Computer Science Project
Computer Science Project
Problem definition
Christ the King – Daramombe High School is a mission school located in Chikomba District,
Mashonaland East Province in Zimbabwe. It was incepted in 1984 and it runs under the
Anglican Diocese of Masvingo. The school offers both Ordinary and Advanced level
education for both boys and girls. Since its establishment, the school has never been in use of
computerized systems in spite of owning around fifty-five desk-top computers. Each and
every school activity such as record keeping is done manually using counter books.
Its student enrolment is 840 and a teacher establishment of 40. Each teacher has a load of
around thirty-six periods per week with at least five classes across. Each class comprises at
least forty-five learners. On average, each teacher is therefore in custody of about 225
students.
During the term, the school carries out manual ‘mark order’ exercises. This is whereby
learners will write in class tests. The marks of each learning area are then added together and
averaged. The first top ten performers are selected and also the bottom ten. Each and every
teacher has a role to play in the filling in of mark details of his or her students under his or
Furthermore, there is a mark compilation after end of term examinations. This time the
teachers will be filling in the report booklets of learners using all of the information used in
the mark orders, to include the marks and grading process. The researcher observed that the
pressure carrying out the Mark Order exercise and filling in report booklets is unbearable.
Many human errors are encountered despite the process itself being tiresome.
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CHRIST THE KING-DARAMOMBE HIGH SCHOOL RECORD OF MARKS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Marks are manually entered and then manually arranged. As a result, most of the Mark Order
Exercises are not very accurate and also material is being lost on erratum of correcting errors
in report booklets. The researcher also noted that there is risk of rise of health problems such
as hypertension and eyesight straining towards the teachers. Moreover, learners are left
without supervision why teachers are busy filling in their report booklets. Mischief will
This situation has prompted the researcher to create a system that would reduce the human
effort of compiling and managing students’ marks to improve the Mark order and report-
INVESTIGATION
Research instruments
The researcher used the interview as a research instrument to investigate on the current
system of management of mark records at Christ the King – Daramombe High School.
Interview is whereby the researcher (interviewer) and the interviewee will interact discussing
Advantages
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CHRIST THE KING-DARAMOMBE HIGH SCHOOL RECORD OF MARKS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Disadvantages
Questions
What is your occupation relation in Daramombe high school?
Do you take part in the management of students mark records? If you do then then
how often?
How can you describe the system in terms of reliability and efficiency?
Are you facing any problems with the compilation and processing of the students’
marks?
What problems are they and what solutions do you suggest if you face any problems
How often do you encounter problems of making errors during filling in report
booklets?
Having been informed of the solution in mind, do you have any suggestions to
improving it or you prefer the current system to it?
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CHRIST THE KING-DARAMOMBE HIGH SCHOOL RECORD OF MARKS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Research instrument2
The researcher also went on to use questionnaires to investigate on the on the current system
of management of mark records for Mark order and filling in report booklets at Christ the
King – Daramombe High School. Questionnaires are documents issued to specific people so
Advantages
Disadvantages
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CHRIST THE KING-DARAMOMBE HIGH SCHOOL RECORD OF MARKS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Questions
1. How many times do you carry out mark order exercise at the school? ……
2. How long do you take while preparing the mark order marks and finalizing
everything? ……
Yes No
4. What kind of problems do you face while doing the manually process?
…………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………
5. Do you benefit in any way however?
Yes No
6. If not, can you suggest any sectors which you might think need a swift
improvement?
……………………………………………………………………………
7. Have you ever cleared out search history to erase your activities?
Yes No
Yes No
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CHRIST THE KING-DARAMOMBE HIGH SCHOOL RECORD OF MARKS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Research instrument 3
Lastly, the researcher used observation as a research instrument to investigate on the current
system of management of mark records for Mark order and filling in report booklets at Christ
Observation is whereby the researcher goes to a targeted population and observes a series of
events why taking note of some key areas. In this case, the researcher visited the staffrooms
at Daramombe High School as the prepared for their mark orders and later as they prepared
Advantages
Disadvantages
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CHRIST THE KING-DARAMOMBE HIGH SCHOOL RECORD OF MARKS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Daramombe High School carries out mark order exercises thrice per term. The teachers in
charge of the mark order process will have to compile and process learners’ marks. At the
end of the day, they should come up with the top ten performers and also the least
performers.
Mark order tests are written and the marks are compiled per each subject. The subject teacher
has a counter booker where he or she records the marks. The teacher then uses a grid to find
the position of each learner. At the end of the compilation of marks, each class coordinator
has to add up all the marks and average them to come up with the top ten and the least ten.
Moreover, the teachers will have to fill in the necessary details in report booklets of around
255 learners per each teacher during term end. Each report booklet is filled in by each subject
teacher. The total marks are calculated using calculators then determined grade using a
written scale. It is then sent to the Headmaster for analysis and signature. It is returned to the
class teacher before issuing it to its owner. The positioning is also done using mark grids.
Input
The teachers temporarily enter marks into mark schedules using pencils for easy corrections.
Following, they cross-check the marks and then re-write using ball point pens. The mark
schedules then temporarily hold the information while it is being processed for mark orders
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CHRIST THE KING-DARAMOMBE HIGH SCHOOL RECORD OF MARKS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Input devices
o Mark schedules.
o Report booklets.
Processing
The marks are added using calculators to find the totals. Tables are then used for averaging
the total marks. Grading scales are then used for determining the grade of each mark. From
there, the teachers use grids to find the positions of each student.
Processing devices
Output
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CHRIST THE KING-DARAMOMBE HIGH SCHOOL RECORD OF MARKS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Output devices
o Report booklets
Storage
The marks used for the mark order and filling in report booklets will remain kept in the
record of marks which are usually counter books, the record of marks and the mark order
sheets.
Storage device
o Mark schedules
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CHRIST THE KING-DARAMOMBE HIGH SCHOOL RECORD OF MARKS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
It is not accurate because of the manual addition of large number of marks using a
calculator
Error rate is very high during filling in report booklets which then requires use of
erratum
Some students are easily getting the chance to alter the marks on the schedules whilst
The process takes up a lot of time therefore affecting the learning process
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CHRIST THE KING-DARAMOMBE HIGH SCHOOL RECORD OF MARKS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Requirement specification
User requirements
Enables each teacher to keep a record of marks for his or her respective class and
subject.
Software requirements
Operating system, (Windows XP or higher) have faster boot times, new user
interfaces.
Microsoft Office package for use of word processor and Microsoft Access for
databases
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CHRIST THE KING-DARAMOMBE HIGH SCHOOL RECORD OF MARKS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Hardware requirements
Keyboard, standard QWERTY, for input of all the data into the system for processing.
Random Access Memory at least 2.00 GB for primary storage of data and instructions
currently in execution.
Processor at least 2.16GHz CPU for data processing, management of main memory
Monitor for visual and graphics display and to provide interaction with system for
users.
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CHRIST THE KING-DARAMOMBE HIGH SCHOOL RECORD OF MARKS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Aims
1. To make the system of filling in report booklets and carrying the mark orders quick
and efficient.
2. To reduce the error-rate, this is very high during the mark orders and filling in report
booklets.
Objectives
1. Design a computerised system that aids the existing system of executing mark orders
and filling in of report booklets using a computer by the aid of Visual Studios 2012
2. Design a computer program that accepts adding a new student with his or her details
into system and helps in finding the total marks and grading the marks using a
computer by the aid of Visual Basics 2012 as from 24 July 2017 to 15 October 2018.
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CHRIST THE KING-DARAMOMBE HIGH SCHOOL RECORD OF MARKS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
SECTION B: Design
Alternative Solution 1:
computer scientist identifies a problem using different research tools. He or she then develops
a solution to the problem. The solution is then built into a computerized system, ready to
solve that particular problem.When a new record of marks management system is built; it
enables the aiding of mark orders and filling in report booklets with the minimum error rate.
Advantages
Less costly than buying software that does the management of record of marks.
Disadvantages
It is difficult to guarantee that the existing system’s weaknesses will be fully removed.
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CHRIST THE KING-DARAMOMBE HIGH SCHOOL RECORD OF MARKS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Alternative solution 2:
Buying an off the shelf software, this is an already made software. It is bought and then
installed. The off the shelf software will contain many functions which will be more likely to
carter for the revolving problem. There is no time lost on building a new system for problem
solving.
Advantages
Few errors as it is tested for quality assurance and recommended for usage thus
enabling it to be reliable.
The system is easy to debug as support for the software is available from the internet.
User manual is available in the form of frequently asked Questions (FAQs) and
tutorials.
Disadvantages
Expensive.
Method chose
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CHRIST THE KING-DARAMOMBE HIGH SCHOOL RECORD OF MARKS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
After considering the two methods, the school and the researcher finally chose the first
Input design
Input form
The form is for login into the system. The user has to specify the subject for which marks are
to manage. The user then inputs the correct password corresponding with the chosen subject.
Fig 2.1
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CHRIST THE KING-DARAMOMBE HIGH SCHOOL RECORD OF MARKS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Input form 2
The form is used for editing the records. User clicks on “Add New” then enters the student’s
details. After filling in, the user clicks on “Save” to save the record.
Fig 2.2
Input form 3
The form is used for adding the calculation of marks and grading them. The paper1 and
paper2 marks are entered with their respective total possible marks. User then clicks on “Ok”
Fig 2.3
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CHRIST THE KING-DARAMOMBE HIGH SCHOOL RECORD OF MARKS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
OUTPUT FORMS
Form1
These show the details about the entered mark and the details of the student’s data being
edited.
Fig 2.4
Form2
This is the main form used for outputting the existing record of marks. The “<<<” and “>>>”
buttons allow the user to move from one record to the other.
Fig 2.5
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CHRIST THE KING-DARAMOMBE HIGH SCHOOL RECORD OF MARKS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
TEST DATA
NUMBER
accepted.
accepted.
0 incorrect data
type is accepted.
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Geography documentation
Log in successful
Log in successful
Log in successful
Log in successful
Log in successful
Else
End If
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CHRIST THE KING-DARAMOMBE HIGH SCHOOL RECORD OF MARKS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Pseudo code for calculating total mark and grading the marks
Total = (a + b) / (c + d) * 100
End IF
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Start
Select
department
name and input
Password
Is User ID
NO and
password
correct?
Display Main
Menu
YES
Stop
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Code Listing
Try
Dim department_password As String = CStr(txtpassword.Text)
Else
MsgBox("Incorrect password for this department entered. Please check password
and try again ",
"'...and some fell on rich soil.'")
End If
Catch ex As Exception
MessageBox.Show("Password Error!!",
"'...and some fell on rich soil.'")
End Try
End Sub
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Try
Me.StudentDataTableAdapter.Validate(Me.Student_dataDataSet.StudentData)
Catch ex As System.Exception
System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show(ex.Message)
End Try
End Sub
Try
Me.StudentDataTableAdapter.Search_For_Student_(Me.Student_dataDataSet.StudentData,
FirstNameToolStripTextBox.Text, LastNameToolStripTextBox.Text)
Catch ex As System.Exception
System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show(ex.Message)
End Try
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CHRIST THE KING-DARAMOMBE HIGH SCHOOL RECORD OF MARKS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Me.Close()
End Sub
End Class
End Sub
StudentDataBindingSource.EndEdit()
TableAdapterManager.UpdateAll(Student_dataDataSet)
End Sub
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CHRIST THE KING-DARAMOMBE HIGH SCHOOL RECORD OF MARKS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
total = (a + b) / (c + d) * 100
txtTotal.Text = total
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CHRIST THE KING-DARAMOMBE HIGH SCHOOL RECORD OF MARKS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
txtType.Text = "FAIL"
End If
Catch ex As Exception
MsgBox("Uknown Mark Entered",
"D.H.S Marks")
End Try
End Sub
End Sub
End Sub
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User documentation
Fig 3. 1
Run the setup from the DVD so that it starts to launch the system then proceeds to install.
Fig 3.2
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CHRIST THE KING-DARAMOMBE HIGH SCHOOL RECORD OF MARKS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Fig 3.3
Choose install to run the setup and the system will be installed in your computer.
Double click on
preferred subject
Input
password
Fig 3.4
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CHRIST THE KING-DARAMOMBE HIGH SCHOOL RECORD OF MARKS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Select the wanted department and input the correct password for the respective subject. If one
enters a wrong password, an error message shown below will appear, requiring the use to
Error message
Fig 3.5
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CHRIST THE KING-DARAMOMBE HIGH SCHOOL RECORD OF MARKS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Fig 3.9
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NUMBER
successful
entered.
NUMBER
data.
data. difficulties.
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CHRIST THE KING-DARAMOMBE HIGH SCHOOL RECORD OF MARKS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
NUMBER
data. displayed,
no
calculations
were done.
Error messages
Fig 4.1
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Fig 4.2
Evaluation of system
Achievements
Can sort the student records and come up with the position of each student.
Reduce redundancies of data by creating a single data pool which users are able to
Provide consistent data at all times. Data is in an updated state at all times. No
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Weaknesses
The system cannot distinguish between teachers and students because it only requires
Uses of electronic reports send as emails to the parents of students to avoid altering
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