STRATHMORE UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF INFORMATION TECHONOLOGY

TITLE: STRATHMORE DIRECTIONAL AND INTERACTIVE PORTAL

Student Name: ANN NDUNG’U
Student no: 068387

Diploma in Business Information Technology
Date: 29/04/2013
Declaration
I Ann Nyokabi Ndung’u declare that this project has not been submitted to any other University for the award of a Diploma in Business Information Technology or any academic award.

Student Name: Ann Nyokabi Ndung’u

Sign: ________________________

Supervisor’s Name: Bernard Shibwabo
Sign: ________________________

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First and foremost, I would like to thank the Almighty God for giving me strength, wisdom and knowledge to carry on my project.
My supervisor, Mr. Bernard who willingly accepted to supervise me and guide me through my project and ensure its completion.I consulted him when in doubt and he never stopped correcting me whenever I went wrong. I appreciate his effort for the far I have reached.

Also much appreciation goes to my mum and siblings for providing me with the material; financial and moral support required undertaking this project and making it a success.
I can’t also forget to thank my friends who encouraged me all through and gave me motivation that I was able to make this system. They have believed in me the same way I have believed in them and would like to let them know that we are grateful for their support.
Particularly in my friends I feel greatly indebted to Naftally Muriuki, Salu Oscar, Ken Kinoti and Sam Machohi.Thanks for your professional unending support.
DEDICATION
I dedicate this project to my family and good friends who left a mark in my heart.

Thank You. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!

Abstract
Strathmore University has experienced issues of first years taking too long to locate classrooms within the institution and sometimes finding themselves in the wrong rooms at the wrong time. My project therefore focused on developing a directional and interactive portal that will be of importance to institution. The portal is used to give directions to first years transitioning from high school and students returning after a few years of working. This will ensure that students spend minimal time looking for rooms and other areas around the institution.
The portal also provides an interactive platform where students can interact with each other through asking questions and getting feedback from fellow students. In the development of this portal, HTML and PHP are incorporated as the programming languages, Dreamweaver as the web editor to design the portal, Microsoft Word for both the proposal and documentation, MySQL database for purposes of information storage and Microsoft windows 7 as the operating system.

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Table of Contents
Declaration 2
Abstract 4
Table of contents 5
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION 8
1.1 Background 8
1.2 Problem Statement 9
1.3 Objectives 9
1.4Justification 9
1.5 Scope/limitation 10
Chapter 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 11
2.1 Directional portal……………………………………………………………………………..11
2.2 Interactive portal……………………………………………………………………………...12
2.3 Summary……………………………………………………………………………………..12
Chapter 3: METHODOLOGY 13
3.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………..13
3.2 Software tools…………………………………………………………………………………14
3.3 Fact finding techniques……………………………………………………………………….15
3.4Outcomes……………………………………………………………………………………..15
3.5Deliverables……………………………………………………………………………………15
Chapter 4: SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS AND DESIGN DESCRIPTION 16
4.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………..16
4.2 Analysis……………………………………………………………………………………….16
4.2.1Project Narrative…………………………………………………………………………….16
4.2.2 Use Case……………………………………………………………………………………18
4.2.3 Analyzed questionnaire data…………………………………………………………………22
4.3 Design………………………………………………………………………………………...25
Chapter 5: SUMMARY CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION. 29
5.1Conclusion .29
5.1.1Benefits .29
5.1.2Achievements .29
5.1.3Challenges .30
References .31
Appendix .32

List of Figures

Figure 1:Use Case Diagram for Strathmore Directional and Interactive Portal 21
Figure 2: Class Diagram for Strathmore Directional and Interactive Portal 26
Figure 3:Database Schema for Strathmore Directional and Interactive Portal 27
Figure 4:Entity Relationship Diagram for Strathmore Directional and Interactive Portal 28

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the problem
Strathmore University is a centre of excellence and one of the best and prestigious Universities in Kenya. It was started in 1961 as an A-level College by a group of professionals who inspired and encouraged the people who started the college life. Due to increased demands for professional training, Strathmore population has grown in leaps and bounds from 25 students in 1961 to a population of approximately 5,000 students in 2013.
The size of land covered by the University buildings has also increased and different buildings are now situated in different locations called phases. The University has three phases which are; phase one, phase two and phase three. There are different buildings located in each phase i.e. lecture theatres, Library, Management Science Building, cafeteria among others.
Starting a new educational journey in Strathmore is exciting and overwhelming. Whether you are transitioning from high school or returning after a few years of working, there are so many decisions to make and challenges to face. However, hustles of locating classrooms and other areas around the school turns out to be a headache due to different locations of rooms, large population in the institution and lack of familiarity with the various buildings around the school. This web portal will help students be successful and enjoy their first year of university life by providing a supportive, caring environment of educational services by giving directions to basic areas around the school.
Connallen (2000), who has adapted the unified modelling language (UML) to web applications, asserts that although websites can be characterized historically as graphically intense hypermedia systems, they have now evolved from cyber-brochures into database-driven information systems that must integrate with existing operations within the organization, and often need to connect with various people within the organization. Therefore, providing a forum on the website where students can interact through asking questions and getting responses from fellow students will help various students connect with each other.

1.2 Problem Statement
Since there is a large population of students in the university, location of different buildings and rooms within the institution has become difficult. Increased size of the University land has also led to confusion while locating different areas around Strathmore. There has also been time wastage as new students try locating lecture theatres, rooms and other places that they know little of their whereabouts. Cases of students finding themselves in the wrong rooms at the wrong time have also been there especially with new students.

1.3 Objectives
a) To give directions in an accurate and precise manner to new students.
b) To help students save time that might be spent wandering around while trying to locate various places within the institution.
c) To provide a virtual learning guide for anyone especially students who want to know the surrounding easily.
d) To provide an interactive platform where students can interact with each other through asking questions and getting feedback from fellow students.

1.4 Justification
This portal is of great importance not only to first year students but also to the institution as a whole because it will lead to the following benefits:
a) Reduction of time wastage by students since directions to various places will be given in an accurate and precise manner.
b) Easy locating of rooms and areas around the institution.
c) Better interaction of students with other students through the forum section where students ask questions and other students answer them.
d) Punctuality in attending lectures since students can know the specific places they are supposed to be in for a certain lecture.
e) Students can use other students’ postings as a source of information and to benchmark their own progress or development of ideas.
f) Students can find fellow students and form a group for group assignments when they don’t know anyone in the class.
g) Enabling students to make connections and stay connected to other students.

2.1 Scope This project mainly focuses on giving directions to new students who join the University and those who return after a few years of working. This will help save time and reduce confusion within the institution. It also aims on providing an interactive platform where students can interact with each other hence cultivating the spirit of helping each other thus cordial relationships between students. On the geographical perspective, the project is limited to Strathmore University.

Chapter 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Directional portal
Getting from place to place is essential to everyday life. Often, we rely on directions from others to help us navigate to unfamiliar destinations and locations around an institution or even sites. These route descriptions may contain a variety of cues, including cardinal directions (e.g., north, south), left and right turns, landmarks, and street names. The goal of this project was to understand the cues people use when giving directions for navigation. Hund , Seanor and Hopkins(2006) investigated whether the information provided depended on recipient perspective, investigations were carried out using streets and landmarks to locate places around a town .On the second trials, participants were instructed to provide directions for a fictitious recipient who was looking at a map of the town using the cardinal points of a compass. As predicted, people included significantly more landmarks and left–right descriptions when addressing a recipient driving in the town. In contrast, they used significantly more cardinal descriptors when addressing a recipient looking at a map. Participants included street names very often, regardless of condition. These findings suggest that recipient perspective affects direction-giving processes.
Hund et al. (2006) also examined the effectiveness of these navigation directions from the recipient’s perspective. A new group of 80 college student participants read sets of descriptions (provided by participants in Experiment 1) for navigating particular routes in our fictitious model town. They were asked to rate each route description based on its effectiveness for aiding navigation using a 7-point Likert-type scale. Participants rated as highly effective the descriptions that utilized left-right turns and distance references. In contrast, they rated as less effective descriptions that made use of cardinal directions.
Together, these findings confirm that direction giving and following are dynamic processes that depend on interactions between those providing directions, the recipients of such directions, and the environments through which they navigate. Thus, they add to our understanding of skillful direction giving and following in the service of navigation.

2.2 Interactive portal
Alexander and Golja (2007) conducted a research on how vital an online forum would be to students. Feedback from students in the qualitative questions about what UTSOnline enables them to do that they couldn’t do otherwise also revealed how students are learning with and from their peers in these interactive portal contexts, as well as what they find useful about such interactions. For example, students responded that UTSOnline enables them to:
a) Have discussions with a larger group of people (outside their friendship groups or tutorial class and across all students in the subject or course).
b) Converse with students outside of class times and continue conversations that start in tutorials.
c) Have access to a diverse range of ideas and opinions.
d) Ask questions and get answers from students with whom they would not otherwise have a chance to interact with.
e) View the kinds of problems other students are having.

2.3 Summary
In a nut shell, directions to different places can be given using descriptions that utilizes left-right turns and distance references, some landmarks as well as descriptions that make use of cardinal directions. Descriptions that utilize left-right turns and distance references as well as some landmarks are more effective compared to those that use cardinal directions. An interactive portal enhances better interactions among students and accrues too many benefits as mentioned above hence becoming useful to students.

Chapter 3: METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction
The project uses the object oriented methodology that models a system as a group of interacting objects. This methodology is relevant because it allows use of models for proper verification of the analysis. The object oriented approach has the following phases:
Requirements
Information about the proposed system is gathered and distilled from the user and system requirements .Requirement elicitation, classification, organization, prioritization, negotiation and documentation is also done in this phase.
Analysis
In this phase, system requirements are studied and structured. Definition of tasks to be carried out in the project is also clarified. Use cases which describe how users will perform tasks on the software are also developed.
Design
This stage is responsible for handling the specification of tasks in such a way that is possible to easily figure out the details which are related to solution. The recommended solution is converted into logical and then physical system specifications. Class diagrams which describe the structure of the system, its attributes, operations and relationship among the classes are drawn in this phase.
Implementation
It involves executing the final system. The developed and complete system is put into practice so to perform its specific activities hence accomplishing its objectives
Testing
The developed system or application is tested and reports are prepared about bugs in the system. Testing is done in different levels and methods of testing i.e. Unit testing and System testing. Test cases are used during testing where invalid inputs and inputs that force the system to generate errors are keyed in to help identify errors in the system. The system then goes to development phase for error rectification and again tested, the process continues until the system is found to be error free.
Maintenance
The developed system or application is maintained in an appropriate manner so as to provide the desired results..
PHP which is a scripting language that can be embedded into HTML has been used in coming up with this system .PHP can support a wide range of databases.HTML (Hyper-Text Markup Language) language is the language used to create the basic elements of web pages. It is the language that instructs a web browser what to do with the text, images, and other media—you want others to see Aronson.L (1994). The main web design aspects are purpose, web content, visual elements Powell (2000).

3.2 Software tools
a) Dreamweaver which is a web editor used to design websites.
b) MySQL database for purposes of information storage
c) Microsoft windows 7 as the operating system.
d) Microsoft Visio for drawing analysis and design diagrams.
The reasons for using this software tools are:
a) The editor has numerous features that are meant to make your job of creating and maintaining a site easier and more efficient.
b) Dreamweaver has a visual interface that lets one see what the web page looks like even as you create it.
c) Centralized MySQL database for easy access and retrieval of information

3.3 Fact finding techniques
I administered questionnaires to various first year students who gave feedback on their view about the website. This helped in knowing whether the site would be been vital to them. However, some respondents were not willing to answer while others answered superficially.
Reasons for using Questionnaires
a) The responses are gathered in a standardized way, since questionnaires are more objective, certainly more so than interviews.
b) It is relatively quick to collect information using a questionnaire.
c) While using questionnaires large area can be covered hence collection of diverse information.
3.4 Outcomes
a) A virtual learning guide for students and anyone who wants to know the surrounding of the institution easily
b) An interactive forum where students can freely interact with each other.
c) A conceptual model consisting of use case and class diagram.

3.5 Deliverables
-+ The deliverables of this project are:
a) Project proposal
b) A Report on the project
c) A Complete document of the project
d) Analysis and Design diagrams(Use case, Class diagram, Database Schema and Entity Relationship diagram)

Chapter 4: SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS ANALYSIS AND DESIGN DESCRIPTION
4.1 Introduction
This involves analysis and design of the developed system. It contains database design, design of the architecture chosen, functional specification design, low level design documents, high level design documents among others.
4.2 Analysis
Analysis is the systematic examination and evaluation of data or information, by breaking it into its component parts to uncover their interrelationships, thus providing basis for problem solving and decision making.
The analysis stage is where the project lifecycle begins. It is where you break down the deliverables in the high-level Project Charter into the more detailed business requirements. Overall direction that the project will take is identified through the creation of the project strategy documents. It contains the following items:
a) Project narrative
b) Use case diagram
c) Analyzed questionnaire data

4.2.1 Project Narrative
The application created is a Directional and Interactive portal that provides directions within the institution and an interactive forum for first years transitioning from high school and students returning after a few years of working. It has the following tabs:
Home: Enables one to get to the initial page of the portal.
About us: It contains a brief description of the portal.
Contact us: Has the phone number and email address that can be used to get in touch with the organization in case one wants to inquire about something.
Location: It is a tab that when clicked will show places of which one can get directions to.
Forum: It provides an interactive session where students can ask questions, get responses and also give responses to questions asked by other students.
The portal provides the following services to students:
1) Students can seek directions of various places within the institution and get feedback on where the various places are located.
2) Students can ask a question in the forum
3) Students can view responses given to questions in the forum.
4) Students can view questions posted in the forum section by other students
5) Students can give response to questions asked by fellow students

It has a database that stores the log in details, contacts, students’ details, administrator’s details, questions asked in the forum and responses given to those questions. The directions section uses Google maps where students can be able to get directions of various places by placing markers on the specific locations of interest.
The portal is accessible anytime, anywhere and services a number of students at the same time since it is web based. Students are able to navigate from one tab to another when looking for different information and carrying out various activities. Students can also refresh the web pages when needed. They are also required to register so as to use the portal.
A student is required to login using a username and password which will be verified for correct authentication. The application then communicates with the database when verifying the log in credentials. If the students log in credentials does not match with those in the database (are invalid), he/she is required to re-enter the user name and password before accessing the portal’s contents. Students are able to leave the website by clicking on the logout button
The System administrator maintains the application. The portal is sustained by paying for the domain name and the server space.
4.2.2 Use Case
A use case is a description of how users will perform tasks on software or an application. It contains actors who initiate actions on the system. Use cases relate to each other in two ways which are: include and extend. A use case can include another use case. A use case that is included is generally a common behavior that many use cases may need. A use case can extend a use case by adding new actions to it.

Use case: Seek directions
This use case is initiated by the student to seek directions of specific places within Strathmore University which are located on the Google map.
Initial step by step description
Before this use case can be initiated, the student must provide a valid username and password.
a. The student clicks on the link “Click me to explore Strathmore” on the directions page.
b. The map loads and the student place markers on the location of interest.
c. The locations are zoomed in and the student is able to get directions of the specific places of interest.

Use case: Ask a question in the forum
The student posts a question in the forum. The question can either be academic or non-academic.
Initial Step-By-Step Description
The student has to provide a valid username and password before this use case can be initiated.
a. The student clicks on forum tab.
b. The student completes the given form, and clicks on the submit button.
c. The view topic message is displayed when the question is successfully posted.
Use case: View given responses
The student views the responses given to questions asked by him/her or by other students.
Initial Step-By-Step Description
The student has to provide a valid username and password before this use case can be initiated.
a. The student clicks on forum tab.
b. The student then clicks on the view available topics link.
c. The student then views various topics and replies given to specific questions under those topics.

Use case: View questions posted in the forum
The student views the questions posted by other students in the forum
Initial Step-By-Step Description
Before this use case can be initiated, the student has to provide a valid username and password.
a. The student clicks on forum tab.
b. The student then clicks on the view available topics link.
c. The student then views various topics and questions posted under those topics.

Use case: Give responses to questions asked
The student gives responses to questions asked by other students in the forum
Initial Step-By-Step Description
Before this use case can be initiated, the student has to provide a valid username and password.
a) The student clicks on forum tab.
b) The student then clicks on the view available topics link.
c) The student then views various topics and questions posted under those topics.
d) The student then gives response to questions he or she has knowledge about.

USE CASE DIAGRAM Figure 1:Use Case Diagram for Strathmore Directional and Interactive Portal

4.2.3 Analyzed questionnaire data
After administering questionnaires to various first year students in Strathmore, I analyzed the collected data and represented it in form of pie charts as follows:

Question one
How did you get to know the location of various places around Strathmore?

Question two
How long did it take you to know various places around the institution?

Question 3
Have you ever missed a class because you didn’t know where the class was been held? Question four
Did you experience any challenges because you didn’t know where a certain place was located?

Question five
Do you think an interactive portal is vital to students and/or visitors? From the analysis of the questionnaire data, it is evident that a directional and interactive portal is vital to students since it will enable them learn where specific places are located within the institution and also reduce time taken to know where the various places are located.
Among the reasons given by the students as to why an interactive portal is vital are:
a) It enables students to save time
b) Students get to meet new people
c) It is convenient for shy students who are afraid to ask questions.

4.3 Design
Design is specifying the structure of how a software system will be written and function, without actually writing the complete implementation. It involves Realization of a concept or idea into a configuration, drawing, model, mould, pattern, plan or specification which helps achieve the item's designated objectives. It is a transition from what the system must do, to how the system will do it
The following diagrams are drawn in this phase:
a) Class diagrams
b) Database schema
c) Entity relationship diagram

Figure 2: Class Diagram for Strathmore Directional and Interactive Portal Figure 3:Database Schema for Strathmore Directional and Interactive Portal

Figure 4: Entity Relationship Diagram for Strathmore Directional and Interactive Portal
Chapoter 5: SUMMARY CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Conclusion
In conclusion this portal is not only vital to first years but also other students within Strathmore University.
5.1.1 Benefits
a) Reduction of time wastage by students since directions to various places will be given in an accurate and precise manner.
b) Easy locating of rooms and areas around the institution.
c) Better interaction of students with other students through the forum section where students ask questions and other students answer them.
d) Punctuality in attending lectures since students can know the specific places they are supposed to be in for a certain lecture.
e) Students can use other students’ postings as a source of information and to benchmark their own progress or development of ideas.
f) Students can find fellow students and form a group for group assignments when they don’t know anyone in the class.
g) Enabling students to make connections and stay connected to other students.
5.1.2 Achievements
a) The author was able to develop a virtual learning guide for students and anyone who wants to know the surrounding of the institution easily.
b) It was possible to develop an interactive forum where students can share knowledge and freely interact with each other.
c) It was possible to ensure security of information by making login form where different users registered in the system can use it.
d) A report/documentation of the project was also developed successfully.

5.1.3 Challenges
a) I faced difficulties while trying to add more locations within Strathmore University on the Google map. I was limited to using only the locations on the map.
b) It was challenging to extract the exact coordinates for specific places within the Google map.
c) Time limitation. The time allocated for the project wasn’t enough for one to comprehensively complete the project.

5.2 Recommendation
I would recommend that students should try coming up with their own map for Strathmore University. This will enhance flexibility whereby one can be able to add a new location, delete a location and easily get its coordinates. Creating your own map does not limit you to a specific number of locations that you can have on it; hence one can be able to capture even the barely known places within the institution.

REFERENCES
Alycia M. H, Brian D.S and Kimberly M.H (2006) Understanding the dynamics of direction giving and following during navigation. 2006
Alexander, S. and Golja, T. (2007). Using Students’ Experiences to Derive Quality in an e-Learning System: An Institution’s. 2007
Aronson L. (1994). HTML Manual of Style. Emeryville, California: Ziff Davis
Connallen J. (2003). Building Web Applications with UML. Boston, Massachussetts: Addison Wesley
Powell, A (2000). Web Design. New York: McGraw Hill

APPENDICES
Appendix A:Time schedule
Tasks Starting Date Ending Date Deliverables
Feasibility study 11th January 2013 18th January Feasibility reports
Preparation of project proposal 19th January 28th January Approved project proposal
System design 1st February 15th February Database design and screen design.
Coding 16th February 20th March Working System
Testing Implementation 20th March 26th April Report of the system.
Documentation
24th April 29th April Documentation of the system

ACTIVITY TIME SCHEDULE Feasibility Study 2 Weeks
Analysis 4 Weeks
Design 4 Weeks
Coding 4 Weeks
Testing and Implementation 3 Weeks

APPENDIX B: Screen Captures
Home page

Login
The student or the admin can log in to the system.

Directions page
The student is able to seek directions of various places by clicking on the link “Click me to explore Strathmore”

APPENDIX C: Interesting code
The code below enables the number of views to increase each time a student or the administrator views a question in the main_forum.