In phpEdu there are a number of concepts which help in understanding how the application works.
The application is for managing institutions of higher learning such as universities and colleges. Since it is based on the Drupal framework, the aim is to make the system as flexible as possible in order to be useful for running different kinds of educational sites. However, the primary target is aimed at tertiary institutions of learning. As such, we will be referring to "university" or "college". Based on this demography, expected users fall into one or more of these categories: students, members of the academic or teaching staff - called teachers or lecturers, non-academic staff - referred to as staff, alumni or graduates and other visitors to the site or people who have no direct relationship to the university e.g. next-of-kin of members and students.
Students
- Prospective students apply for admission online and their applicactions are processed by some university officials. When their application becomes successful the status of these users changes from applicant to student
- The registration process takes place at the beginning of each academic year
- They take a number of courses and check timetable for classes
- They do assignments in different formats
- They do practice exercises (in the not too distant future, also take exams online)
- Check results
- Maintain an up-to-date student profile
Academic staff
- Advice students on courses they can take
- Deliver course materials in different formats
- Set and grade assigments.
- Set and grade exams (later)
- Maintain course attendance records
- Publish reviews, research and academic papers
- Maintain an up-to-date staff profile
Admin staff
- Allocate courses to lecturers
- Allocate students to groups
- Allocate groups to teachers
- Allocate hostel accommodation to students
- Manage student admission
- Manage student clearance and registration process
- Manage promotion of students to next academic year
- Maintain a gallery of special occassions
Alumni
- Maintain a profile
- Network with other graduates
- Check academic records
- Request transcript
Others
- Get information about academic programmes
- Apply for admission
- Track admission application process