BCIT 8045 Major Project Proposal Submitted 20130706

8/15/2019 BCIT 8045 Major Project Proposal Submitted 20130706

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Project Proposal

Flexible Mobile Response System

Major Project, Bachelors of Computer Systems Technology at

BCIT

COMP 8045

Salma Lalji

A00109916


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Table of Content

1 Student Information .................................................................................................. 4 2 Abstract .................................................................................................................... 7 3 Background .............................................................................................................. 7 4 Project Overview ...................................................................................................... 9 5 Client ........................................................................................................................ 9 6 Innovation .............................................................................................................. 11 7 Project Description ................................................................................................. 11

7.1 Server Listener ................................................................................................ 11 7.2 Graphical Presenter ........................................................................................ 12 7.3 Mobile Application ........................................................................................... 12

8 Scope and Depth ................................................................................................... 12 9 Functionality ........................................................................................................... 13

9.1 Server Listener ................................................................................................ 13 9.2 Graphical Presenter ........................................................................................ 13 9.3 Mobile Application ........................................................................................... 14

10 Methodology ....................................................................................................... 15 10.1 Requirements .................................................................................................. 17

10.1.1 Systems Requirements Specification Using a Standard Form ................. 17 10.2 Design and Architecture .................................................................................. 18

10.2.1 System Context Diagram ......................................................................... 20 10.3 Development and Code .................................................................................. 21 10.4 Quality Assurance and Testing ....................................................................... 21

10.4.1 Test Criteria ............................................................................................. 21 10.5 Implementation ............................................................................................... 22


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10.6 Maintenance and Support ............................................................................... 22 11 Deliverables ........................................................................................................ 23

11.1.1 Server Listener ........................................................................................ 23 11.1.2 Mobile Application .................................................................................... 23

12 Schedule ............................................................................................................ 23 13 References ......................................................................................................... 26 14 Appendices ......................................................................................................... 28

14.1 Appendix A - Full Picture of the FMRS ........................................................... 28 14.2 Appendix B - Students using Smart Phones ................................................... 29 14.3 Appendix C - Results as Pie Chart .................................................................. 29


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Flexible Mobile Response System Final Project April 2013

Salma Lalji #A00109916 Final Project Page 5 of 29

Setting up a network and high speed internet connection.

Setting up small business LAN to enable networking and improve document sharingand communication between Directors and Employees.

Enabled the company to have a backup system for their data

Java Programmer 1997 - 2003Bitmovers Communications, Inc.

Software Developer, creating a developers’ tool to render web, palm, and WAPapplication interface using only JAVA. Duties included intensive design andimplementation documentation, research on XML and data communication betweendevice and server, prototyping, and development.

Creating applications for Clients using Maui Engine based on requirementspecification and documenting the design. These applications are mostly webbased, however with Maui applications once created, they can be accessed not onlythrough the web using any browser but also through wireless devices such as Palm,WAP, etc. Maui is a one time development solution for multiple device accessibility.

Developed a design and documented an architectural design of a Multi-tier systemapplication consisting of multiple image data databases their detailed case data.

Acting Development and Project Manager – duties included dealing with clients,scheduling projects for developers, documenting user requirements, documentingpreliminary project design.

Communicate.com

Servlet Java programming for Network of Domains

Dynamic website development using XML including XPath, Java Servlets,JavaScript, and HTML Contest program of member and non-members of domains. User could enter a

contest and opt-in for newsletters, mailing list etc. Game for Wrestling fans where the user could pick the winner of Pay TV

wrestling fights. The results posted after the fight and user score able after login

Customization of Chat application. First had to research and find suitable chatapplication for the company. Customization involved creating a different look andfeel for each domain for the same application with different instances.

Content Management System for writers and editors of domains

Education

BCIT Bachelor of Technology Computer ScienceMajor Wireless Mobile Programming and Network Architecture 2007 – CurrentlyBCITSFUSecond Year General Computer Sciences 1994 – 1998Langara CollegeFirst Year University General Computer Sciences 1990-1993BCIT


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Hospitality and Tourism 1986-1987High School Diploma Killarney Secondary 1983-1986


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Example of a Clicker, wireless clicking device.

The Mobile Participation System (MPS) is one such system on the market that uses

web interface application on the instructor side and mobile phone application and text

messaging system on the student’s side to respond to questions posed during the

lecture. [3]The main purpose of this MPS system is to allow interaction between the

instructor and the students during the lecture. Responding to not only multiple choice

questions but also to open ended complex questions. MPS enables the instructors to

also setup a distant learning class.

From the instructor’s point of view, response systems change the pace of the lecture

and renew students’ attention and understanding of the material at hand. The instant

feedback allows the instructor to change the pace of the lecture and either move

forward to address new concepts or discuss older material, if the instructor feels the

students have not grasped concepts, based on answers to the clicker questions.


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Thus, the idea of instant feed back from the students is very appealing to instructors,

especially for large classes where it is difficult for them to gauge how much of the

material the class comprehends.

Unfortunately systems on the market today like MPS that are web based must use their

own question form which presents the question, or other systems such as Turning

Technology that are Power Point plug-ins are very costly for the institutes with their

licensing schemes. Plus, does not allow the flexibility for the instructor to use what ever

tool they prefer to create questions.

4 Project OverviewThis project, Flexible Mobile Response System (FMRS), is to design a complete system

from a server listener to the client mobile phone application that allows the interaction

between the instructor and the students in such a way that it is a flexible and cost

effective for both parties. Unlike any similar application on the market today, the

instructors can embed the questions in their own presentation apparatus, such as the

Microsoft Power Point, to deliver the lecture material and questions to their students.

Respectively, the students can use any type of cell phone to respond to the question

presented to them as long as they are on the same network connection.

5 Client

Fawziah Marra PharmD

Professor, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Clinical Pharmacy Lead, BC Centre for Disease Control

Phone: 604-822-7898

Email: [email protected]


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Profile

Dr. Fawziah Marra obtained her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and Doctor of

Pharmacy at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and subsequently completed a

two-year fellowship in Infectious Diseases Pharmacotherapy at the Vancouver General

Hospital.

Dr. Fawziah Marra is a professor in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the

University of British Columbia (UBC) and the Clinical Pharmacy Lead for Clinical

Preventative Services at the BC Centre for Disease Control.

Teaching Areas of Interest

Dr. Marra teaches large classes of 220 students in the undergraduate program within

the Faculty. Her teaching focuses on the therapeutics of various infectious diseases

such as pneumonia, meningitis, intra-abdominal infections, tuberculosis, sinusitis,

pharyngitis, and sexually transmitted infections. Dr. Marra uses a case-based approach

to teach concepts around drug-related problems, goals of therapy, therapeutic

alternatives, and monitoring parameters. Therapeutics classes are difficult to teach as

the professor has to present new material to the students and also allow them to

understand how to apply their knowledge for their specific patient.

Dr. Marra came up with the idea of having a more flexible mobile response system for

her class. She did not want to recreate her question slides in another web based

system, but instead to use what she is already using to present her lecture material.

This posed a challenged which I found interesting to take on.

Dr. Marra feels that the instant feedback will help her to become a better teacher to her

students, as well as make her class a more enjoyable experience.


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6 Innovation

How is FMRS system different from MPS? The MPS penetrated into the response

market with the advantage of allowing smart phones to engage with the response

management system and removing the need for hand held gadgets that were costly to

maintain, restricting for the organization, and hindrance to the student who did not get a

device due to tardiness or limited number of devices. Similarly with the FMRS, I will

empower the instructor by eliminating the need for the instructors to use a different type

of system to present their questions. The system will engage the instructors to be

flexible in choosing the type of instrument to show his/her questions to their students.

The instructors do not need to input their question into a particular application which can

be deemed as restrictive and not very user friendly. The flexibility will allow theinstructors to use any application they prefer to use, such as Microsoft PowerPoint,

Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, or even a DocCam projector with hand written

questions.

7 Project Description

There are three parts to this project.

i Server Listener

ii Graphical Presentation

iii Mobile Application

7.1 Server Listener

A server listener is an application used by the instructor who downloads the

application from FMRS website on to their laptop/tablet. The application will send

out session identification as the instructor presses the start button. After which

the application will start listening for mobile responses from the students, which

will be stored in a database for later use. This application must reside on the

instructor’s laptop/tablet and must also be present in the same location so as to

capture mobile responses. See Appendix A


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7.2 Graphical Presenter

The graphical presenter is part of the Server Listener. The application is to show

the results of student responses in a graphical format such as bar graphs or pie

charts. The application will total up all the responses stored in a database. Each

response is sorted into a category of possible answers. Each category is divided

by the total responses giving a percentage outcome which then can be

represented as a graphical chart. See Appendix C.

7.3 Mobile Application

The third component is the mobile application that will be downloaded by the

students, enabling them to respond to the question presented by the instructor.

This application will first capture the session identification that is sent by theServer Listener as the instructor press the start button. After which the student

can send their answer as a text message back to the Listener. The answer will

be padded with the session identifier. Once the send button is pressed, it

becomes disabled to stop multiple responses from the same device. See

Appendix A and B

8 Scope and DepthThe instructor can use any medium to create the questions that will be presented to the

students. The instructor has to press the start button on the application residing on their

laptop. This will enable the students to start sending their responses. Results of the

responses are instantly shown to the students. Students are allowed only one response

per question.

Multiple simulated tests will be conducted before the code base is released to a choseninstructor to test the application with a class of 4 or more. The students will be notified of

the drill and become part of the beta testing. This beta testing will be video recorded to

capture application functionality response.


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At this time, even though the server side application is any platform compatible, the

mobile application is restricted to those devices that can run J2ME applications. This

means that IPhones and Windows mobiles are out of scope at this time.

9 Functionality

9.1 Server Listener

The following is the Server Listener application’s functionality that is required to be

implemented:

1. Implement server listener that can responded to multiple clients by creating

sessions for each request.

2. Instructor can start a session by pressing Start button on web browser. Start

button will create a new session for a limited time.

3. New session number will be generated for the students to input and use on their

mobile app along with their student number.

4. Start Timer to give a chance for responses to be captured. This has not been

determined as yet until tested on a large group.

5. Deactivate Send button to ensure that the instructor cannot start another listener

session.

6. Start listening for response with the identification code attached at the beginning

of the response.

7. Store the response data into a database

8. Send out an end signal after a span of time (which has not been specified until

tested on a large group)

9. Activate the send button on the instructor’s application.

10. Press Start button for another question response

9.2 Graphical Presenter


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1 After the Server Listener time span for listening for responses is over, this The

Java based application will calculate number of responses as a Total value

2 Each response is categorized into possible answer such as A to D

3 Plus allowance for unlimited Other categories depending on different answers.

That is if the A to D answers are not suitable, students have a chance to input

their own answers. Each student may have the same or different answer which

will be identified graphically.

4 Each category is counted and divided by the total for a percentage value

5 The results are shown graphically in real time. The bar graph colour coded will

move as responses are captured by the server listener.

6 Each new session clears out the graphical presentation and responses to new

data.

7 Data collected in the database can be used later and can be used to create other

types of statistical information on student as their response and student number

are captured and stored.

9.3 Mobile Application

1 Web apps are the new multiplatform technology which enables the developer to

develop once and be used by any type of device that is capable of opening a

browser application.

2 The web app is presented as a native application without the URL textbox and

browser menus to allow users to click elsewhere. The app limits the presents and

functionality for the user to use only that is presented on the screen.

3 Start application which will capture the session identification sent by the Listening

Server

4 Activate Send button5 Textbox is provided for student to enter their student number

6 The student chooses a letter A to D depended on their appropriate answer, or

type in their own answer in a textbox provided.

7 Student presses the send button


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8 The identification is padded followed by a colon (:) and then the student

responses to the Listener.

9 Disable or Grey out send button after response has been sent to discourage user

to send out multiple responses.

9.4 Other Functionalities

To take advantage of the technology provided, I will add additional functions that will

benefit the instructor, school, and the students. For example there are times when the

instructors conduct peer discussions, that is ask one question, collect the result and ask

another question and compare the results. The instructor has the ablility to click on

previous session and see the results as well as click on the current session and be able

to compare in real time with graphically presented data.

Another neat functionality is for the students to submit questions and answers to the

server so that the instructor can pick any to ask the class. Or also for the students to be

able to pick questions from a set and answer them as a learning exercise.

10 Methodology

I have chosen Modified Waterfall Methodology as the development life cycle. Waterfall

methodology has six phases, which include requirements, design, development, testing,

implementation, and maintenance. Waterfall is the best methodology to use for this type

of project, which is small, and with clearly laid out static requirements. The ridged

management structure will ensure the project stays on course with a higher probability

of it being completed on time. In general, a pure Waterfall is always impossible to follow.

The methodology calls for total completion of each stage without the opportunity to

revert back to the earlier stages even if it means to improve the system. The system isfully developed with the given requirements and enhancements that are added into the

next version of the system.

Modified Waterfall methodology, such as Sashimi originated by Peter DeGrace, [1][5]

allows flexibility (as suggested by sashimi served on a plate because of its overlapping


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layers). If during implementation phase the system is not responding as expected, you

can revert back to the testing phase and correct a bug for a particular scenario that

could have been overlooked during previous phases. The iterative method helps

alleviate many of the problems associated with pure Waterfall, but to keep in mind not to

over extend the elasticity to the extent that new requirements are added to which there

is no end.

Sashimi Methodology


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Destination Server application listener on a server

Action Pressing the start button on the instructor’s laptop. Timer

will start, session identification is sent. All present mobile

devices with application to capture the identification will

save this ID on the device. As the student selects a letter

from A to D or types in text and presses send button the

identification is padded with the responses and sent to

server listener application. Answer is saved on a

database. Timer stops. Responses are calculated and

summarized as a chart and graphically shown in real timeusing Java graphical API

Requires Session Identification to make sure correct results are

tallied up

10.2 Design and Architecture

Server Listener System on the Server is a small application listening and buffering

characters as they are sent which are stored to a database. The goal is to write the

application using any programming language that is easy to implement such as Java to

take the advantage of graphical API for web presentation. This way the application does

not have to be rewritten for different types of operating systems like Mac OS, Windows,

and Linux which all have numerous versions.

Database can be a flat file, or small database such as MySQL since the data is

insignificant in size and content is not secure sensitive.


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The graphical presentation uses the Listener server to help summarize the data saved

and establish a graphical event that will generate a chart that can be shown to the

students in real time.

The mobile response application will be written in web app mainly because the easy of

cross platform capability and code only once for different mobile device OS.


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10.2.1 System Context Diagram

System Context Diagram


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10.3 Development and Code

This is where the fun begins and real work starts. Before starting, the coding

environment for development will need to be set up and installed. Installing the best

development work frame IDE such as Eclipse or Netbeans; Using Tomcat for the server

listener as well as web app web servlets for mobile device interface.

10.4 Quality Assurance and Testing

As the code is written, unit test and system test will be conducted using simulation of

Ipads, iphones and Android phones. As each feature is written and coded, the code is

tested for its integrity. Testing will be conducted using at least 2 different types of

phones after the simulation passes its test phase. After which the application will be

tested in a small classroom with multiple participants and multiple types of mobile

phones. Following the passing of the test, the application will be released for beta

testing which will involve installation of the server application on an instructor’s laptop

and instructing his/her students to download the mobile application on their phones to

try out the application on the day of a lecture. All feedback and interaction will be

videotaped for feedback purposes.

10.4.1 Test Criteria

Action Tested Comments

Start button on the laptop is pressed,

sending session identification

Start button on the laptop become disabled

Timer starts

Server responds to mobile device in coming

response


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Response is saved to a database with

session identification

After number of minutes Server stops

Listening

Start button on the laptop is enabled

each response is grouped into its own

category

The number is divided by the number of total

Pie chart representing the finds is drawn and

slide is opened on Server listener laptop

Send button on Mobile application on the

device must be enabled

Totals of each category is calculated

chart is created using Java graphic API

Start button on laptop is enabled

10.5 Implementation

Server Listener application is installed on a server Windows 2008 or Windows 7 and

Tomcat with at least version 6 The application can be downloaded from the given web

server for mobile devices from a given web server URL.

10.6 Maintenance and Support

This section is regarded for this project to be where any debugging that is required or

small enhancement from student feedback will be implemented.


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11 Deliverables

11.1.1 Server Listener

Start Listener

Disable Start Button

Start Timer

Disable Start Button

Send Session ID

Start Listener

Buffer Response

Save Response

Stop Timer

Calculate Total Number of Responses

Categorize Responses Based on Their Answer Key

Calculate Percentage of each Category

Create Chart via Graphical API

Enable Start Button

11.1.2 Mobile Application

Capture Session Identification from Wifi Network

Allow Student to Choose A – D

Textbox to allow Other answer

Pad Response with Session ID

Send Response via Text Message on Wifi Network

Disable Send Button until Start Button is pressed again by the Instructor

12 Schedule

The process started beginning of July with approximate date of completion as mid-Sept.

These dates are all estimates as there are inputs that are unknown such as how long it

will take for the proposal submission to come back as approved and ready to start the


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project. Also there are many aspects of development that are new and inexperienced

such as server listener for multiple sessions and web app development.


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Salma Lalji #A00109916 Final Project Page 25

Task NameStartDate

EndDate

%Complete Duration March April May June July

Section 1 - Project Identification andSelection

03/04/13 03/04/13 100 1 4 4

Meeting with instructor at UBC Faculty ofPharmaceutical Sci, UBC

03/04/13 03/04/13

Section 2 Planning and Scheduling 03/13/13 03/20/13 100 6 13 20Research Papers on Clicker technology 03/13/13 03/20/13

Research on Microsoft PowerPoint API

Section 3 Requirements and Specification 04/01/13 04/12/13 70 10 1 12Writing Proposal Paper 04/01/13 04/12/13

Section 4 Design Process 03/26/13 04/12/13 21 26 12Drawing Diagrams 03/26/13 04/12/13

Server Environment Implementation 03/26/13 04/12/13

Mobile Development EnvironmentImplementation

03/26/13 04/12/1313 13

Section 5 Software Coding 05/13/13 06/13/13 31 13 15Section 6 Testing and Validation 06/13/13 07/15/13 31 15 29Section 7 Debugging 07/15/13 07/29/13 14

114

3 Schedule Gnatt Chart


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13 References

1. A Guide to Project Management, William Fox, Gerrit Van der Waldt, Juta & Co.

Ltd, 2007

2. Browser-Based Mobile Clickers: Implementation And Challenges Monika

Andergassen, Karl Ledermueller, Gustaf Neumann, Victor Guerra WU - Vienna

University of Economics and Business

3. Lecture Engagement: The Mobile Participation System –Not Just Another Clicker

Marcial Lapp, Jeff Ringenberg, Kyle J. Summers, Ari S. Chivukula, Jeff FleszarCollege of Engineering, 2 Ross School of Business University of Michigan

4. Learning to Click: An Evaluation of the Personal Response System Clicker

Technology in Introductory Marketing Courses Journal of Marketing Education

April 2010 32: 93-103

5. Sashimi Waterfall Software Development Process, Posted By Jim Rising On May

- 6 – 2009, http://www.managedmayhem.com/2009/05/06/sashimi-waterfall-software-development-process/

6. Tremblay, E. (2010). Educating the Mobile Generation – using personal cell

phones as audience response systems in post-secondary science teaching.

Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching. 29 (2), pp. 217-

227. Chesapeake, VA: AACE.

7. Turning Technologies Canada. Higher Education,

http://www.turningtechnologies.ca/

8. Source: http://www.bluefountainmedia.com/blog/mobileapp/

9. http://econsultancy.com/ca/blog/7832thefightgetstechnicalmobileappsvsmobilesites

http://www.managedmayhem.com/2009/05/06/sashimi-waterfall-software-development-process/http://www.managedmayhem.com/2009/05/06/sashimi-waterfall-software-development-process/http://www.managedmayhem.com/2009/05/06/sashimi-waterfall-software-development-process/http://www.managedmayhem.com/2009/05/06/sashimi-waterfall-software-development-process/http://www.turningtechnologies.ca/http://www.turningtechnologies.ca/http://www.bluefountainmedia.com/blog/mobile-app/http://www.bluefountainmedia.com/blog/mobile-app/http://www.bluefountainmedia.com/blog/mobile-app/http://econsultancy.com/ca/blog/7832-the-fight-gets-technical-mobile-apps-vs-mobile-siteshttp://econsultancy.com/ca/blog/7832-the-fight-gets-technical-mobile-apps-vs-mobile-siteshttp://www.bluefountainmedia.com/blog/mobile-app/http://www.turningtechnologies.ca/http://www.managedmayhem.com/2009/05/06/sashimi-waterfall-software-development-process/http://www.managedmayhem.com/2009/05/06/sashimi-waterfall-software-development-process/


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10. https://wss.apan.org/jko/mole/Shared%20Documents/Cross-Platform%20Mobile%20Development.pdf

11.

1. Walkthrough: Creating Your First Application-Level Add-in for PowerPoint,

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/vstudio/cc668192.aspx

2.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/vstudio/cc668192.aspxhttp://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/vstudio/cc668192.aspxhttp://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/vstudio/cc668192.aspx


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14 Appendices

14.1 Appendix A - Full Picture of the FMRS

Overview of the Flexible Mobile Response System


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14.2 Appendix B - Students using Smart Phones

Students responding via their cell phones

14.3 Appendix C - Results as Pie Chart

Example of a Pie Chart of the Results

A

B

C

D

BCIT 8045 Major Project Proposal Submitted 20130706

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