Modeling of information processes in knowledge-oriented systems allows to reduce the cost of development and operation of such complex systems. The proposed method of information models visualization allows to display processes in graphical form and simplify mutual understanding between the customer and the developer at the stage of analysis and design. The visualization models and a simplified example of developing.
The necessity of increasing the management efficiency of distributed knowledge-oriented systems
of distance learning under quarantine restrictions requires the use of information technology, that
provides displaying of system status and system management processes in real time [
The purpose of development is to present visual modeling methods of knowledge-oriented systems, as well as the development of a management system on the example of a linguistic school. During the analysis of the structure of the research object, key problems were identified and methods for their solution are offered, tools for optimizing management processes and ensuring functional and non-functional requirements to the system.
The novelty of the work is the presentation of systems analysis techniques, in accordance with
international standards [
The practical aspect is a comprehensive analysis of the structure and course of management processes of knowledge-oriented systems, avoiding misunderstandings in the tasks formulation and user requirements gathering, as well as reducing the cost of creating and operating management systems.
Basic user requirements for linguistic school process management system: language learning process control, electronic client registration, creation of client account, client activity monitoring, communication with the linguistic school, client financial account creation, automation of the payment process, linguistic school financial control.
The result of the system creating is websites and mobile applications, the use of which should increase the efficiency and competitiveness of the linguistic school in the market of educational services. Such knowledge-oriented systems should transparently facilitate communication between customers and the company and, if desired, the use of loyalty status under loyalty programs.
A convenient way to enter a language school without the need for a personal visit to the institution, electronic document management, transparency of the recruitment process for language courses and their course, the possibility of statistical processing of client metadata (their age, gender, address, motivation to start courses, learning progress) activities, a list of the main effects of the management system implementation. The automated payment process allows you to constantly monitor unpaid receivables and the overall financial condition of the linguistic school. An important factor is to ensure competitiveness in the market of educational services through promotions and PR activities.
The language school operates as part of territorially dispersed branches and offers individual and group courses in five languages (English, French, German, Italian and Spanish). In the conditions of quarantine, the urgency of conducting online courses increases.
The guidance of the linguistic school set a task to automate the process of enrolling clients in courses. The linguistic school has full-time teachers, employment contracts, and part-time teachers. There is also an accountant in charge of the marketing and promotion department, secretariat staff, and technical staff (fig. 1).
2.2.
The system is used through a mobile application or an Internet browser. This allows to communicate with users, register and exclude from the course, control payments, as well as receiving and processing customer comments. Teachers have access to accounts in the system, protected by a login and password received from the owner of the language school. School clients register in the system independently. Their records are confirmed by name, surname, telephone number, and e-mail address. The customer of the system requires the support of a maximum 50 teachers, 150 students, and 3 owners. 2.3.
System users are potential customers, current students, teachers and the school owner. Pupils and students who use mobile applications are a significant target group. Also, many clients use the services of the school on the recommendation of the employer or on their own initiative. The composition of teachers changes adaptively to the number of students. 2.4.
The system provides users with the following capabilities: review the current offer of courses and teachers in order to compare with other schools and choose a course; registration and secure login to the system with access to personal data and the ability to perform all functions of the system; making payments in the application in order to increase efficiency and avoid cash transactions; commenting on the current functioning of the school, teachers and the atmosphere of classes. access of teachers to information about their courses, their participants and assessments, in order to control the course of the didactic process; flexible system of evaluation of the educational process and monitoring of the progress of knowledge acquisition. the owner of the language school has access to statistics on the number of students, the most popular courses and control of the company's financial condition. 2.5.
1. Functional requirement: Registration in the system Definition: creation by each client of school of the account in system. Enter: Password, email, name, phone number.
Exit: After the registration is completed, the system redirects the user to the login tab.
Definition: logging in with authorized users. After logging in, users are able to use the available features depending on whether he is a student or a school employee.
Login: Login and password Exit: by laying out. 3. Functional requirement: Registration for the course Definition: independent registration of users for the selected language course.
Input data: choice of school location, language, level, study group.
Exit: After saving, the notification panel will display a message about registration and course details (language, teacher, level, class dates, number of people in the group, school location, funds and date of payment).
4. Functional requirement: Cancellation of the course Definition: self-cancellation of the course by the user.
Input: Select an account and cancel it.
Exit: After canceling the account, a message is generated in the notifications panel. 5. Functional requirement: Review of the offered language courses Definition: acquaintance of users with the offer of school.
Access: The menu includes the "Courses" tab, and the "Filter" function allows the user to view the courses of the respective language, level, teacher and educational institution.
Exit: After selecting a specific course, the registration option appears. The "Back" button redirects the user to the main menu.
Definition: Displays to the user the course to which he is enrolled.
Login: "My courses" option in the main menu of the system
Exit: After selecting the appropriate course, the "Course Details" option appears, which directs the user to course details, homework, lesson topics, grades, and payment information.
Definition: the user's choice of payment method and its execution.
Access: via the main menu "My courses"> "Details"> "Payment".
Exit: After selecting a specific course and the "Payment" button, the program displays the user the price of the course and payment options in installments. After selecting the appropriate type of payment, the program displays the types of payments: BLIK, transfer, payment card. 8. Functional requirement: Payment of receivables Definition: deferred payment by the user of the course.
Input: Choose a payment method.
Exit: redirection to the banking program. 9. Functional requirement: Reviews of courses and language school
Definition: allows students and teachers registered in the system to comment on the quality of classes and individual teachers.
Access: In the main menu, the "Reviews" tab redirects to the "Leave Feedback" and "View Feedback" options bar.
Exit: The generated feedback is added to the list and becomes available to other users. 10. Functional requirement: View comments
Definition: the ability to view arbitrary users, including those who are not registered in the system, available comments on the quality of classes and individual teachers
Access: In the main menu, the "Comments" option goes to the panel that contains the "Leave a comment" and "View comments" options.
Exit: A list of available comments is displayed. 11. Functional requirement: Information about courses for teachers
Definition: displays information about the schedule of teachers, the number of students in groups, passed and planned lesson topics (optional).
Access: through the main menu of the teacher, the tab "My courses". Ability to choose a specific course.
Exit: course information is displayed. 12. Functional requirement: Statistical information
Definition: allows you to view statistics on the number of participants in individual courses over a period of time, the popularity of individual languages offered by the school, and the popularity of individual teachers. This feature is available to the language school owner.
Access: on the main panel, after the login of the school owner, the option "View statistics".
Output: interface with grouped statistics, the ability to select the requested period.
The context diagram shows (fig. 2) data streams of interaction with external objects in the system. Examples of such objects are the external components of the system, institutions, users. The diagram shows which data is entered into the system from the outside, which is processed inside the system, as well as which is output by the system to the outside. 3.2.
BPMN notation is used for graphical display and analysis of business processes in the system. A characteristic feature of BPMN-models is the unambiguous representation of Workflow-processes and ERP systems.
Figure 3 shows the BPMN model of user registration for the selected course.
operations for the sub-process "Make a payment" with duration, start and
Matrix models of the general process of system management reflect two subprocesses defined by
the customer: enrollment (fig. 4) and payment (fig. 5). This model allows visualizing the execution of
individual system operations by the relevant departments on a time scale [
Gantt's models allow to visualize in the time scale of system operations in each of the subprocesses (fig. 6, 7).
Customer choice of language
Student enrollment in the course - entry in the
databaseтекст Formation of enrollment confirmation E-mail confirmation of enrollment D2.
O2
D9. O1
The "network graph" model (fig. 8, 9) is a basic, derivative of Gantt's model [
D1.O1
D3.O1 D2.
O1
A combined time model (fig. 10, 11) is used to estimate the total computational load of the control
information system [
D9.
O1
D11.O4 D8.O1
Based on the combined time model, a block diagram of the program algorithm for system
operations execution (fig. 12, 13) is built, which on the basis of object-oriented programming allows
the fast implementation of the management system [
D12.O1 20 D13 .O2
T T<T0
̶ T>T5
̶ D1.O1 + +
T>T6
̶ D2.O1 +
T>T16
̶ D3.O1 +
T>T18
̶ D4.O2 +
T>T19
̶ D5.O3 +
T>T20
̶ D6.O3
End + T<T0 T>T1 ̶ ̶
End
The process was simulated using the online environment BPSimulator, located at
http://www.bpsimulator.com [
Based on the simulation results, the developer is able to perform visual modeling of business processes, identify "narrow" areas of productivity, assess the time and cost of operations, select and justify the best option for organizing the management process.
Based on the developed visualization methods of processes functioning in difficult control systems the bases and methods of modeling which have allowed to display a course of processes and to carry out the management of an information system in real-time are defined. Visualization of management processes has avoided mutual misunderstandings between customers and developers of information systems, as well as reduced costs for the development, implementation, and maintenance of distributed management systems.
The goal of the project was achieved - to model the management system, as well as to develop a simplified example of models of the management system of student learning processes.
The implementation of the system allowed to optimize costs, improve the quality of services, and automate management processes, as well as improve the exchange of information between individual departments and move to an electronic management system. The introduction of changes in the system led to an increase in the competitiveness of the school, and the functionality of the system was adapted to market standards. The implementation of the developed models is designed to create a real competition of the language school by solving the existing shortcomings of similar systems.
The economic advantage of the services offered by the language school is the scaling effect. The more students participate in the course, the more teachers provide tuition, saving money on teaching materials and teacher pay. Thanks to pre-registration for the courses, the analyst can assess the real demand for the course and hire the required number of teachers, paying in the appropriate amounts.