School Timetabling Factors And Software

The process of creating a timetable for classes or school timetabling is difficult. Several factors go into creating a timetable. The results vary for different situations and school sizes. Different software programs and algorithms have been devised in an attempt to solve the matter. However, there has been no clear-cut solution. Different schools have varying needs and resources available, making it impossible to create a formula to solve the problem.

In years past, a class timetable was created manually or by using a spreadsheet program. Numerous meetings are scheduled and held to ensure that the resources are used wisely. For larger schools, the process can take several weeks. Devising a timetable is most challenging for primary and secondary school levels. With creating timetables for college or university levels, the challenge becomes easier as the students move from one class to another and can choose their own schedules. This distributes some of the burden to the student who devises a timetable to fit his or her own need. In any case, the solution is not perfect with teachers often doing more classes than necessary.

One of the major issues involving a school timetable involves the existing facilities. Any type of class that involves taking out and preparing equipment such as those used for art or laboratory classes requires double or consecutive periods. The same types of classes may also call for specific rooms, requiring more attention and careful planning. If the classes require some traveling, the time it takes to travel from one area to another should also be taken into account. This is true especially in schools with large campuses.

Public schools often have large student populations with a limited number of staff handling each class. The staff involved in planning the classes will have to determine how to split large classes into more manageable groups. Smaller groups are easier to teach but require more time and effort in scheduling periods. On the other hand, groups that are too small may be combined with similar classes to save on lesson time.

The length for each class also varies depending on the grade or year level. This makes scheduling the classes and breaks more difficult, especially involving teachers that handle different levels.

Some teachers are only available to work part time or may have commitments outside the school. As such, they are only available for certain days or times of the week and cannot teach outside these periods. The planned schedule must try to reflect these individual needs as well.

Over the years, multitudes of software have been developed and used in planning and creating school timetables. Schools can choose from a variety of programs available to suit their needs and budget restrictions. The use of a spreadsheet program is useful but has offers minimal help, leaving planners to devise of a timetable manually.

In programs created specifically to create timetables, algorithms are devised to consider certain factors. These specific criteria can be categorized as either “hard” or “soft.” Hard factors are criteria, which are of the utmost importance while soft criteria refer to individual preferences. Determining which factors are more important alters the resulting schedule. There are also programs that utilize multiple algorithms, allowing users to manipulate more settings and compare which output is the best.

Schools that are interested in investing in such software should do the research and avail of as many trial packages as they can. Trial packages are convenient as these allow schools to test the features before fully investing in the product. A school timetabling program can help save time, effort and resources in devising a schedule but only if the right software is selected for the school’s needs.