Zach Musgrave

CPSC 463 :: Project Proposal

25 February 2009

                  The project I have in mind is a scheduling application-cum-social networking tool. In keeping with the pedagogical bent of this class I considered what academic-related issue seems to affect my friends the most. The answer is obvious: Time management. I know of very few undergraduates who are not constantly finishing some paper or project at four in the morning the night before it is due. These are not people without motivation but rather people without adequate skills necessary to alleviate the stress of a rigorous education.

                  My proposed solution is a scheduling application that will allow a student to either input their schedule manually or import it (possibly via SISWeb). Also, based on common academic guidelines a list of the number of hours per week recommended to devote to each class will be generated. Then, these time quotas and the student’s completed schedule will be run through an algorithm (possibly genetic) to create optimized routines of study, class, activities and relaxation. Hence, with very little barrier to entry the student will have a “game plan” for life that will heighten their academic potential.

                  This is where the “social networking” aspect comes in: Many people prefer to study in groups. Or if not in groups, they like to have peers on hand who they can converse with regarding their shared classes. This helps in focusing study efforts. My algorithm will consult the already-made schedules of classmates and, if possible, adjust the student’s time slots accordingly so they line up. The end result is a class-wide “study block” – and by putting the entire class within easy contact of one another information can be disseminated easily and learning can be facilitated.

                  In terms of interfaces and back ends, I plan on uniting several different paradigms via a common SQL database and API running on a centralized server. The basic interface would be a program written in C# that connects to the database; creates, updates and accesses the schedule; references other students’ present activities to create a “study web”; and allows for some form of easy contact between students. All this can be replicated over several platforms; I see a C# desktop application, an ASP.NET web application, applications for mobile devices like the Apple iPhone and Google Android, plugins for common scheduling software like iCal, Outlook and Eudora and even a Facebook application to allow students the utmost flexibility and leveraging one of the most valuable data sets relevant to the student age group.

                  I feel that if this project succeeds and is made easy to use learning of all kinds will be enhanced across the University. The task list even for basic functionality is large, but I believe if I can implement this project in a user-friendly, accessible and “drop-dead” simple manner people will use it. And isn’t that the goal?

                  Besides, I need all the help I can get just starting to study.