Design and Implementation of an Academic Information System Using Relational Database and HTTP Sever (a Case Study of Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri)
Chapter One
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The new system will bring about efficient and effective academic information system. The concise documentation of students and staff details will tremendously improve its timely decision support.
The project would also go a long way in fostering good perception of the information age in our various institutions and individual organization thereby breaking the ugly bone of continuous use of manual and archaic systems. It fosters on the in depth principles, rules and protocols of coding, scripting and hosting of database driven web pages. It will also help in making the processing of information as well as on the sport feedback faster and provide spring board for our young database developer. It also stirs and gives focus to our institutions of higher learning on the facilities obtained in the use of modern system of communication.
In order to produce a more classified knowledge of the subject matter, the researcher intends to describe the tools required to design and implement a functional Internet information service server, HTTP web server and a MsSQL relational database server for the institution through HTML encoded ASP.NET web interface. The objective of developing the system and procedure for the polytechnic is to ensure that end users are provided with requisite tolls and data that are cost effective and easily accessible.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
In the primitive and barbarian days before computers the amount of information shepherd by a group of people could be collected in the wisdom and the stores of its older members. In this world, storytellers’ magicians and grandparents were considered a great and honored storehouse for all that was known.
Apparently, and according to vast archaeological data, complies were used (like command line middle ware) by the younger members of the community to access the information stored in the minds of the elders using APL’s such as “public string tellUsAbout. The time when (strings).” And then of course, like a sweeping and rapidly encompassing viral infection, came agriculture, over production of food stuff, and the origins of modern day commerce. Dealing with vast storehouses of wheat, rice and maize became quite a chore for the monarchs and emperors that developed along with the new economy. There was simply too much data to be managed in the minds of the elders. And so, in order to store all the new information, humanity invented the technology of writing. And though great scholars like Aristotle warned that the invention of the alphabet would lead to the sensibility of humanity; data began to be stored in voluminous data repositories called books. As we know, eventually books copulated with great speed and soon, whole communities of books migrated to the first real “databases” libraries. Unlike previous versions of data warehouses (people and books), that might be considered the australopithecine of the database lineage, libraries crossed over into the modern day species, though they were incredibly primitive of course over into libraries introduced standards by which data could be stored ad retrieved.
After all, without standards for accessing data, libraries would be like closet, endless and engulfing swarms of chaos. Books and the data within books had to be quickly accessible by anyone if they were to be useful. In fact, the usefulness of a library, or any base of data, is proportional to its data storage and retrieval efficiency. This one corollary would drive the evolution of database over the next 2000 years to its current state.
Thus, early libraries defined standardized filing and retrieval protocols. Perhaps, if you could visit the polytechnic library, you will see its cute little indexing system (card catalog) and pointers. And more complex and simple libraries grew and grew, along with associated storage/retrieval technologies such as the filing cabinet, colored tabs and three ring binders.
The day computer was born, almost instantly; the computer was applied to the old age problem of information storage and retrieval. After all, by information storage and retrieval. After all, by World War II, information was already accumulating at rates beyond the space available in publicly supported libraries.
Thus, the first attempts at information storage and retrieval followed traditional lines and metaphors. The first systems were based on discrete files in a virtual library. In this file oriented system, a bunch of files would be stored on a computer and could be accessed by a computer operator. Files of archived data were called “tables” because they looked like tables used in traditional file keeping. Rows in the table were called “records” and columns were called “fields”.
CHAPTER THREE
BRIEF DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS OF THE EXISTING SYSTEM
As individuals, co-operate bodies or even a nation; we are confronted with a lot of problems everyday such as problems relating to education, technology, physiological and psychological aspects of life. In other to solve these problems, we have to make strong decisions as to methods and steps of solving the various problems. To be able to make headway, we need to conduct research. According to mini-chambers dictionary, research is a careful and scientific study or investigation into a system, to try to find out new ways of doing things that will replace, the old ways. Therefore, research is considered as the process of arriving at a dependable solution to given problem through the systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of data.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
DIAGRAM
DATA COLLECTION METHOD
There are a number of approaches to data collection depending on the nature of the research being conducted. In this project, the methods adopted include the following: literature, World Wide Web, references to published and unpublished collections. The data collected for this research can be broadly classified into two categories, viz: primary and secondary data.
PRIMARY DATA
These are data collected directly from respondents relevant to the subject under investigation. The primary data used in this case is interview.
THE INTERVIEW APPROACH
The interview approach was used to gather facts and ideas for this research work. Interviews were conducted in the exams and records of federal polytechnic Nekede owerri which involved about 5 (five) persons, old and new students were also interviewed.
SECONDARY DATA
These are already documented materials collected from a second hand source. In the case of this project, most of the data collected are published documents on the internet as well as reference to published and unpublished materials relevant to subject under investigation.
CHAPTER FOUR
IMPLEMENTATION
CODING – see Appendix
PROGRAM TESTING AND DEBUGGING
Debugging involves the identification and removal of localized implementation errors or bugs from a program or system. Programs are typically integrated in a top down incremental fashion for ease of testing. In this regard, websites should be adequately evaluated for accessibility preferably, with real people. Consultants and lab technicians can also be hired to perform user testing depending on affordability.
It is also important to develop a strategy for maintaining a website once it’s up and running, periodically debugs the site for broken links and out of data information. it is also a good idea to idea to keep a list of which pages containing time sensitive data and how of ten they need to be updated. For example, course syllabi and exam schedule need to be updated once in a semester, while a page listing upcoming events probably should be updated weekly. You should come up with a calendar of when different pages need to be updated and make sure that someone is in charging of updating that information.
CHAPTER FIVE
RECOMMENDATION
Designing a database driven website for an educational institution entails more of data collection than traditional programming. Nevertheless the outcomes and benefits of a well planned website cannot be over emphasized. Although many factors contribute to an effective website, yet there are so many that one could not but think of them all. The internet with all its functionality has indeed changed the way people live and interact politically, socially, economically and otherwise. The internet as with database combines audio, video and textual contents while eliminating time and space of traditional media
This has enabled website, an interactive media when integrated with a database making it a cost effective one on one educational tool. Thus, if federal polytechnic Nekede and its contemporaries should utilize this honey comb, literacy in African as a whole would wear a glorious crown.
To this end, the researcher suggests the following recommendations:
- Implementing a database local website for federal polytechnic Nekede will not only enhance management communication but also accomplish effective resource utilization in terms of information sharing and decision making. It is therefore recommended that educational institution, federal polytechnic Nekede inclusive adopt an interactive system. This proposal is 70% achievable considering the already existing equipment, which only requires little manpower.
- This implementation will also allow for staff, student and management interaction through live survey, chats, forms and emails, while helping to improve the knowledge and understanding of the institutional needs and interests.
- Undoubtedly, a well incorporated webbed database for federal polytechnic Nekede, owerri would improve the customer support service by saving money and time while expanding on its educational distribution.
AREAS OF FURTHER IMPROVEMENT
- The polytechnic should provide an efficient internet network by incorporating its existing computers into an enterprise local network. Staff and students should be sensitized to leverage its resources such as chart and voice messaging, classroom conferencing, catalogues, library and other academic information ranging from registration, lectures to result enquires.
- In addition to the above network infrastructural enhancement, it is suggested that the polytechnic acquires its own VSAT (satellite communication). This will ensure internet connection with its counterparts in the World Wide Web.
- A major drawback to these proposals would be unreliable power supply system. Therefore, the institution is urged to complement this with industrial uninterruptible power supply systems (UPS) that can ensure round the clock power supply for the network.
- Develop an intensive in house training for academic and non academic staff. This will help reduce the dependence on manual processing and also increase staff competence on world class office automation.
Once, the database is fully integrated with www. Federal polytechnic Nekede will not only register the institution’s presence, but also boast its academic as a citadel of technological excellence students and individuals of academic interest will include those with mobility constraints, will find the universal access very comforting. It will also create avenue for online research and development, which in turn will create more revenue for the site.
CONCLUSION
The need for available, secure and reliable information solution is heightened by the increasing dependence on web like systems and database technologies to provide core educational services, develop efficient academic products, administer daily activities and perform both short, long term management functions. Using federal polytechnic Nekede, owerri as a case study this project has elaborated on the technical and operational requirement of developing an academic information system. Issue like web and database concept and technologies: analysis and design tools, security and content maintenance were adequately explained.
Initially, HTML was used to convey contents like text, graphic images, video, audio and hyperlinks in static form. But today, database and dynamic web page scripting are the communication means to live information content. These technologies have come to stay no doubt that every organization, institution and government parastatal wants to join the e-race. Designing a functional academic information website for federal polytechnic Nekede is indeed a giant step in the right direction.
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