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The logon process
 
The following steps describe how the logon process occurs in EarthEd.
1) Check for software updates. The default update server is accessed and the version numbers are checked for new software.
2) Client enters first, last name, 6 digit ID, and a password.
3) The database is queried to see if the info matches a registered user.
There are two databases, one for Teachers and one for Users (students and TA's). The teachers database will persist for a series of courses, while students and TA's will not. The query returns entries from the User's database based on the nameID while the teachers database must match both nameID and first and last names. The nameID is consists of the first 8 digits of the last name, the first letter of the first name, and the 6 digit ID. So, Joe Landsfeld, with an ID of 123456 would become: "LandsfelJ 123456".
After EarthEd accepts the student's login info, a screen with a "Success" screen shows, with a list of TA's and a "Go To Class Assignments" button. If the client is a teacher, the "Go to Class Manager" button will also show.
What if the student isn't in the database?
1) Condition 1: student has never registered for an EarthEd course. The student clicks on the "Register" button and enters a validation code. In the future, this code will be purchased with a users manual, or online.
2) Condition 2: student has registered for a course, but not the current course. Here the student can also click the Register button to enter a validation code. This can also be done after logging into EarthEd and getting the list of classes she/he has registered.
Forgotten password: Here the student must enter name and ID information. Click the "Forgot My Password" button, enter email address, and if there is a matching email address with the student name and ID information in the database, a password will be mailed to the student's email address.