Evaluation of the database

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Unit 10 ICT: Numerical Modelling using spreadsheets

Twelve weeks ago I met with the Principal and began to draw up a design specification for a spreadsheet which would be able to meet all his needs and the needs of all the administrative staff. He made it clear that the spreadsheet had to be very easy to use as many of the teachers already in the school were not confident in using a computer.

The objectives I had to meet are listed and evaluated below:

  • Student names must be stored on the database with a unique admission number for each pupil. Student details must also be stored on the system along with report notes. The system must also allow for comments to be stored beside a pupil’s name.                                                                                                                

Through carefully designing the spreadsheet in a user-friendly way I was able to store all the student names and details on one page. I also designed and implemented a method for recording report notes, which would allow the user to incorporate them all onto one report page automatically along with the students’ results. I believe I met and optimised this objective to its full functionality.

  • Classes and pupils to be stored on a separate database/sheet, so class marks can be recorded.

I created a separate page for every subject and created a method for teachers recording four class tests per year with the ability to record more if required.

  • Individual reports for each pupil must be available with minimal effort.

In order to try and meet this objective I incorporated a series of complex Look_Up, and IF functions. Through including all these functions I have been able to implement a method which brings up all the students marks, calculates grades based on these individual marks, counts total days absent and also shows the report notes issued for that pupil. This report is composed by simply entering the student’s unique admission number.

  • Averages must be calculated automatically.

I did include average functions which update automatically with the addition of new data and the removal of data. This allows the user to easily compare marks.

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  • Graphs must be available for lists of selected information and an appropriate graph should be produced.

I detailed in the user documentation how graphs could easily be created in step-by-step form and tested that they could be successfully created.

  • An interface page with the school logo must be used to incorporate school image.

I did create an interface page and included the school logo on it. I also designed buttons to attach macros to the interface page.

  • Macros must be used to make navigation easier.

I attached macros to all the buttons created on the interface page and ...

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