POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINESTAGUIG BRANCHGeneral Santos Avenue, Bicutan Taguig City

Polytechnic University of the Philippines Taguig Branch Mobile Application

PUP MONOGRAPH SERIESSY 2014-2015

Polytechnic University of the Philippines Taguig Branch Mobile Application

Badilla, Nikki Mae A.Assistant Leader/ProgrammerBlk 135 Lot 2 Phase 3Upper Bicutan Taguig City+639092744927Badilla.nikkimae@gmail.com Catimbang Angela H.Document Analyst/Tester24 Sampaguita St., Western Bicutan, Taguig City+639062238997angela.catimbang@gmail.comDe Vera, RubenTester/Media Specialist203 Primerose St., Lakeview Homes, Putatan, Muntinlupa City+639167857873ruben.devera@gmail.com

Garcia, Elmer L.Project Leader/Programmer54b National Road, Putatan Muntinlupa City+639092316341Garcia.elmer@gmail.comOstonal, Anna Marie J.Document Analyst/ Lead Tester#386 2nd St., GHQ Village, Brgy.Katuparan,Taguig City+639476695766anna.ostonal@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The aim of this document is to study how students and faculty members of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Taguig branch know up-to-date events and/or announcements within the campus community. The key objective of this android application is to grant students of PUP-Taguig a trouble-free dissemination of announcements, news and events, and a convenient campus companion right on your android handset. This mobile application is based on the official website of the campus which is the taguig.pup.edu.ph. The problem relies on how the PUP Taguig community be updated to all the events and activities the campus have done. In order to comply with this problem, an android application is developed. After conducting the alpha testing, the results showed that the applications performance is very satisfactory. The documentation of the study was structured in five main chapters: (1) Introduction, refers to aim, scopes and limitations and the study of the problem; (2)Review of related literature, includes the foreign and local studies and literatures; (3)Methodology, comprise of the planning, analysis and the design of the application; (4)Results and discussions, contains the results of the alpha testing that was conducted; (5) Conclusion and recommendation, discuss the preferred conclusion and recommendation based on the results.

Keywords: mobile application, course management

1. INTRODUCTIONWe cannot deny the fact that technology has ruled the planet right before our very eyes. Due to the fast development of the society, the researchers decide to come up with an android application that will suit the universitys craving for new technology. Like in any other State University which doesnt use any course management application, activities such as giving assignments and announcements are done either manually or online (through social media websites) which sometimes require time for a response. This process is also used for communication regarding campus matters. Although this process is already accommodated by the university website (www.puptaguig.net,), university pages and other course groups on Facebook and other social media sites, the teaching staffs of the University will find it beneficial if there is a mobile application that is handy to help them manage the activities they usually practice in their works.

1.1 Project ContextThe Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Taguig Mobile Application is an android course management application that is developed using an android development tool. It handles all the online and offline transactions that aids both the faculty staffs and students of PUP Taguig. These online transactions include university announcements, news and events, frequently asked questions, suggestions to certain offices, counselling schedule, and faculty about, while the offline transactions take account of general information about the campus. The Administrator of the application has an access to the report and certain concerns regarding the said transactions. The application is developed to help both the faculty staffs and students of the institution to build up effective communication that fits their busy schedule.

1. 2 Purpose and Description of the ProjectTechnology is already considered as a necessity nowadays. As a matter of fact, owning a smart phone doesnt elevate ones status in the society because high, middle, or lower class people can now buy smart phones despite the brand or specifications. PUP Taguig is one of the branches of the Philippines top universities. Students in PUP Taguig have an open mind in using the current technology to create something that can be used to promote education or even the lifestyle of PUPians. This led the researchers to the idea of generating an android application of the PUP Taguig website that brings suitable and trouble-free access to the PUP Taguig branch. The feasible outcomes of this solution are:(1) Up-to-date announcements, (2) Monitored news and events,(3) Optimized communication between campus superior to subordinates and community, (4) Interactive learning between the students and their respective professors.

1.3 Objectives of the ProjectThe objectives of the project are: To develop an Interactive Mobile Application for Polytechnic University of the Philippines Taguig Campus; To identify the services and other features that are made available using the mobile application, this take account of: Up-to-date University announcements; Fingertip relation between superior and subordinates; Update/s of the campus news and events; Contact us feature to know how to contact the developers; Fingertip access to your appointments by the use of to do list feature; Submission of your own work in literary work; Suggestion/s to campus offices through Campus Suggestions; Acquisition of your needed counselling and advices through Counselling Services feature; Knowledge about the professors in PUPT through professors about panel; Access to other applications developed for PUP Taguig; Add feedback to give us your evaluation about the app. To formulate specific guidelines and policies for PUPT Mobile App; To customize the PUPT Mobile App according to the needs of the clients; To substitute puptaguig.net with the aid of a mobile application.

1.4 Scope and Limitation of the ProjectPUPT Mobile App is an android based mobile application which aided both professors and students with regards to disseminating university information. The application does not replace any teaching method and medium each faculty is currently using. This will only be a supplementary means for them to use with regards to keeping in touch with the campus community.The scope of this study ranges from the features of the PUPT mobile application as listed below: Announcement Module- This allows the users to view up-to-date announcements in the university. News and events Module- This allows the users to view the latest news and events within the campus community. About PUP Module- This allows the users to view the general information about of PUP Taguig. Professors About Module- This allows the users to view the list of professors of PUP Taguig and their schedule. To Do List Module- This allows the users to add personal to do lists. Literary Module- This allows the users to send literary works and to be subjected for the approval of the administrator. Office Suggestion Module- This allows the users to send suggestion to a certain office. Frequently Asked Questions Module- This allows the users to send questions and to be subjected for the approval and response of the administrator. Counselling Schedule Module- This allows the users to set a schedule with the guidance counsellor for counselling. PUPT Application Module- This allows the users to use our application as a portal to other applications applicable for PUP Taguig. Contact Us Module- This allows the users to view the contact information of PUP Taguig. Application Feedback Module- This allows the users to rate our application.The study limits the coverage of the following:The study limits the coverage of the different modules present in the PUP Taguig website such as: Students module (admission/board passers/ROIS etc.) Faculty and Staff modules (FEA website) Alumni (Alumni community website) Other online services

1.5 Significance of the ProjectThe purpose of PUPT Mobile App is to generate an ample and tranquil mobile application in viewing and updating announcements and events. Therefore, the result of this study will benefit the students, teachers and faculty. The projects goal is deliberated to help the student to be updated about the important happenings in the campus. Furthermore, this study serves as a hypothetical model for the future studies of the same nature if ever the existing problem would penetrate or exist in the future. Future researches will benefit from this study and it will provide them the facts needed to compare their study during their respective time and usability.

2. TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

2.1 Details of the technologies used Android Development ToolSince this project is concentrated on developing a mobile application, the developers used ADT Bundle or Eclipse as the primary tool upon developing the application. Wi-Fi ( Wireless Fidelity)A facility that allows computers, smartphones, or other devices to connect to the Internet or communicate with one another wirelessly within a particular area (Wikipedia).The client (browser) will request the data to be displayed on the application from the databases and connection is also a primary technology needed. Data connection (GPRS/3G/4G/LTE)It is another mode of connection through the use of the data connection of the carrier service (GLOBE, SUN, SMART).

2.2 How the project will workThe project needs some conditions that the researchers fulfilled for it to work. First of all, the developers achieved all of the goals of this project. The output application provided all the features that the client needed. After the developmental phase, in the implementation phase, the software itself is accessible to the users and the users had their own android handset with installed application. They also had their own internet connection because most of the mobile application features needed to be online for it fetches its data on the databases.

3. METHODOLOGYThe researchers use the traditional systems development technique or the structured analysis because of the following reasons:* To ensure that the project satisfies the users;* To have an accurate time frame within the study;* To have documentation of the project.Structured analysis has a series of phases called Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) that tackles planning, analysis, designing, implementation and maintenance. This will guide the researchers to achieve the rightful results.

3.1 Project Identification and SelectionThe researchers are given a task of developing a useful android application. At first, the researchers thought of developing something that a student can use offline such as a school buddy application which has features of taking down notes, assignments, appointments, calendar or as simple as an organizer. But after sometime, they thought of developing something that can be used not just by students but also by the whole community. That is when they formulated an idea of having PUP Taguig mobile app which features the announcements, news and events, professors about, counselling schedule, suggestions to offices, frequently asked questions, to-do lists, literary, PUPT applications, application feedback and information about the said university.

3.2 Project Initiation and Planning

3.2.1 System PlanAt this point, the researchers tried to understand why the project had to be built, how it will be built and what the future outcome of the project is.

3.2.1 Project InitiationFirst and foremost, the researchers would conduct a feasibility study on the four aspects respectively:

Operational FeasibilityMobile applications are indeed a great manifestation of technology. In terms of operational feasibility of the PUPT Mobile Application, the time it entered its market, the app is not just be useful but it is also be a necessity for the users. Since the app is connected to the existing PUP Taguig website, and the hosting for the said website is being paid, additional cost will be charged upon the connection of the databases. In terms of manpower, an administrator is needed to manage the features of the app such as the announcements, news and events, and troubleshooting. Announcements that are been posted is only came from trusted officials of the said university to lessen the risk of spreading false information. News and events are regulated on a regular basis to keep the community updated about the approaching events and latest news. Frequently asked questions and suggestions to certain offices are also accommodated by the administrator for approval and response. Counselling schedule is accommodated by the guidance counsellor for the approval of the said appointment. The intellectual property of this project is gone firmly to the PUP Taguig students listed. Not a part of the proposal, feasibility research, and the mobile application itself could not be disseminated or copied without the consent of its author and developers.

Technical FeasibilityThe wide spread of website applications has been very evident across the globe. This progress in our present technology allows the research team to develop the PUPT mobile application. The users of the said application is required to have an Android supported handset with an Android version of 4.0 (ICS) or higher with an available space of at least 10mb. By surveillance, the majority of the PUP Taguig students already have a smart phone but for those who do not have one, the cheapest existing android handset in the marketplace (Philippines) is ranging about P2, 000 P2, 500 pesos. They also need to have internet connections in their handset. It may be through data connection or Wi-Fi connection.

Compatibility CheckingThe PUPT Mobile Application runs with the unlimited space of web hosting site, tablet and mobiles with an android operating system and high-level performance. The client-side workstation is required to have an android operating system for mobile handset with an android version of 4.0 (ICS) or higher and an available space of at least 10MB of RAM.

Relevance of the TechnologyThis application is a prime example. Students could find out what they want to know, quickly, easily and without a great expense. Information is available to help the students know what are the announcements and news and events in the university. If they want to ask something to the certain offices, they can ask through this application. Information is available about any subject you can imagine, and it's usually very inexpensive.

Schedule FeasibilityThe researchers use the Gantt chart which served as a guide in conducting the research and in knowing the next steps to be taken. The chart is also utilized to keep track the tasks to be done in a specific time and day.

Legal FeasibilityLegal feasibility involves in verifying the legal validity of this mobile application.Copyright IssuesThe researchers use free and open source technologies and tools in developing this mobile application. Therefore, there is no violation of any law. If any articles or images from any other publication are used in this application, we excluded the liability by indicating their respective reference sources. Government ConstraintsSince this mobile application is implemented in a government institute, it may be subject to rules & regulations imposed & even funding constraints.

Economic feasibilityThis project is not mainly concerning the cost-benefit of what is invested into the project. The main distress of this project is to offer updates to PUP Taguig students with reference to the happenings inside the University through the use of android handset. The researchers also aimed to let the students keep in touch with their colleagues and/or professors regarding important subject matters.

3.3 Analysis

Benefits AnalysisThe researchers analyzed the current system as compared to the proposed system with the use of a comparison table.Current SystemProposed System

Desktop/Laptop basedMobile application

Can only be viewed as a website through a computer/laptopUses android phones

Announcements can only be seen in websiteAnnouncements through the application module can disseminate information easily

Open for all (non-PUPT people)Exclusive for PUPT community

Requires internet connectionRequires internet connection

Cost AnalysisDevelopment CostsHardware Costs Existing resources in premises & the personal handset of the users are used. In case the existing handset will be broken or damage due to the application, the replacement will exist.Software costsSoftwares needed are free and open source. But if there would come a time that they will provide new software they will buy for it.Initial implementation CostsThe existing web host of the institution is used. The cost would be their fee to the host.

Operational Costs Staffing the system is not a problem because there are students from the department that can handle and maintain the application.Cost of the physical location is not needed. The office of the institution is the physical location.

Requirements ModelingInput-Process-OutputINPUTPROCESSOUTPUT

Import announcements from www.puptaguig.netCampus announcements viewed on android handset

Import news and events from ww.puptaguig.netCampus news and upcoming events viewed on android handset

Input a question.Questions are sent to administrator side of the website, subjected for the approval and response of the administrator.Frequently Asked Questions that is sent from mobile device is notified and displayed through our application.

Input a literary piece.Literary piece is sent to administrator side of the website, subjected for the approval of the administrator.Literary piece that is sent from mobile device is notified and displayed through our application.

Input a suggestion.Suggestions sent to administrator side of the website.Suggestions that are sent from mobile device displayed based on the offices in our website.

Input a to-do list.To-do list saved in our mobile application. To-do lists viewed on android handset.

Input a desired schedule for counselling.Counselling schedule is subjected for approval of the guidance counsellor.

Import schedule of the professors from puptaguig.netSchedule of professors viewed on android handset

PerformanceThe PUPT mobile application has already passed the criteria to be able to say that it has a good performance; quickly responds, could be viewed easily, and updates current and upcoming information.

3.4 DesignOutput and User-InterfaceTo verify some environment, errors and other necessity for the application, prototyping is highly applied in the development process. The initial prototype is automatically reflected the developers perceptive of those early requirements. After presenting the initial prototype of the application, it proceeds to the next form of the communicating process. The users gave the developers their feedbacks, corrected any misconstructions, and recognized mistakes or other requirements they did not expect on their own. The process at this point becomes iterative; the developers made new versions according to the users feedbacks, presented it again to the user, and finalized the changes required, until they meet the preferences of the users.The researchers conducted numerous researches about first-rate user interface designs for android apps which resulted to numerous trials for a model.

Data DesignData DictionaryAnnouncementsField nameData typeDescription

Anmt_IDAutoNumberPrimary Key

Anmt_NameTextdisplay name

Anmt_dateDate&TimeDay and time the announcement is made

News and eventsField nameData typeDescription

ne_IDAutoNumberPrimary Key

ne_NameTextdisplay name

ne_dateDate&TimeDay and time the event/news is made

FeedbackField nameData typeDescription

Ridint(11)Primary Key

Feedbackvarchar(250)Feedback/message

Ratingint(11)Rating

DatedateDate rated

Office SuggestionsField nameData typeDescription

suggestIDint(11)Primary Key

studNumvarchar(15)Student Number

Officevarchar(25)Name of the office

Messagevarchar(250)Suggestion/message

suggestDatedateDate of suggestion

studNamevarchar(50)Student Name

3.5 ImplementationThe developers will provide the users an audio and video presentation of the application including the video on how to use the application. The team will also conduct parallel implementation to further innovate the old system.

3.6 MaintenanceAfter the system is implemented, the developers will perform maintenance to ensure that the system is working properly and that the end user is satisfies with the service the application is offering. Corrective Maintenance - The developers will be checking and fixing errors in the system. Adaptive maintenance - adds new capability and enhancements, Perfective maintenance - improves efficiency, and perfective maintenance - improves efficiency, andPreventive maintenance - reduces the possibility of future system failure.

4. DISCUSSIONSConclusionsThe researchers conducted research on how to provide a trouble-free access to www.puptaguig.net and PUPT community with the use of establishing links between android and the web. To facilitate this, the researchers developed PUP Taguig Mobile Application, a systematic android program with a variety of modules and functions that serve as a portal to www.puptaguig,net where all news and event of PUPT campus are posted. After our alpha and beta test, the results showed that PUPT Mobile is not yet at its best because of some filters and user interface designs that are essential to be furnished. Finally the researchers explored possible ways in which the current condition may be enhanced and next generation solutions may be developed.Therefore, the researchers concluded that they had improved the features existing in this mobile application.

RecommendationsAfter the test, the researchers received recommendations to improve the PUP Taguig mobile.Improve Graphical User interface;Use colours appropriate for the application;Make the applications response faster.In creating an android application we considered different factors such as its (1) Functionality; Are all buttons functioning? Does it provide good graphical user interface? (2) Usability; Is the working-interface responsive? Or is it easy to operate and navigate the program? (3) Reliability; Can it retrieve the records accurately? Is the performance assed well? And (4) Performance; Does it respond quickly? Does it update current and upcoming information? Can it be easily viewed?Does if these factors satisfied future works will be a success of the creator and developers.

5. REFERENCESPUP Taguig Moodle Garcia, Domingo, Guererro, Mark Anthony, Portillo, Edward Allen, Rosario, Josner, (2013).My teacher is an Android: Engaging learners through an Android application, Lyndon Walker , Faculty of Higher Education , Swinburne University of Technology (2011)http://www.irrodl.org/http://www.schoolinfoapp.com/https://play.google.comhttp://www.netsupportsoftware.com/http://alchemiaandroid.altervista.org/http://www.phonearena.com/news/The-best-Android-browsers-2014-edition-design-features-and-performance_id58350