Re: [seul-edu] Consolidated gradebook effort

[Jym Brittain <brittain@ilinkusa.net>]

On Wed, 09 Feb 2000, you wrote:
> At 00:29 09/02/00 -0500, you wrote:
> >Personally, I would like to see the gradebook "application" lean towards
> >html with php and mysql/postgresql as a database. This would allow for
> >seamless integration along all lines (I don't know much about X windows
> >applications, but I would assume that they would be able to access a remote
> >database, like pgaccess ???)
> 
> I should soon be starting to design a PHP/MySQL/Apache/Debian gradebook 
> kind of thing. I've got a the main specification decided:
> 
>    o  Must let students view their current number of points and all their 
> grades, along with how many more points are needed for a Pass, Merit or 
> Distinction for the whole course (this is for a UK college, specifically 
> for those doing a GNVQ, although it will probably be adaptable to other 
> systems with a bit of tinkering). This would be done using MySQL's column 
> password access controls.
>    o  Must produce printable reports on a list of students. Should be 
> simple. (ha; my last words...). That includes producing a list of all those 
> who are behind on which assignments.
>    o  Must be able to produce a variable picture (in a list of students) 
> depending on whether or not students are up-to-date with all assignments 
> that should have been handed in. Clickety-click on the student name and you 
> get a screen full of what they've got to do, what's late, and all other 
> relevant information.
>    o  Must be compatible with the current STARS (Student Tracking and 
> Record System) system that uses a VB frontend with an Access database 
> (yuck!). ODBC would be useful here, although entering the details manually 
> wouldn't be hard at all.
> 
> I can't think of anything else. The only problem is that the STARS system 
> is commercially developed in the college itself, and the guy might think 
> that it'll be a continuation of the current system. I'm going to fight to 
> the death for a Unix box for this.... (there's also quite a bit of 
> self-made competition here, just to see if I can do something better than 
> someone who's employed by the college... (*) .. they want MS SQL Server... 
> eurgh!)
> 
> At the moment I'm mulling over the structure of the actual database. Being 
> used to Access, it's a bit weird - I always thought relationships were 
> relationships, not table joins in SQL. Ho hum.
> 
> (Possible name: SPAMS - Student Progress and Monitoring System... or maybe 
> not...)
> 
> >There shouldn't be dependence on "new" technologies, everything should be
> >server side, universally accessible, and should focus on delivering
> >information to whomever needs it on whatever machine they are working ...
> 
> My idea precisely :-)
> 
> The point of this e-mail is.. umm..... (?)... I'm doing something in 
> PHP/MySQL. When I get some code I'll let you people know (that's if 
> anyone's interested, of course). It'll be pretty simple stuff at first (no 
> fluffy UI, add student, delete/update student, etc), but it should progress 
> nicely as my interest and knowledge grows.
> 
> Cheers,
>    Kris
> 
> (*) - I'm actually a (17yo) student there. Nothing quite like doing 
> something better than someone who's supposed to be brainier :-)
> 
> (note: everything's dependent upon whether I can get the Linux server in 
> place instead of NT. Shouldn't be that difficult..)
If you need access to a linux box with MySQL and PHP privelages, just let me
know. I was going to use this summer to work on such a thing.