1. Globey’s World K-6 Teaching Application Support and Software Ongo-08b
Project Information
End-Product Description
Team Members Faculty Advisors Client
Leanne Bihn* CprE Dr. John Lamont Ames Community School
David Haila CprE Professor Ralph Patterson District
Brett Gwinn CprE
Kiat-Ee Hui CprE *denotes sub-team leader
At project completion, the end product will be a web application that teachers can use as a supplement when educating students about world geography. The application will have an extensive help system and full quizzing functionality. Globey’s World will also integrate with the Mathematical Teaching System Software and Uncle Sam’s America by utilizing the framework currently being developed by another sub-team. Students will be able to log in and use any of the three applications. Globey’s World will allow them to first learn about geography, and then solve problems based on selected topics. Teachers will be able to access student statistics in order to gauge student performance and also add to the applications by creating additional problems for students to solve.
Abstract
Ames Community Schools (ACS) has been concerned with the performance of their students in problem solving on a nationally standardized exam. The purpose of Globey’s World is to provide software that supplements classroom learning in the area of geography while stressing the improvement of problem solving skills. To this end, Globey’s World will complement a suite of web applications currently under development by the remaining sub-teams of the Ongo-08 senior design team. The final product will give students an opportunity to enhance their geographic skills by interacting with the provided content. Through utilization of the software, the students should be better prepared for problem solving on standardized tests, resulting in an improved performance.
Requirements
Design Objectives
Simple to use interface
Intuitive country selection scheme
Dynamic help system
Measurable Milestones
User specific pages developed
Implementation of single sign-on
Quizzing functionality
Full implementation of framework
Automatic country database update daemon fixed
Functional Requirements
Select a region and country from the world map
Display facts on chosen country
Compare facts between countries (2 up to 10)
Integrate mathematics problem solving
Design Constraints
Multiple platform use (PC, Mac, etc.)
Intuitive for K-6 students
Basic help assisting students unfamiliar with computer operation
Introduction
General Background
One of three applications for Ongo-08
Mathematical Teaching Software System (MTSS)
Globey’s World (World geography)
Uncle Sam’s America (US geography)
Problem Statement
ACS wants to increase their students’ performance in problem solving on a nationally standardized exam.
Globey’s World will be an easy to use Internet based application that helps students learn about world geography while building problem solving skills.
Operating Environment
Host: Linux-based Apache server
Backend database: MySQL
Web application code: PHP
Intended Users
Students (grades K-6)
Teachers and administrators
Intended Uses
Teaching aid to supplement classroom instruction
Monitor each student’s progress
Assumptions
Client uses Internet Explorer or Netscape 6.0 or greater
Client computers have access to the Internet
Limitations
Product development
Unfamiliar programming languages for developers (PHP, MySQL)
Information integrity across semesters
Product implementation
Speed and bandwidth of client computers
Students that lack computer experience
Expected End Product
Fully functional application
Interactive maps
Country comparisons
Dynamic help
Quizzing functionality
Utilizes Ongo-08d framework
Compatibility with Ongo-08a and Ongo-08c applications
Proposed Approach
Technologies Considered
Graphical user interface
Coding (PHP, HTML)
Graphical design (Adobe applications)
Database (MySQL)
Framework integration (code structure provided by Ongo-08d)
Project Specialization
Team experts oversee development in their area of expertise
Team leader responsible for distribution of additional tasks
Testing Approach
External
Ongo-08
Prototype testing
Bug/error reporting
Ames Community Schools
Internal
Globey’s World sub-team testing
Development unit testing
Positive functional testing
Boundary (negative) testing
Usability
Globey’s World Screenshots
Budgets
Personnel Effort (340 hrs.)
Financial Resources ($65)
Brett Gwinn
Leanne Bihn
Printing &
(80 hrs.)
Binding ($5)
(90 hrs.)
Copying ($10)
David Haila
Kiat-Ee Hui
(90 hrs.)
(80 hrs.)
Poster ($60)
Figure 1: World View
Figure 2: Region View
Schedule
Figure 3: Country Page
Figure 4: Comparison Page