DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A STUDENT GRADE POINT AVERAGE SYSTEM

1.1 Introduction

Grade Point Average (GPA) Computation System is the process of calculating students GP and record in the primary, secondary school and higher institution of learning. This project deals with the calculation of Grade Point (GP) in higher institution. The existing method in Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri is the tedious manual process therefore the write up consists of detail of grade point and the various problems associated with it.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Computer since its evolution has made considerable impact to various areas in one society and the world in general. Its scientific study discovery and development both in the fields of science and technology owned to the strange swiftness, exact and accuracy with its activities of computer in many aspect of human endeavour lead to the speed and accurate execution of length and cumbersome fast.

Nevertheless, computer has been applied in most fields these days due to its benefits. It has been applied in the following areas.

Education: Computers are used as an aid to students hearing, it acts as a patient teacher which allows learning at your own pace, through the use of multimedia.

Medical: Medical records of patients can be stored for later retrieval through the sue of computer thereby assisting in the tracing of medical history of patients for appropriate treatment, also due to the emergence of internet, later medicine is now possible (a situation whereby a patient can be treated via the internet.

Business: Most business and large firms uses a computer package called word processing to write letters, memos and report. A word processing program makes correction, editing of documents quickly and easy resulting in a neat and readable output. Also the emergence of internet has made a business possible for buying and selling of products through the internet (i.e. E- commerce)

Industry: Some companies employ master job with the aid of computer based training program which most of them use in simulation technology and other package like CAM (computer Aided and manufacturing) and CAD (Computer Aided design) are used in design and manufacturing of other products.

Other areas of which computer application has been applied are in computerization of some government owned parastatals billing system (NITEL and PHCN) and computerization of airline reservation. Due to this and other mentioned benefits and reasons, computer is without guiding ground (popularity) while scientist, artists, engineering, doctors, business and education sectors etc, found computer helpful. Some computer packages used in achieving these goals are AutoCAD, DBASE, PowerPoint, etc.

In addition, it can helpful in the computerization of federal Polytechnic Nekede grade Point Average Computation system. The adopted manual method by the examination records and statistics and computer science department formally used in the execution and processing of both Grade point Average Computation System in accurate, slow and reasonable as it goes without human labour would create chance for eliminating mistakes and oversight, accuracy as a result of manual preparation of Grade Point Computation

Historical Background

According to Richard and Jeffrey (1988) computation is the process of performing mathematical operations on data. It is the only data processing techniques that produce new data (information/output), it is the ability to perform calculations quickly limitless millions of multiplication problem for record that gives computer their reputation of miraculous tools.

John (1997) a computer scientist and a writer to the success of a computer magazine once stated a major computer merit that cannot be cost in the computer speed shown in the processing of data within few seconds which when rated and compared with human labour would normally take days, weeks, months and even years, office academic institution etc are therefore advised and encouraged to embark on computerization.

1.3 Statement of the Problem

The students Grade Point Average (GPA) Computation System generation are done manually in Federal Polytechnic Nekede long before now. The manual method of Grade Point Average Computation result processing and generation are prone to error, result to an inaccurate students' result.

The problem is to investigate the way the computer science department in federal Polytechnic Nekede prepare the grade point processing and analyze the system, design and implement a new computerized system that would timel6y and effectively process and transmit data.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of the study is to Design and Implement a Grade Point Average (GPA) Computation System using Computer Science Dept, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To examine the existing system in an attempt to identify its problems and the system required as to surface with relevant facts that will be of help in the design of a computer based.
2. To develop a Grade point Average computation system that will help management in the computation and preparation of a computer based package for student's grade point.
3. To design an application software that will hasten the rate of computing students Grade and scores thereby the manually records and statistics department labour function eliminated.
4. To system will serve as a relief to tedious repetitive clerical work in preparation of grade Point average computation

1.5 Significance of Study

This study will go a long way into helping the management of computer since to cope with the problem encountered as a result of using manual system in the preparation of exam score and students records. It is hoped that this study will help in the efficient and effective operation of computer-based grade Point Average Computation system.

This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

1.6 Scope of the Study

This study focuses on the Design and Implementation of Grade Point Average (GPA) Computation System using Computer Science Department in Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri as a case study. It is of great important to the management of the school and the record of computer science department. This goes a long way to helping stop those problems that prove detriment to the calculation of student's grade point (G.P).

1.7 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are mainly due to time limit and difficulties in data collection this study has been limited to computerization of exam score/grade point (G.P) for morning and evening program students. The program is under the security of the following:

1. Computer science Department
2. Exam Records, Grade Computation
3. School of Engineering Technology

1.8 Definition of Terms

Registration: This means to keep records received from the management for reference purposes.

Certificate Number (Code): An Assign Numeric data added to each certificate to uniquely identify each certificate.

Management: It is the co-ordination of all the resources of an Organization through the process of planning, Organization, directing and controlling

System: Physical component of a computer that is used to perform certain task.

Data: Numbers, Text or image which is in the form suitable for Storage in or processing by a computer, or incomplete information.

Information: A meaning full material derived from computer data by organizing it and interpreting it in a specified way.

Input: Data entered into a computer for storage or processing.

Output: Information produced from a computer after processing.

Information System: A set of interrelated components that collect (or retrieve), process, store and distribute information to support decision making and control in an organization.

Computer: Computer is an electronic device that accepts data as Input, processes data and gives out information as output to the user.

Software: Software is set of related programs that are designed by the manufacturer to control the hardware and to enable the computer perform a given task.

Hardware: Hardware is a physical part of a computer that can be touched, seen, feel which are been control by the software to perform a given task.

Database: Database is the collection of related data in an organized form.

Programming: Programming is a set of coded instruction which the computers understands and obey.

Technology: Technology is the branch of knowledge that deals with the creation and use technical and their interrelation with life, society and the environment, drawing upon such as industrial art, engineering, applied science and pure science.

Algorithm: A set of logic rules determined during the design phase of a data matching application. The ‘blueprint’ used to turn logic rules into computer instructions that detail what step to perform in what order.

Application: The final combination of software and hardware which performs the data matching.

Data matching database: A structured collection of records or data that is stored in a computer system.

Data integrity: The quality of correctness, completeness and complain with the intention of the creators of the data i.e ‘fit for purpose’

Password: This is a secret code that a user must type into a computer to enable he/she access it or its applications. This is made up of numbers, letters, characters or contribution of any of the above categories.

PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor (the name is a recursive acronym) This is a Programming language known as a server-side scripting language. It was used in the developing of this software.

Identification: The act of recognizing and naming someone or something.

Certificate: A document serving as evidence or as a written testimony, as a status of qualifications, privileges, or the truth of something.

Verification: Evidence that establishes or confirms the accuracy or truth of something.

Query language: A database query language and report writer allows users to interactively interrogate the database, analyze its data and update it according to the user’s privileges on data. It also controls the security of the database.