Web-Based Distance Learning Project - Assignment Example

Web-Based Distance Learning Database ial Terms of Reference and Section # of PROJECTTITLE: The Use of Web-Based Distance Learning - An Online MS-Access Database Tutorial PROJECT BACKGROUND: The field of educational training is continuously under the process of evolution and so is the field of information and technology. Both the fields continuously interact with each other and thus impact each other too. Distance learning is yet another fabulous application of the technology in the field of education. The concept of distance learning was still there even before the intervention of technology in the field of education, but it gained momentum, when technology was applied to make the system of distance learning more effective. As a result of this intervention, distance learning has now become one of the most prominent areas of education and learning, where the application of the technology is at its peak. Furthermore, the more technology is applied in right direction, the more distance learning will get popular. This project would be yet another step into that progress. The outcome of this project would be an MS-Access based Tutorial database. As tutorials are major source of learning for distance learners, thus this product will be helpful to them to a great extent. AIMS OF THE PROJECT: The aim of this project is to develop a database of tutorials for the distant learners. This database tutorial is a web-based tutorial. The user of this database will be provided with the user interface in order to fetch the information through queries and add, edit or delete the tutorials. A reporting module will also be added into the database. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT: This project is intended to: Analyze the requirements of the distance learners as well as the distance learning providers for the tutorials Design a logical flow diagram for the requirements specified Implement that logical design to develop on MS Access a database of the tutorials for distant learners PROJECT DELIVERABLES: Following are the deliverables for this deliverable for this project. PROJECT DELIVERABLE DEADLINE Business Requirements and analysis. 15 October 2007 Modeling Business Processes: Process model, Function hierarchy, DFD, Activity diagram. 29 Oct 2007 A Business Model with ERD and normalization. 5 November 2007 Design logical database design & development. 19 November 2007 Testing business rules and data integrity. 10 December 2007 Interim Report 8 January 2007 Interface Design and form development. 22 January 2007 Trigger design and implementation. 4 February 2007 Testing and validating the trigger codes of different units. 18 February 2007 Report requirements and design. 4 March 2007 Physical database design 18 March 2007 Final system documentation & user manual. 4 April 2007 Margin for any contingency 5 April 2007 - 15 April 2007 Final Report 24 April 2007 Live demonstration. The presentation should demonstrate the most interesting and attractive implementation features and functions of University Information System. 5 May 2007 RESOURCE REQUIREMENT: Following are the resource requirement for this project: Hardware Requirements: The hardware requirements for this project are as follows: Processor (atleast Pentium III, 733 MHz) RAM (the minimum RAM requirement is 128 MB. However, the RAM of 512 is recommended) Hard Disk (The required capacity of hard disk depends on the amount of data to be saved. But on minimum side 40 GB hard disk is required) LAN Card or Modem is also required. Besides, the general accessories of a standard PC will also be required. The university will not be required to arrange for these requirements. Software Requirements: The softwares required for this project are: MS Access - this is required for the actual development of the database. MS Visio - this is required to develop the logical diagram / model for the structure of the database MS Word - this is required for the documentation purposes Macromedia Dreamweaver - this is required for developing the web based user interface and the reporting module. Other Technical Requirements: Besides, there are some other technical requirements too. Such requirements include the internet connectivity, the relevant drivers required for the database and its cross platform interaction with the web based front end. PROJECT PLAN: The project activities can be divided into three broader categories. 1. Investigation Stage: The investigation stage is aimed to identify the requirements of the end users of the project which are the distant learners and the distance learning providers. The outcome of this activity is requirement analysis. Another extension to this activity is the representation of those requirements in form of some business model such as, data flow diagram etc. One more task performed at this stage is to design a set of measures against which the actual system would be analyzed so as to ascertain to what extent the implementation stage was a success. The deadline set for this phase is 1st November, 2007. The documentation for this will then be completed by November 5th, 2007. 2. Implementation Stage: The implementation stage is one of the longest stages in the system development lifecycle. It can further be subdivided into three tasks; which are the database development, the interface design and the designing of the reporting module. Each of these tasks has its own subtasks. For example, the database designing includes the mapping of ERD, the development of triggers, testing of business rules and so on. Likewise, the interface design phase has its own sub tasks, when merged altogether, these tasks are cumulatively called database deployment. The target date for this phase is 20th March, 2007. 3. Evaluation Stage: At this stage, the actual system is weighed against the evaluation criteria developed in the first phase and if the deviation from the expectation is significant then the revise the previous phases. The deadline for this activity is set to be 4th April, 2007. RESEARCH ETHICS: The research ethics are required to be followed in any sort of research. This system development project is no exception. It is the implied responsibility of the researcher to keep the information confidential. The requirement analysis will be done from both, the distant learners as well as the distance learning providers. It is thus our responsibility to maintain the anonymity of the respondents and not use the information thus obtained for any purpose other than mentioned to the respondents. Bibliography Benyon-Davies (2000) Database system, 2nd ed. Palgrave. Williams M., Covington B and Paprock K (1999) Distance Learning: The essential Guide, Sage Read More