DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A WEB BASED TIMETABLE SYSTEM FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT (UNIZIK)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Nnamdi Azikiwe University came into being as an offshoot of the defunct Anambra State University of Technology (ASUTECH). ASUTECH which was established through Law No. 7 of 30th July 1980 by the Government of the old Anambra operated as a multi-campus university, with campuses in Abakaliki, Enugu, Awka and Nnewi. In 1991, following the split of the old Anambra State into Anambra and Enugu States, the Awka and Nnewi campuses of the former ASUTECH were constituted into Nnamdi Azikiwe University by the Anambra State Edict No.5 of November 26 1991. Nnamdi Azikiwe University was taken over by the Federal Government by Decree No. 34 of July 15, 1992. Nnamdi Azikiwe University’s current method of Timetable is not internet based which increases the stress on the part of the student who has to keep moving from one office to another. The forms that the students would be given has to be signed by the following departments of the school: The Student’s Academic Department (Dean’s office), University Librarian, Head of Department, Faculty, Bursary, Student’s Affairs, Health Centre and Registry (Exams and Records).Due to the various offices/department a student has to go to, the need for a web based Timetable system for students is inevitable to save time and the cost of transportation from one location to another.

The academic environment has gone so complex that an automated system may be required to automate certain aspects of the academic system. One such area of difficulty is timetable scheduling; those saddled with the responsibility of time table creation are always faced with challenges of creating effective system that will deliver its purpose. Automation has been seen as a way of enhancing Manual activities. For instance, Manual operations are characterized with some setbacks such as erroneous computation etc. with automation, those setbacks are either eliminated or reduced to barest minimal. To this effect application are being created to hide the manual operations and project automation.
The general task of solving timetable scheduling problems is iterative and time consuming. In real world application, the participants to the timetable scheduling have conflicting preferences which make the search for an optimal solution a problem. In order to solve the problems it is necessary to find a compromise between all the parties involved in the requirement, usually conflicting (e.g. day, time). The constraints are related to the availability, timetabling and preference of each of the instructor, to rooms availability, number of student and curricula. In order to solve this problem for the particular case of university system, timetable scheduling has to adopt the computer-base approach. Computer-base approach enables the institution to automate certain manual task and work efficiently. Also, in the particular case of timetable scheduling, the automated system could find an optimal or a sub-optimal solution using mainly inter­­­-agent communication.

1.2Problem Definition

The scheduling problem can be defined as a problem of finding the optimal sequence for evaluating a finite set of operation (task or job) under a certain set of constrains that must be satisfied. A typical example of scheduling problem is timetable scheduling. The problems to be solved by timetable scheduling are mapped out below.

1)    Maximize individual in timetable scheduling or other resources.
2)    Minimize time required to complete the entire process for timetable scheduling.
3)    Production of timetable and of conflict interest, place, etc.
All these problems and more are to be solved so that the proposal solution for timetable scheduling will be an enchantment over the manual.

1.3   Aim and Objectives.

In solving problems of timetable scheduling, there is need for an effective and efficient techniques or methods. The only method proven to be effective and effective is the computer-based approach. The approach that automates all the manual concepts of timetable scheduling thereby eliminate all the problems associated with the manual technique. To this end, this project work is designed to introduce computer bases approach to the manual method of timetable scheduling.

The aim and objective of this project is to examine how school Timetable system can be computerized and accessed online, with our main objective being:

• To develop a software that can enable the students to do their Timetable online, thereby removing the hurdles that students face/encounter after graduation in their attempt to do their Timetable from different departments.
• To develop software that will provide a better record keeping system.

Research questions

What is web base time table?

What is automated time table?

How can a web base timetable effect school system?

1.4 Scope of the Study.

Timetable scheduling is a complex and time consuming process. Generating timetable for all levels in a university system will definitely take a lot time. For the purpose of this work, time able creation will be based on degree programme only with focus on 100 and 200 level courses, this will be an effective way to start the process of time table creation. Also, the work will be made to run on the internet backbone this will make the application distributed and network based.

1.5 Limitation of the Study

The proposed development is a time consuming process to this end the project will be streamline to 100 and 200-degree programme due to time limitation. Another problem is the inadequate research materials on the subject of timetable scheduling and creation. This project work made use of the little available materials.

1.6 Statement of the Problem

In Nnamdi Azikiwe University, timetable system has always been a manual and very tedious process. Effort has been made by the university to replace the existing system with an automated Timetable system for graduating student but to this day, Timetable is still a manual process. As one of the foremost federal university in the country, it is our duty to initiate and implement automated systems that will replace all manual process within our university system. The manual process of timetable system has a lot of limitation which include:

• The integrity of information is not fully guaranteed, as there is high risk of information getting to unauthorized or wrong hands that may manipulate the information illegally making the information inaccurate.
• In the absence of the personnel in charge of any of the Timetable form processes, the entire Timetable registration process is delayed until such personnel is available.
• Too much time is wasted before a student successfully completes his/her Timetable registration form.
• The manual process is only capable of attending to a limited number of students a day, hence students who are not attended to will have to come back the next day until they successfully complete their Timetable form registration.

Get Full Project