Ongo-08b: K – 12 Teaching Application Support Globey’s World Ongo-08b: K – 12 Teaching Application Support Team Members Faculty Advisors Client Brett Gwinn*, CprE | Kiat-Ee Hui , CprE | Samantha Olson, CprE Dr. John Lamont | Professor Ralph Patterson Ames Community School District *denotes team leader Abstract End-Product Description Ames Community Schools (ACS) has been concerned with the performance of their students in problem solving on a nationally standardized exam. While there are several options for teaching students math, there are very few resources to encourage students to learn more about geography in an entertaining way. 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, this project will complement a suite of web applications produced by the other two application sub-teams and the framework sub-team of the senior design team. The final product will allow students to further enhance their geographic knowledge by studying the content provided by the final product. Web application to supplement homework and tests in world geography Extensive help system, full quizzing functionality, and grading capabilities Integration with the Mathematical Teaching System Software and Uncle Sam’s America through existing framework maintained by another sub-team Students will be able to log in and use any of the three applications Student statistics accessible to teachers to gauge student performance Teachers will be able to create additional problems for students to solve Introduction Requirements 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 Globey’s World is 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 3-6) 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 internet connectivity Limitations Product implementation Speed and bandwidth of client computers Computer inexperience of students Expected End Product Four levels of use Globe Region Country Comparison page Fully functional application Interactive maps Country comparisons Dynamic help Quizzing functionality Grading functionality Leverages Ongo-08d framework Design Objectives Simple to use interface Intuitive country selection scheme Dynamic help system Measurable Milestones Geography based game(s) Implementation of dynamic help Grading functionality Full implementation of framework Automatic country database update daemon evaluated Functional Requirements Select a region from a world map Select a country from a region 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 third to sixth grade students Basic help assisting students unfamiliar with computer operation Technical Approach Software Design Graphical user interface Coding (PHP, HTML, CSS) 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 Summary External Ongo-08 Prototype testing Bug/error reporting Regional Schools Testing supported by school region. Internal Globey’s World sub-team testing Development unit testing Positive functional testing Boundary (negative) testing Usability We believe that this software will help elementary school students learn geography in a fun and effective way. The flexibility allows different schools and teachers to tailor the application to their needs and results in an adequate solution to increase geography knowledge. Acknowledgements The Globey’s World team would like to extend thanks to Dr. John Lamont and Professor Ralph Patterson for the guidance they have provided and will continue to offer throughout this project. Also, thanks to the CprE 492 team members for their invaluable help and advice. Lastly, thank you to the teachers of the Ames and United Community School District, who will be providing guidance toward the final product. Schedule Budgets Globey’s World Screenshots