproaches ConsideredProject Activities

Previous Accomplishments Previous Accomplishments (1/4)(1/4)

MTSS– Formed Fall 2001– Database and prototype designed using ASP– Created problems and a way to add problems to

database– Created feature allowing profiles for login to be used– Converted ASP code to PHP– Database restructured to fit with Framework’s design– Ability to give students quizzes from problems in

database added with ability to record time– Started work on Problem solving algorithm

Previous Accomplishments Previous Accomplishments (2/4)(2/4)

GW– Formed Fall 2002– Functionality and database in place– Working version of help page – Working version of country comparison page– Database entries cleaned and formatted– Made transition from frames to tables– Implementation of authentication framework– Added dynamic region page to hierarchy– Modification of user management

Previous Accomplishments Previous Accomplishments (3/4)(3/4)

USA– Formed Fall 2002– Created detailed blueprint of application– Designed entries in database– Populated database with state information– Reference tool and authentication

implemented– Comparison page created to display

information about multiple states– Designed and coded simple games

Previous Accomplishments Previous Accomplishments (4/4)(4/4)

Framework– Formed Fall 2003– Obtained existing skeleton code and determined it

unusable– Developed libraries that allow for user authentication

and registration– Redesigned database to accommodate all Ongo08 sub

teams– Created framework for quizzes to be taken by students– Created framework to allow teachers to keep track of

students progress through a gradebook

Present Accomplishments Present Accomplishments (1/4)(1/4)

Ongo08– Created instruction manual– Combined all sub team documentation– Formed a list of application problems to be

fixed– Fixed bugs found to prepare application for

presentation– Expanded CVS to include all sub team code– Implemented a uniform “look and feel” across

applications– PHP training session

Present Accomplishments Present Accomplishments (2/4)(2/4)

MTSS– PSA Implementation

Refined PSA Defined Method for Implementation Planning for Implementation

– Programming New Features PSA Functionality Multiple Answers to Questions Capability

Present Accomplishments Present Accomplishments (3/4)(3/4)

GW/USA– Electronic Database Research

USA geographical information source Allow for automatic updates for

applications in the future– Interactive Games

Defined games for both applications Possible introduction of more topics like

spelling and historic landmark knowledge

Present Accomplishments Present Accomplishments (4/4)(4/4)

Framework– Uniform Navigation Layout

All applications feel like a suite Reduces learning curve Uniform color and font scheme across applications Redesign of navigational buttons

– Restructure timing functionality for quizzes Separate timers for teachers and students

– Server Cleanup Removed unused source code Reorganized working and stable code

Future Required ActivitiesFuture Required Activities• Answer conversion functionality for text answers• Garbage collection utility to remove unreferenced

data from tables• Alternate quiz timing functionality and analysis• Distribution for real-world client testing of current

feature set • Additional security to guarantee that users can not

modify quizzes/problems of other users• Optimize code so that it uses less resources• Large-scale testing to guarantee that framework

will work in multiple environments under multiple conditions

Recommendation for Future WorkRecommendation for Future Work

• Support for disabled users• Implementation of a problem

solving algorithm for all applications

• Further consolidation of team to act more as a single team

Approaches Considered (1/3)Approaches Considered (1/3)

MTSS approaches considered– Four step problem solving algorithm

Find out Choose strategy Solve it Look back

– Multiple generic questions that get students thinking about the different ways to solve problem.

Approaches Considered (2/3)Approaches Considered (2/3)GW/USA

– Research Tool vs. Interactive Application

Database of geography information can be used as electronic source for reports

Interactive games will add interest for intended audience

Strengthen learning of geography concepts

Approaches ConsideredApproaches Considered ASP.NET and SQL Server Classic ASP and SQL Server Javascript Java and MySQL PHP and MySQL

Approach UsedApproach Used MTSS

– Problem Solving Algorithm (which one you chose) GW/USA

– Interactive game implementation Geography applications will have games added to them

in order to keep students’ interest Look into further subjects that can be incorporated

Framework– PHP and MySQL

PHP is growing quickly and will be around for a long time PHP is similar to C/C++ so many of the team members

should be able to pick it up quickly

Project Definition ActivitiesProject Definition Activities

MTSS Problem Solving AlgorithmResearched how to teach children

how to learn

Research ActivitiesResearch Activities

Problem Solving Algorithm– Determined the best way to

implement the algorithmElectronic Database

– Searching for source for US geography information and update capabilities like GW

Design ActivitiesDesign Activities

Similar look and feel– Making all applications look the same– Similar navigation– Similar icons

Uniform Look and FeelUniform Look and Feel

Insert screenshots of previous vs. new homepages to the applications?

Implementation ActivitiesImplementation Activities

Making CVS available to all teamsEach sub team using style sheets

for similar look and feel

Testing & ResultsTesting & Results

Went through and created a list application problems to be fixed

Working on checking off items in this list

Other ActivitiesOther Activities

Cleaning up serverMore documentation on server use

Resources & ScheduleResources & Schedule

Personal EffortFinancial RequirementsSchedule

Personnel Effort (1/3)Personnel Effort (1/3)

Personnel Effort (2/3)Personnel Effort (2/3)

Personnel Effort (3/3)Personnel Effort (3/3)

Financial Requirements (1/4)Financial Requirements (1/4)Team# / Name

Item W/O Labor

With Labor

Ongo08a MTSS

Labor at $10.50 per hour    

Tiffany Schweer   $1,050.00

David Wire   $1,029.00

Sara Murphy   $882.00

John Saterfiel   $850.50

Michael Fong   $735.00

Aaron Hurd   $766.50

Subtotal $0.00 $5,313.00

Financial Requirements (2/4)Financial Requirements (2/4)Team# / Name

Item W/O Labor

With Labor

Ongo08b/c GW & USA

Labor at $10.50 per hour    Samantha Olson   $903.00 Laurie Bidrawn   $882.00 Maria Oivas   $0.00 Nate Evans   $756.00 Jennifer Carlson   $861.00 Dustin Fee   $798.00

Subtotal $0.00 $4,200.00

Financial Requirements (3/4)Financial Requirements (3/4)Team# / Name

Item W/O Labor

With Labor

Ongo08d SASF

Labor at $10.50 per hour    Nichole Burgett   $945.00 Nate Gordon   $882.00 Parikshit Advani   $745.50 Ryan Adamson   $787.50 Chun-Pang Kuk   $735.00

Subtotal $0.00 $4,095.00 Total $0.00 $13,608.00

Financial Requirements (4/4)Financial Requirements (4/4)Item W/O Labor With Labor

Ongo08a Labor   $5,313.00

Ongo08b&c Labor   $4,200.00

Ongo08d Labor   $4,095.00

Miscellaneous Binding $5.00 $5.00

Copying $10.00 $10.00

Total $15.00 $13,623.00

ScheduleSchedule

Closing MaterialsClosing Materials

Project EvaluationFuture WorkLessons LearnedRisks & Risk ManagementClosing SummaryQuestions?

Project Evaluation (1/3)Project Evaluation (1/3)Milestones Current Status Semester GoalProject Definition Met (100%) Met (100%) Software Training Course Met (100%) Met (100%) Framework and Training Course

Met (100%) Met (100%)

Writing Manual Not Met (75%) Met (100%)Reviewing Manual Not Met (50%) Met (100%)Test Planning Attempted (50%) Met (100%) Actual Testing Attempted (25%) Met (50%)Testing Results Evaluation Not Attempted Not Attempted

Project Evaluation (2/3)Project Evaluation (2/3)Milestones Current Status Semester GoalEnd User Documentation Met (100%) Met (100%) Maintenance Support Documentation

Not Attempted Not Attempted

Semester Plan Met (100%) Met (100%)Weekly E-mail Reporting Met (70%) Met (100%)Presentation to Senior Design Class

Met (100%) Met (100%)

Industrial Review Panel Not Attempted Met (100%) Refine Problem Solving Algorithm

Not Met (50%) Met (100%)

PSA Functionality Not Attempted Not Attempted

Project Evaluation (3/3)Project Evaluation (3/3)Milestones Current Status Semester GoalDefine Methods for Implementation of PSA

Not Met (40%) Met (100%)

Multiple Answers to Questions Capability

Not Attempted Not Attempted

Implementation of Games Not Met (50%) Attempted (60%)Database Population Not Met (25%) Attempted (50%)Review Existing Code Not Attempted Attempted (60%)Clean Up Database Not Met (50%) Met (100%) Review Files & Folders Not Met (75%) Met (100%)Create Style Sheets & Icons

Not Met (50%) Met (100%)

Future WorkFuture Work• Answer conversion functionality for text answers• Garbage collection utility to remove unreferenced

data from tables• Alternate quiz timing functionality and analysis• Distribution for real-world client testing of current

feature set • Additional security to guarantee that users can not

modify quizzes/problems of other users• Optimize code so that it uses less resources• Large-scale testing to guarantee that framework

will work in multiple environments under multiple conditions

Lessons Learned (1/2)Lessons Learned (1/2)

Technical – PHP standards– MySQL standards– How to use CVS– Problem solving methods and ways to

make children learn effectively

Lessons Learned (2/2)Lessons Learned (2/2)

Non-Technical– Importance of good planning– Importance of good documentation– Importance of good communication– How to write instructions to people who

are not familiar with a software tool– Negotiate and compromise between

groups

Risk & Risk ManagementRisk & Risk Management

Loss of team memberLoss of data via the server

crashingLoss of contact with clientTesting methods fail

Closing SummaryClosing Summary

The K-12 Teaching and Support Software is and application that is intended to supplement children’s learning in the classroom. It is intended to help the children in the areas of mathematical problem solving and world and US geography.

Questions?Questions?