E-learning Software.

Scientific Decision Making (From Basics to application and real Life scenarios).

+ Modules

+ Assessments

Page | i

Contents Pages

Introduction III

Title IV

Keywords IV

Problem Definition IV

Aims IV-V

Objectives V

Evidence of Requirements V

Context Description V-VI

Research Method VI

Brief Product Description VI

Deliverables VI

Page | ii

Outcome/Product Evaluation Approach VII

Resources VII

Bibliography VII

Project Plan VIII

Introduction.

This project is being created as a result of the necessity of the issue being treated in it (Scientific Decision Making).

A recent interview session showed us that majority of setbacks, errors, closed down companies and retrenched / sacked managers and

workers are a result of improper or wrong decision at one stage or the other and this led to our conclusion of creating an e-learning software that will teach the affected people and final year IT students “Scientific Decision making” in details which includes a proper explanation of its’ concepts, application and real life scenarios where it’s application was

very helpful.

Page | iii

Also, we considered final year IT students because we saw early knowledge of this technique and its application being beneficial to

them as it will equip them for the task ahead though we did not restrict it for their use only. Their business and arts counterparts could also use

it since decision making is not limited to a certain group of people.

Page | iv

CMT 3342 : GROUP PROJECT PROPOSALNAMES: Iroegbu Bertrand Osinachi Oworu Gbemisola Kolapo Idris Ali Idris Yusuf Maigida

STUDENT ID : M00272549 M00273209 M00216583 M00192331

DATE : 01-12-2009

TYPE OF PROPOSAL : DRAFT (FIRST)SUPERVISOR: Lejla Vrazalic

SEMINAR TUTOR : Lejla Vrazalic

1.) TITLE: E-learning Software to teach scientific decision making. 2.) KEY WORDS : * Scientific *Deciding *E-Learning * Decision *Management *On-line tutor * Making Choices *Choose *scientific techniques * Choosing *Science *Scientifically * Problem * Decision making * Thinking 3.) Problem Definition :

The problem Definition in this project is solely based on “Designing e-learning software that will teach final year IT students and junior managers Scientific Decision Making”.

Everyday living involves taking actions, making decision, weighing options, considering change and even purchasing. All these actions directly and indirectly require decision making.

While decision making is important, making it and how it is made is a decision that when wrongly made, the other decisions you make automatically become wrong.

Final year IT students are directly involved in this because even choosing their projects e.t.c usually pose a big problem to them and accounts for 20% of failures because they tend to follow their friends choice, what they feel is right or what everyone is doing while leaving the factors to be considered such as areas they are good in, programming language they know very well and people to work with as not all friends turn out to be good working group members.

Junior managers are also in our radar because their decisions largely affect their organizations and this in turn turns out to be “bad decision bad result and loss for the company” and “good decision profit and benefits for their organization”.

4.) Aims:1. To build e-learning software that will teach final year IT students and junior managers

scientific decision making.

2. The main aim is to teach decision making through the scientific decision making process with the option of an electronic format to enable easy access and self tutoring.

Page | v

5.) Objectives :1. Making its usage as simple as possible yet incorporating all the necessary knowledge

required in the software.

2. Teaching the fundamentals of scientific decision making, its application and examples involving real life scenario.

3. Users of our software would be able to evaluate their knowledge through the in-built tests that actually have questions cut across all sections of the modules in the software.

6.) Evidence Of Requirements : After surveys taken among students and interviews with faculty heads, we found out that in-decision, wrong decision, trial-and-error decisions / influenced decisions have been a source of failure among their students, sacked workers, queried and suspended staff.The students on their own part who decided to face reality and speak their mind said if they had known they would have taken time to decide earlier rather than deciding foolishly and regretting it which is usually the aftermath of a wrong decision.

The software and its content were explained in details, including the problem definition and how the software would be of help. After a well structured detail of the concepts behind the software and its contents, various inclusions and contributions were acquired as to what the software should contain and how they intend to maximize its benefit.Summary and examples of the interviews conducted are displayed at the end of this report but not without the go ahead of the parties involved.

7.) Context Description :1. As the project requires, the project is divided into three:

Project content: - this is the main point of concern as it is meant to teach scientific decision making cutting across all areas which include scientific decision making fundamentals, methods of scientific decision making, application of the methods, real life scenarios where its application was useful and where improper decision making was of disadvantage and then when to and when not to make decisions.

2. The assessment part:- this involves the provision of test and exams which actually helps the users know if they properly understood what they have read, areas they need to re-study, help tutors access their students knowledge and physical evidence that they actually understand the scientific decision making techniques

3. The software:- this involves the final part and container for the first two descriptions above. This is meant to house the entire project and making it accessible in different format and with ease other than the conventional text format or book based learning.

As bonafide IT students, our knowledge of web applications and designing, database structure and design, java and windows application would be put to use in developing and designing this e-learning software.

Page | vi

8.) Resources:-

The Internet : - this is going to be our primary source of information as this is the complete ware house of information including the physical books and other materials we would be using.

Our library : - books we need will be obtained from the library Journals : - journals from experts in the field of decision making will be studied to see

the secret of their success. Survey/Interview: we would be using surveys to be carried out amongst students,

workers, managers, faculty heads e.t.c & in order to get more facts which would be put into consideration while working on this project, we would also conduct one-on-one interviews.

Questionnaires: - questionnaires will be distributed so as to acquaint us with areas where users actually have problems with decision making and what precise information they will need.

Observation: - we will actually make use of and study a good number of e-learning software to have an idea of what an e-learning software should look like then we will also review materials (audio-visuals, websites, text based media, blogs) similar to our area of concentration (scientific decision making) for better knowledge and to see what our software must and should contain.

9.) Brief Product Description :This e-learning software could be described as a learning tool capable of teaching you, helping you know the level to which you understand, the areas you need to buckle up and help you access your knowledge in general. The design of this product is aimed at teaching junior managers, final year IT students and whoever decided to use it the fundamentals and general knowledge about scientific decision making. Key benefits of the software include :

1. Teaching you the basics of scientific decision making.2. In depth explanation of the scientific decision making methods included.3. Personal assessment of your level of understanding.4. Self tutoring and at your own pace.5. Real life scenarios for better understanding.6. Suggested approaches to major decision making problems.7. Will be available in multiple formats (web & wap).8. Modular format of teaching for step by step learning.

The design of this software is structured to give you the easiest access to the software and make sure that it could be used with minimal assistance though help is included in it.

Basic Points to be noted by users:-i) This product has been developed for both professionals and newbie.ii) Self assessment is judged based on sincerity to yourself as there is no external supervisor.

10.) Deliverables :

Page | vii

This E-learning software will provide a user friendly interface for all users; it is web based and is easy to use just like browsing a website. The e-learning software has in-built modules for structured learning, progress check and an over-all assessment for you to evaluate your total knowledge and match it against individual check your progress.

CD containing e-learning software and documentation (work folder) Project report and documented evidence of work. (Word format) Individual and group project reports. (word format) Software project management plan (SPMP) Software Requirement Specification (SRS) Software Design Description (SDD) Software Test Documentation (STD)

11.) Outcome/Product Evaluation Approach :

At the completion of this project, the “BETA” edition will be made available for selected final year IT students who will serve as testers, neutral faculty heads and lecturers would also be availed the opportunity to test it for quality and quantity of contents while we the designers will test run it for possible bugs and evaluate it against existing products it falls into the same category with. We would evaluate it with similar e-learning software’s to see possible lapses in ours’ and implement the corrections to make sure it stands out amongst its’ equals.After this, we will release the “BETA 2” edition with all corrections and bugs corrected for another series of testing. This time with two different categories of testers. One set will comprise of the first round of testers and the second category will comprise of hand-picked individuals among the targeted audience to compare their comments so as to see the level of human error termed as “PRODUCT ERROR” before releasing the final version intended for the markets and final consumers.

12.) Tools:

Windows based PCMicrosoft Office (word, publisher, power point, project)Adobe CS4 suite (Dreamweaver, Photoshop, flash, Acrobat Reader)PHP MySQL Ajax JavaScriptInternet ExplorerMacromedia Fireworks

Page | viii

REFERENCES: -

Succession of Scientific Decision-makinghttp://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ijbm/article/viewFile/3244/2945 Shaobo Shi, School of Humanities and Social SciencesTsinghua University (Beijing 100084, China) School of Humanities and Social SciencesHarbin Engineering University (Harbin, Heilongjiang Province150001, China)

www.portal.acm.org Sandoval, W. & Millwood, K. (2005). The quality of students' use of evidence in written scientific explanations. Cognition and Instruction, 23(10), 23-55.

Jacobson, M. & Wilensky, U. (2006). Complex systems in education: Scientific and educational importance and implications for the learning sciences. Journal of the Learning Sciences, 15(1), 11-34.

http://www.open2.net/materialworld/decisive_sciencep_.html

Decisive ScienceJeff Thomas Senior lecturer in the Faculty of Science Biologist by training and temperament.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=tough-choices-how-making http://www.uow.edu.au/~bmartin/pubs/95handbook.html

Bibliography

Page | ix

Scientific Data for Decision Making Toward Sustainable Developmentby Paul F. Uhlir, Director, U.S. National Committee for CODATA, U.S. National Committee for CODATA, National Research Council, Senegal National Committee for CODATA

Tools for ThinkingMichael PiddPublication date: 02 Oct 2009

The Project Manager's Guide to Making Successful DecisionsRobert A Powell, Dennis M Buede

Successful Decision-makingKen Lawson

Effective Decision MakingJohn Adair

Projects in Computing and Information Systems: A student’s guide, Addison Wesley 2009, edition 2, ISBN 978-0-273-72131-4Dawson, C.W.

Page | x