If you watched the last video from the Open-Source Linux Page, where Richard Stallman talked about the 4 Freedoms of controlling applications, then this project will make a whole lot more sense.

You see, on the website for the University of Minnesota, the university offers a really unique web-based application called the Assignment Calculator. Students can enter the type of assignment they need to complete followed by the due date and the Assignment Calculator will break the assignment down into manageable chunks with corresponding amounts of time. This Assignment Calculator is a tremendous tool to help students organize their time and focus when completing assignments, especially when they have many assignments at one time. Check it out here: https://www.lib.umn.edu/apps/ac/

International Baccalaureate students at EAC will find a tool like this is invaluable!

As unique as this web-based application is, this last summer (2017), the U of M took the tool offline for the general public and can only be used by students currently enrolled at the U of M.

However, true to what Richard Stallman was speaking about, the University of Minnesota has released the source code for the web-based application through Richard Stallman's GPL License. That means we ALL have access to use this program as long as we can figure out a few basics of coding. The University of Toronto has picked up the source code and created their own Assignment Calculator tailored for the U of T students. Check out a screen shot of their page below:

Project Idea

Here at EAC, our technology teacher, Leo Spinola knows how to code computers very well. The assignment calculator was written in a computer language called .php, which Leo is now teaching to his 6th graders. A possible CAS experience is learning how to code .php to a basic level so you can tailor the Assignment Calculator to the EAC community.

If someone was willing to take this project on, we could add the Assignment Calculator to EAC's Intranet Page where students can access all the web-based tools at our school. This is an amazing opportunity to participate in the Open Source movement, learn a coding language and create a unique tool that helps our community. If you are interested, contact either Mr. Spinola or Mr. Strootman

Download the Assignment Calculator source code here: SourceForge

After we create the Assignment Calculator, we can post it to EAC's Intranet page so all the students have access to it. What a great service for our student community.