Design and Implementation of a Prototype Student Performance Evaluation System
Chapter One
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The objective of this study is to develop an automated student performance evaluation system that will be able to eliminate the problems associated with the conventional system for evaluating and computing the grade point average (GPA) of students. The study seeks to design a prototype system for evaluating student performance using Visual Basic programming language that will provide facilities that will,
- Compute students’ GPA faster and accurately
- Compute the GPA at various levels
- Compute the cumulative GPA (CGPA)
- State the class of Honours a student falls into
- Enable students to be able to compute their GPA easily
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
HISTORY OF EVALUATION IN EDUCATION
According to John (1991), the practice of evaluating individual performance was easily seen as early as 2000B.C, when Chinese officials conducted civil service examinations to measure proficiency of public officials. In 1845, the Boston school committee under took what was known as Boston survey, the first use of printed tests for wide assessment of student achievement. This survey was used to test Boston student in definitions, civil history, writing, arithmetic, grammar and natural philosophy. But the committee was shocked by the low performance in 1845 and 1846, and discontinued the testing in 1847 because no use was made of the results. During the period of 1895-1905, Joseph Rice proposed the setting of standardized examination for assessing students.
During the 1920-1965, measurement and evaluation were regarded as mere synonyms and the term “evaluation” was not often used to mean the assigning of grades or summarizing of students performance on test. From 1965 to present, a lot of evaluation method has evolved and in many cases, the design was inadequate, the data invalid and the analyses inaccurate. But the concept of evaluation, as we know it today is still evolving.
DEFINITIONS OF EVALUATION
Evaluation is a systemic, continuous and comprehensive process of determining the growth and progress of the pupil towards objectives or values of the curriculum. (Blaine 1987)
Evaluation can also be defined as the process of examining, judging, and assigning value or worth. (The social a guide and workbook for students 2nd edition)
The US congress office of Technology Assessment (OTA), (1992) defined performance assessment as “testing method that requires student to create answers or products that demonstrate their knowledge and skills”.
Evaluation of students performance is of two (2) types; formal and informal. A formal evaluation is a detailed review of comparison of the student performance with evaluation criteria, standard and learning objective for the practicum. It occurs at the end of each academic term. While Informal consist of the ongoing feedback and suggestions offered by the practicum instructor.
CHAPTER THREE
SYSTEM ANALYSIS AND DESIGN
INTRODUTION
The purpose of the system analysis phase is to carry out an investigation into the existing system used in student performance evaluation. System analysis requires the system developers to attempt to understand the existing system, how it evolved into the present and what future requirement may be demanded of.
To understand what is actually required of the new system development systems, system analysis is vital and indeed integral to systems development. System analysis process is usually broken down into two major activities: Data gathering and data analysis
ANALYSIS OF THE EXISTING SYSTEM
In analysing the existing system we are going to consider a brief history of the existing system the grading operated by it and other facts related
PROBLEMS OF THE EXISTING SYSTEM
The existing system is a manual system of result computation involving the use of biro, paper and calculator. The problems associated with the existing system are as follows:
CHAPTER FOUR
SYSTEM IMPLEMENTAION AND MAINTENANCE
INTRODUTION
The chapter gives details of the implementation issues associated with the proposed system with a view of producing an optimal and error free implementation of the proposed system.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
SUMMARY
Having made the research on student performance evaluation system using the case study, Computer Science Department, University of Benin, we have seen that problems associated with the manual system of computing GPA. An automated system has been designed which can overcome the problems of the manual system. With the help of this automated system there will be reduction in the course adviser’s job and it will also aid instant computation of result.
RECOMMENDATION
The work on the performance evaluation of students with particular reference to Computer Science is aimed at having a look at the mode of computing student grade point average (GPA) with a view of recommending a better mode of operation. The mode of operation as earlier stated is purely manual. It is therefore recommended that the process of computing GPA be computerized. It is also recommended that once the system has been computerized the already existing staff should be given proper orientation regarding the handling and operation of the computerized system. There should be regular maintenance of the system after installation. There should be provision for review after changeover from the manual method.
It has been noted that the parallel conversion is recommended, as this will allow gradual changeover to the new system.
CONCLUSION
This research work presented a platform for the design of a student performance evaluation system for computer science department, university of Benin. The system was designed using Microsoft Visual BASIC programming of the software is limited to only the B.Sc. program due to time constraints. When the system is fully implemented, this will ensure the fast computation of Grade point average for students.
REFERENCES
- Blaine, W.J. (2005): Education evaluation alternative approaches and practical guidelines, Deff publication Int. Uk.
- Desmond, P. E. (2005): The social, a guide and work book for student, Tola publication,Ikeja, Lagos.
- John, S.N. (2005): Assessment on student grading, Houghton Mifflin Publication, USA.
- Joseph, R. (2005): Setting of standardized examination for accessing Student.Desk publication, USA.
- Kenneth, L. J. (2005): Management information system, person education Inc., USA.
- Stella, C.F. (2005): Principles of system analysis and design, Jossy Hilton Publicaion, UK.
- United, S.C. (2005): Performance assessment as testing method that requires student to create answer or product that demonstrate their knowledge and skills, of technology and assessment, U.S.A.
- Wikipidia Online Directory (2011): Student performance on result grading
- William, S.F.(2005): The concept of grading students work, University of Cambridge publication, USA.
