Building Small Tools That Matter for Our School

By John Micheal Acera
school appseducation technologypersonal projects
Lately, I’ve been pouring my time into building small but meaningful web applications for our school. It started with a simple realization: so many of our daily processes are still deeply reliant on pen and paper, even for teachers. That sparked something in me—why not try to modernize things, step by step?
The first request I received was to create a QR code attendance system for students to be deployed at the school gate. I built version one, and here’s what it can do:
Scan student IDs via QR codes linked to their ID numbers, Automatically log attendance in the system, Allow faculty to view attendance logs, Filter logs by course, year, or name
It’s still a first version, but I can already imagine the possibilities—scaling it for faculty attendance, classroom roll calls, even tracking library usage or internet hour credits. You can check it out here: https://bgfc-attendance-qr-webapp.vercel.app/
Next, I worked on a Syllabi Generator. Right now, every faculty member relies on printed copies, manual signatures, and inconsistent formats. My generator makes it easier and more standardized—although it’s still a work in progress. Link here: http://syllabi-app-generator.vercel.app/
And I’m not stopping there. I’ve started a list of future tools to build: digital faculty clearance, request forms, class schedulers during enrollment, and more. Each one is meant to ease a small but real pain point in the school’s workflow.
There’s no funding for this—it’s just me, following the urge to release my creative and craftful spirit into something useful. I don’t know exactly where this path will lead, but I know it’s one worth walking.