K-12 Teaching Application SupportK-12 Teaching Application Support

Ames Community Schools (ACS) has been concerned with the performance of their students in problem solving on a nationally standardized exam. While ACS traditionally scores in the 90th percentile on traditional math skills, results from the problem-solving section were much lower. The purpose of this project is to provide software that supplements classroom learning in the areas of mathematics and geography while stressing the improvement of problem-solving skills. To this end, a suite of web applications will be produced. The final product will allow students to solve problems, and allow teachers to view the results. By utilizing the software to extend classroom learning, the students of ACS will be better prepared for standardized tests, ultimately resulting in higher test scores.

General Background• Internet-based teaching software

• Interactive problem solving

• Three separate applications

• Mathematical Teaching Software System (MTSS)

• Globey’s World (World geography)

• Unnamed U.S. Geography application

Technical Problem• Problems and results stored on server

• Students solve problems over the Internet

• Web applications using PHP and MySQL

Operating Environment• Web applications run on Linux-based

Apache web server

• MySQL used as database backend

• MTSS must be converted from Microsoft Active Server Pages to PHP

Intended Users• Students in grades 3-6

• Instructors

Intended Uses• Supplement classroom instruction

• Improve standardized test scores

• Monitor student progress

Assumptions• Internet Explorer or Netscape 5+

• All computers connected to the Internet

• U.S. Geography project will mimic Globey’s World except with different data

Limitations• Must learn PHP, MySQL

• Must learn ASP to PHP conversion

Team Members – Ongo-08

Joel Folkerts, CprE Josh Herbolsheimer, CprE Varsha Goswami, CprE David Boike, EE Dr. John Lamont, Faculty Advisor

Daniel Kline, EE Ju-Dee Lee, CprE Sara Showman, EE Brian Spanbauer, CprE Prof. Ralph Patterson, Faculty Advisor

Jau-Ming Tan, EE Meng-Hoay Lim, EE Tunde Olatunji, CprE Ryan Pospisal, EE

Joseph Ratterman, CprE Owan Watkins, EE Jason Weirather, EE Sam Wong, EE Ames Community Schools, Client

Abstract

Introduction

Design Requirements – MTSS Sub-Project

Design Objectives• Port existing ASP code to

PHP/MySQL

• Users should not see noticeable difference from ASP version of software

Functional Requirements• Present problem to solve

• Print evaluations for teacher review

• Teachers can create, modify, and delete problems

Design Constraints• Multi-platform use (PC &

Macintosh)

• Easy for grades 3-6 to understand

• Help provided for students unfamiliar with computers

Measurable Milestones• Database conversion complete

• Conversion from ASP to PHP complete

• Product passes quality assurance testing

Design Requirements – Globey’s World Sub-Project

Design Objectives• Update info to reflect geographical changes

• Enable comparison of different countries

• Incorporate mathematical problem solving

Functional Requirements• Select a country from a world map

• Display facts on chosen country

• Integrate mathematics problem solving in some meaningful way

Design Constraints• Multi-platform use (PC & Macintosh)

• Easy for grades 3-6 to understand

• Help provided for students unfamiliar with computers

Measurable Milestones• Database revisions complete

• Software updates complete

• Product passes quality assurance testing and released to client

Design Requirements – U.S. Geography Sub-Project

Design Objectives• Similar to Globey’s World, using US

Geography data

• Enable comparison of different states

• Incorporate mathematical problem solving

• Different enough from Globey’s World to encourage use of both products

Functional Requirements• Select a state from a United States map

• Display facts on chosen state

• Integrate mathematics problem solving in some meaningful way

Design Constraints• Multi-platform use (PC & Macintosh)

• Easy for grades 3-6 to understand

• Help provided for students unfamiliar with computers

Measurable Milestones• Design and populate database

• Software production complete

• Product passes quality assurance testing and is released to client

End-Product Description

Upon completion, Ames Community Schools will inherit a cohesive set of web applications that allow teachers to supplement classroom learning in the areas of mathematics, world geography, and U.S. geography. Students will be able to log into the system over the internet and use any of the three applications. Upon login, students will be challenged to solve problems presented to them in the areas of mathematics and geography. Teachers 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.

Technical Approach

Software design for all three projects will be done using PHP/MySQL as the base language. Each project will contain a number of components, including database design and population, HTML design, graphic design, and application code design.

Team Experts will be assigned for each component of each project, and will be responsible for completion of that project component. Team leaders may decide to assign other duties to team members beyond their area of expertise, but primarily, each team member will complete most of his/her work in one or two areas of specialization.

The MTSS subteam must learn to port ASP code to PHP. The applicatyion is already written in ASP, so each team member will be assigned a different portion of code to port.

Testing Approach

Initial product testing will be performed within the sub-team responsible for product creation. Upon a successful build of a sub-team’s product, the program will then be tested by one of the other two sub-teams. This will insure a complete audit of product quality. Testing processes will include development unit testing, positive functional testing, boundary (negative) testing, and usability testing.

Financial and Personnel Effort Budgets

Documenting205

Presentation57

Research185

Coding380

Class240

Meetings555

Binding$5.00

Copying$10.00

Poster$50.00

Financial Budget Personnel Effort Budget

1622 Total Hours $65.00 Total Cost