Computer Laboratory Management System for Samar College

Chapter I

INTRODUCTION

The Computer Lab or Computer Laboratory is obviously part of the institution like Schools and University. For the reason that there are several matters that uses computer like computing of data, creating documents and many other task that uses computers for faster data processing. At schools almost all courses are having computer related subject to learn about computers. Focusing to this topic Computer Laboratory comprised of several computers that connected to a network which a network is consist of collection of computers and other equipment that is connected together to communicate with each other.
Samar College Inc. is one of the most fast growing and innovative institution in Catbalogan offering various courses for College degree. Along with its increasing community is the need of the students for more high quality resources particularly in computer laboratory. Computer laboratory is one of the facilities that had provided by Samar College to help students practice the theories that have been thought in lecture. At this instance computer laboratory needs management software in order to secure, obey the rolls inside the lab and uses its advantage.
As a student’s conducting research it shows that it is more advantage if computer laboratories will use management software that will manage several tasks of instructors or some faculty of Samar College who uses the computer lab in teaching students and for some matters that uses Computer Laboratory. This management software will handles the task like access control, system security, student’s attendance and remote monitoring of system activities. In addition to this study the researchers also notice to use biometric device for faster data processing and to acquire the consistent and exact information in short period of time. Also biometric device will be very useful for this kind of research to apply its consistency, accuracy and the security of the system. Project Context
The proposed System Computer Laboratory Manage System is a LAN-based system which will further increase the efficiency of learning, management and student monitoring by using client-server approach. This system will benefit both the instructor and the student, as it simplifies common tasks in a normal PC-based classroom. The server, which is used by the instructor as a control device for communicating, provides several functions: automating class attendance; broadcasting laboratory work and announcement viewing and locking computer screens; and database reports.

Purpose and Description of the Project The project was aimed at producing application software that can optimize the usage of a computer lab in Samar College. Several misbehavior patterns of students in using the computers will be identified; an effective management and monitoring style to be in place. Objectives of the Project

General

The general objective of this study is to develop a system that would handle the management and monitoring of Computer Laboratory in Samar College. A system that would lessen the unmannered use of computers, time consuming of turning off all computers, get rid of using computers if not in a schedule.

Specific
1. To develop a system that would able the instructors to have access control of computers;
2. to develop a system that use biometric device to login student & instructors;
3. to produce an application software where the instructor is able to monitor the computer usage of the student;
4. to enable instructor to take attendance of the students effectively.

Scope and Limitations of the Project

Scope The propose study entitled Computer Laboratory Management System for Samar College scope is to employs client-server approach, developed by using .Net Technology, covers the management and monitoring of Computer Lab which allows the instructors to monitor and tract students in using the computer. The Instructors can add, edit and delete students and instructors information, the instructor can print out the attendance of the students, students will be given allotted time to use the computer laboratory based on their schedule, the students can automatically log- on to the computer using biometric device.

Limitation This system is limited to the students and instructors of Samar College use only; only instructors can use the server side of system and only the students can use the client-side of system. The instructors can send message to the students. Students are limited only to update and access a particular info that is available on the screen.
Chapter II

Review of Related Literature

Related Literature / Theoretical Background

The history of computer labs at colleges and universities is an ill-documented one. Books, articles, and websites can be found documenting the first mainframes put in place and the early years of computer science education. Computer labs, however, are rarely found described in the literature about computing in higher learning. Even less scholarly attention has been given to how students have used these labs. In some ways it appears the labs have quietly settled into the middle areas between personal computers and supercomputers as well as between class use and in-home use. Lab computers offer access to personal computing software and high-end specialized software. They are also utilized for academic needs similar to in-class use and entertainment like much computer use at home. Yet, while studies have been focused on computer use at the ends of these two spectrums, the university computer lab has unceremoniously bridged the gaps without garnering much attention.

Chapter III

Methodology

Technical Background The researchers used VB.Net in developing the system since it’s the most applicable resources, the researchers also use biometric device for faster data processing and secure the use of the system. The system is composed of two categories which is the server side and the other one is client side. The server side will be the control or manage the entire system and only the teacher can use it. Client side is for the students.

Details of the technologies to be used

At this section describes and discuss the details of technologies used by the researcher.

VB.Net Visual Basic .NET (VB.NET) is a multi-paradigm, high level programming language, implemented on the .NET Framework. Microsoft launched VB.NET in 2002 as the successor to its original Visual Basic language. Biometric Device the process by which a person's unique physical and other traits are detected and recorded by an electronic device or system as a means of confirming identity.

Xampp (/ˈzæmp/ or /ˈɛks.æmp/) is a free and open source cross-platform web server solution stack package, consisting mainly of the Apache HTTP Server, MySQL database, and interpreters for scripts written in the PHP and Perl programming languages.

MySQL is a popular choice of database for use in web applications, and is a central component of the widely used LAMP open source web application software stack (and other 'AMP' stacks). LAMP is an acronym for "Linux, Apache, MySQL, Perl/PHP/Python.

How the project will work

The system keeps and stores the data as well as provides a capacity for editing the student, instructors, and subject and schedules details if necessary. The system is compose of two categories which is the server-side that manage all the functionalities of the system and the other one is the client-side which used by the students to interact with the instructor or in order by the students to use the computer.

A brief description of how the system works:
Students and Teachers must logon in order to access the system, either using biometric scanner or by providing username and password at the login page.

Environment

Organizational Chart/Profile

Table (1) Organizational Chart/Profile

Requirements Specifications

Technical Feasibility

It considers the technical requirements of the proposed system of hardware and software. The technical requirements are then compared to the technical capability of the organization. Compatibility checking (hardware / software and other technologies)

Hardware: Computer/Laptop
Processor : Any Pentium IV or Equivalent Machine
RAM : 512 MB
HDD : 40 GB
104 Keys Keyboards/Mouse
Printer
Biometric Scanner Device Software:

Windows 7
.Net Framework 4.5
Xampp v3.2.1
VB 2010 Express (prepared)

Relevance of the technologies

It is essential to develop a computer lab management system as the mode of learning is gradually changed to computer-based. Traditional teacher-to-students relationship and monitoring are longer applicable. Thus, there is a need to have an application that can manage the computer-based classroom so that teaching and learning can be made more efficient.

Schedule Feasibility

Gantt Chart

Activity Name
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Submit Project Proposal

Project Planning

System Analysis

System Design

Implementation

Documentation

Submit final project

Table(2) Gantt Chart

Economic Feasibility Economic analysis is the most frequently used evaluating the effectiveness of proposed system, more commonly known as Benefit analysis. The Benefit analysis is to determine benefits and savings which are expected from candidate system and compare them with cost. If the benefits are more than the cost, then decision is made to design and implement the system. The cost and benefits may be direct or indirect and tangible or intangible. The benefits of this project are more than the cost so the system is economically feasible.
Cost and Benefit Analysis
ITEM
COST
Biometric Device
4,000.00
Prints
150.00
Others
400.00
Total
4,550.00

Table (3) Cost and Benefit Analysis

Requirements Modeling

Outputs: electronic or printed information produced by the system
Inputs: data that enters the system.
Processes: the logical rules that are applied to transform the data into information
Performance: the system characteristics, speed, volume, capacity, availability, and reliability
Controls: hardware, software, and procedural controls that protect and control the system and data from internal or external threats.

Data and Process Modeling

Context Diagram

Context diagram shows the whole process of the system. This will help the researchers in developing the system logically and to understand the flow of the system.

Figure(1) the context diagram on Computer Laboratory Management System

The Teacher can be done the following:
Create/Delete accounts
Change password for Teachers/Students
Create/Delete/Update Subject & Schedule
Add/Edit/Delete Students & Teachers Info
Login using password & username or through biometric device

The Student can be done the following:
Edit profile info
Change profile picture
Login through biometric device or using password & username
Upload/Download file from the server.

Data Flow Diagram

A data flow diagram (DFD) uses a very limited number of primitive symbols to represent the functions performed by a system and the data flow among the functions. Starting with a set of high-level functions that a system performs, a DFD model hierarchy represents various sub-functions. The data flow diagram depicted in Figure(1) below shows the relationship among the entities in the Computer Laboratory Management System.

If students login verify Add/Edit/Delete Password & Username/ Student, Teachers info , Finger print image subject & schedule details Give result Create/Delete Accounts

Set timer/Shut down/ Login using password Restart Computer & username/ through biometric device

Upload/Download file from the server If teachers login Verify password & username/
Edit profile info & profile picture Finger print image Login through biometric scanner Store & Display data’s device/ provide username & password. Accept/Reject

Figure (2) Data Flow Diagram for Computer
Laboratory Management System

System Flowchart

Teacher’s Flowchart Login Using Password &Username

Login Using Biometric Scanner

No

Yes No

Yes

No No No No

Yes Yes Yes Yes

No Yes

No Yes

No Yes

Design

Output and User-Interface Design

Forms/page

Figure (2) Main page of
Computer Lab Management System

Figure (3) Student page of
Computer Lab Management System

Figure (4) Settings menu of
Computer Lab Management System

Data Design

Entity Relationship Diagram

Figure (5) Entity Relationship Diagram for the Computer Laboratory Management System

Data Dictionary

student_tbl
Name
Data type
Length
Description
S_ID
Int
11
AUTO_INCREMENT
PRIMARY_KEY
STUDENT_NO varchar 6
Student Number
LASTNAME
varchar
40
Lastname of the student
FIRSTNAME
varchar
40
Firstname of the student
MI
varchar
1
Middle Initial of student
GENDER
varchar
6
Gender type of student
PICTURE
longblob

Student profile picture
FINGER_PRINT_IMG
longblob

Student finger print image

Table (3) Database table of the student

teacher_tbl
Name
Data type
Length
Description
T_ID
Int
11
AUTO_INCREMENT
PRIMARY_KEY
LASTNAME varchar 40
Lastname of the teacher
FIRSTNAME
varchar
40
Firstname of the teacher
MI
varchar
1
Middle Initial of teacher
GENDER
varchar
6
Gender type of teacher
PICTURE
longblob

Teacher profile picture
FINGER_PRINT_IMG
longblob

Teacher finger print image

Table (4) Database table of the teacher

subject_schedule_tbl
Name
Data type
Length
Description
SUB_SCHED_ID
Int
11
AUTO_INCREMENT
PRIMARY_KEY
COURSE_CODE varchar 6
Unique code of subject
SUBJECT_CODE
varchar
30
code name of the subject
COURSE_TITLE
varchar
100
The descriptive title of the subject
UNIT
varchar
2
Unit of the subject
TIME
varchar
20
Time schedule of the subject
DAY
varchar
10
The day schedule of subject
ROOM
varchar
10
The room schedule of subject
SEMESTER
varchar
15
The semester of subject to taken
AY
varchar
15
The year of subject to be taken
T_ID
varchar
6
Teacher unique id

Table (5) Database table of the Subject/Schedule

Development

Software Specification. Software means a collection of program where the objective is to enhance the capabilities of the hardware machine.
Minimum Software Requirement:

Windows 7
Xampp v3.1.2
.Net Framework 4.5
VB express 2010

Hardware Specification. Hardware is the term given to machinery itself and to various individual pieces of equipment. It refers to the physical devices of a computer system. Thus the input, storage, processing control and output devices are hardware.
Computer/Laptop
Processor : Any Pentium IV or Equivalent Machine
RAM : 512 MB & Above
HDD : 40 GB or Above
104 Keys Keyboards/Mouse
Printer
Biometric Scanner Device

Programming Environment

Front End

The researchers use Visual Basic .Net as a front end of developing the system.

Back End
The researchers use MySQL as a backend of developing the system.