School Project Idea with PHP + MySQL

[the tree]

Next September I'm going to have to create a database system for a fictional company. My school is encouraging us to use Microsoft Access, but I figured screw that, I'm going to use PHP and MySQL because I know what I'm doing with them and it means that I don't have to touch that damned program.

 

Anyways, this means that my system will have to be web-based and make good use of relational database-ness. Please throw at me any suggestions for a good system.

 

Plain ol' Content Management is a bad idea because I doubt I'll be able to convince my teachers that it is a database that I'm using (this is high-school we're talking about, so knowing more than my IT teachers is nothing new).

 

Oh and if it could involve a good reason to use graphs, that'd be great. Everybody, especially IT teachers, loves graphs.

[Klaynos]

I did a order/warehouse management system, for a small chain of electrical appliance shops... included an online store, orders from shops, order management...

[the tree]

That sounds pretty cool. I'm guessing the tables were stores, stock and orders?

[5614]

I'm guessing your currently doing AS Level ICT? You doing OCR?

 

There's a reason I'm asking... will post an idea when I know the answer to ^

[the tree]

I'm currently doing AS ICT (as in, it'll be A2 that this project will be for). And yeh, I think it's with OCR.

My current project is a teacher's markbook in Excel.

[5614]

So have you done the EK Ltd c/work?

 

I'm thinking of using my database for that as a template for next years project. Obviously I'll kill off Nicola Long and such, but as a basic working database I think it's a good idea. All the tables, a lot of data etc. is all set up and working.

 

Also I've been told that we have to do it with a real client for A Level. Our teacher said one person didn't this year and they have been at a real disadvantage. I disagree with him, he says it's easier because you have a real example, real feedback etc. I think you're lucky if you've been told otherwise, although my teacher would say that you're unlucky. Most people in my school end up doing the project for a parent or close relative. Anyone as long as it is real.

[the tree]

I chose to do a teacher's markbook for my AS project because I'd seen the cool one that my GCSE teacher used and as my mum is a teacher she could tell me what type of stuff an automated markbook would be likely to need. Although I figure that by now I should be able to make up what I need to.

I honestly don't belive anyone would actually use a system created for an AS project, so I can't see that much merit in using a "real" client.

[5614]

Me neither. It starts adding a whole new "level" to the work. You'd have to start meeting them and stuff. I'm quite creative enough to make up my own comments and suggestions and ideas... it will be interesting.

 

I dunno if you are doing OCR because for my OCR ICT course we had to do 4 set courseworks on a specific topic chosen by the exam board... that's what the whole driving school (EK Ltd) was about.

 

So next year I might have to tell my teacher I'm gonna do a database for my "driving instructor".

 

Have you seen how long an ICT A Level c/work is though? Our teacher showed us one he was marking... it's massive!

[Klaynos]

Mine was for computing, they look for different things in IT projects and computing projects...

[Dave]

For my A2 Computing coursework, I created an online system for my dad's finances. However, we had to find a real-life client

[Klaynos]

For my A2 Computing coursework, I created an online system for my dad's finances. However, we had to find a real-life client

 

Yeah so did we, or make one up that seemed ligitimate...

[5614]

So will I... although this is ICT not computing (computing and computer science is not an option where I am at).

 

From the looks of things though the actual making the prog or database or whatever is a big part, but all the documentation and testing and designs etc. is just as big a part as the actual system you make.

 

How long were your A2 projects?