Design and Implementation of an Android-Based Online Clearance System for Graduating Students
Chapter One
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The objective of this project includes:
- To effectively and efficiently process students’ clearance using an Android phone.
- To provide a reliable and transparent system devoid of personal inclinations and interest
- To provide borderless access at any time.
- To ensure prompt clearance
- To alleviate the problems and stress of travelling and queuing up of students during clearance.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
ROLE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN THE ACADEMIC SYSTEM
The introduction of computer into information technology has massively improved the information need of organization; the success of this machine is dependent on the knowledge base. Therefore, one can be prompted to ask aloud “what is a computer”. Funk, (1980) defined a computer as an electronic device that can perform automatically and at a high speed a sequence of logical operations according to instructions given to it inform of a pre-arranged program.
Anigbogu (2000) defined a computer as an electronic device capable of accepting data and instructions, processing the data based on the instructions to generate results or output in such a manner that is yet to be equalled by any other known machine to mankind.
Chimezie (1990), defined it by saying that “Computers are looked upon as obedient servants who are ever ready to free man from tedious procedures and produce results as compared with human computing time”.
Obilikwu (1995), defined computer as a machine that is capable of accepting input data, store and process the data based on instructions given by the computer user and in this way produce expected results, generally called output.
World Net describes an information system (I.S) as “a system consisting of the network of all communication channels used within an organization, and includes software and hardware”. It may also be defined as “a system that collects and processes data (information) and provides it to mangers at all levels that use it for decision making, planning, program implementation and control.
The aim of information system to admission, registration, result processing and clearance in universities is improving the quality and accuracy of information provided to all involved as well as assisting universities in compiling and reporting information.
Information Technology has been an integral part of academic system since almost four decades. According to, Hewlett (1993), the world is entering “an era in which technology will literally transform every aspect of business, every aspect of life and every aspect of society.
Since the arrival of Internet technology, school system has taken a new shape and style with a blend of convenience and satisfaction. Taylor (1980), said that computer-based education includes both computer-assisted instruction programs that interact with students in a dialogue and a broader array of educational computer applications such as simulations or instruction in computer programming. Learning from a student’s bedroom, office or anywhere in the World has made its way into university system with the advent of Internet technology. Information technology has always helped the university system to educate students in better way. To explain few examples, student online clearance is a method where the student obtains his/her clearance letter without carrying files around. This is only possible with the help of information technology. This feature is safe, fast and has no hazels. Filling out the documents and comparing options and waiting for approval is a time consuming process. Through the Internet, this process is made much easier and some times the approval is made within minutes. This explains an efficient way of obtaining clearance and saves time and money for students.
CHAPTER THREE
DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSIS OF THE EXISTING SYSTEM
GENERAL ANALYSIS OF THE EXISTING SYSTEM
When a student is about to graduate, he/she will take his/her degree exam after which he obtains a clearance letter from various departments and unions. The Registrar’s Office carefully reviews each degree candidate’s academic record and certifies to the faculty that the candidate has completed requirements for the degree. Also the bursary has to certify that the student has completed all payments.
The current clearance system of the university is a manual one. This makes the system so tedious and time consuming. Here, students have to visit all the clearance offices with a form for them to sign. Once these forms are signed, it proves that the student has been cleared. This process takes some months to be completed and posses a lot of stress to both staff and students involved.
In the manual system, the clearance forms are documented in a file cabinet. Each time the clearance form is needed, a search operation is conducted on the file cabinets to locate a particular students clearance form.
METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION
During the research work, data needed for the project was gathered from various sources. In gathering and collecting necessary data and information needed for system analysis, two major fact-finding techniques were used in this work and they are:
Primary Source
This refers to the sources of collecting original data in which the researcher made use of empirical approach such as personal interview and questionnaires.
Secondary Source
The secondary data were obtained by the researcher from magazines, Journal, Newspapers, Library source and Internet downloads. The data collected from this means have been covered in literature review in the chapter two of the project.
CHAPTER FOUR
SYSTEM DESIGN
DESIGN STANDARDS
In order to achieve effective online clearance system, Structured System Analysis and Design Methodology (SSADM) were used. This is because; SSADM is an internationally accepted software engineering model mainly used in most result oriented analysis and design.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
SUMMARY
The researcher have been able to achieve the following at the completion of this work
- The researcher was able to replace the error prone manual system with the new automated online clearance system.
- Data can now be processed with great speed and efficiency
- The application has the ability to update records in various files automatically thereby relieving the University staff the stress of working from file to file.
- Security of data is ensured as student’s information will be classified.
CONCLUSION
Research and development are continuous processes; this is same in computer and software development. However, the effectiveness and efficiency of this new system provides room for further improvements. As earlier mentioned, some of the objectives of this project were not actualised due to some limitations. So these objectives could be improved upon. Nevertheless, the online clearance system developed will offer greater opportunities in school management. All transactions or payments with regards to student clearance can be carried out online.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The research work carried out is limited to online clearance only on android phone. It will be better the application is developed for an effective and wholesome implementation of information management technology in all our universities and higher institutions. When this is done the following modules are recommended to be included in the portal.
- Developing an android-based online student admission system to enable full tracking of students records..
- Automation of student’s academic record to enable the management has access to student academic performance.
- Maintaining a central database for accessing all information relating to students.
REFERENCES
- Anigbogu, G. (2000). Systematic Planning for Educational Change. California: Mayfield publishing Company.
- Chimezie F. (2000). “Use of local area networks in schools. ERIC Digest.” Syracuse, NY: ERIC Clearinghouse on Information Resources.
- Clifton E.B. |(1983). Management of records in Nigerian |Universities: Problems and prospects. The Electronic Library23|(30)
- Enwere J.C (1992). Records Management in Nigeria: To be or not to be? Nigeria Library and Information Science Review. Lagos, Nigeria: Akin publishing Ltd
- French, C.S. (1996). Computer Science. TJ International, UK.
- Funk, M. (1980). Perspective in Educational Planning. Ibadan, Nigeria: Odun Prints and Pack, Agbowo
- Hewlett M. (1993). The Internet in education. [Special issue]. “Internet World,” 6(10).
- Iwhiwhu E.B. (2005). The Feature of Records Management in Nigeria. The Nigerian Archivist. Journal of the society of Nigerian Archivists 1(2$3)
