The Timetabler’s CookBook

Timetabling – A Timetabler’s CookBook

The ‘Timetabling Bible’ … thousands of copies sold worldwide …

• Have you got the responsibility for scheduling the timetable in your school or college ?
• Do you want to learn more about timetabling (scheduling) principles — perhaps as preparation for a career move ?
• Are you looking for a book to help you to understand the problems involved in scheduling a school timetable ?

If you use a computer program (TimeTabler, SIMS Nova T6, Facility-Scheduler, etc), or if you schedule manually, it is important to understand the underlying timetabling principles.

This book explains those principles.
It will help you to timetable more effectively and efficiently.

Keith Johnson wrote the original ‘bible’ on timetabling
Now he has revised and expanded it, with Mervyn Wakefield & Chris Johnson.
This new expanded book has 232 pages in full colour, with a CD included.
It covers the entire timetabling process, as detailed below.

Click to view some Sample Chapters, below:

Click Here for a 4-page PDF of the Full Contents list.

A flow chart of timetabling
A timetable of timetabling

Curriculum notation
Diagrams of 22 Curriculum structures
Vertical curriculum design; diplomas, consortia
Managing change : the effect of innovations 
Managing change : practical ways forward
Managing change : changing the timetable cycle
Click here to see some pages from this chapter.

Types of option blocks; advantages
Methods of determining the option blocks
‘Sixth Form’ options : Years 12 and 13

Checking for impossibilities in your structure
Five worked examples
Click here to see some pages from this chapter.

Chapter 5.    Staff Deployment Analysis 

Contact ratio; curriculum bonuses
The Staffing Equation; Worked examples

The Curriculum Audit Form
The Staff Loading Chart
Using the spreadsheets that are included on the CD

The Principle of Compatibility
Drawing a Combing Chart; Worked examples
Click here to see some pages from this chapter.

Find impossibilities in your teacher-teams
Principles and worked examples

The rooming fraction
Priorities; Worked examples

Zarraga’s Rule
Deciding priorities; part-time staff; split-site schools
Solving problems; Negotiating
How to look for more flexibility
Click here to see some pages from this chapter.

Five timetable models
Ten rules for scheduling
Nine tactics and moves
When something won’t fit, what do I do?
Allowing for different period-breakdowns
Improving the quality
Order of scheduling; Worked examples
Rooming, Dealing with specialist rooms
Checking the timetable
Printing and Publishing your timetable
What printouts are needed? For whom?
How do you know if it is getting close to impossible?
Alternative timetable structures

Curriculum Diagrams for Years 12, 13
The idea of ‘spread’; Looking for more flexibility
Small and large Sixth Forms
When something won’t fit, what do I do?
Click here to see some pages from this chapter.

‘Consistent blocking’
Block scheduling in Scotland

Balance, and the Timing of subjects,
The structure of the timetable

What to look for in a timetabling program
The 4 steps in timetabling software
What can timetabler software do for you?
Exporting the completed timetable to your MIS

Using Cover software

A timetable of timetabling
A flowchart for curriculum planning and timetabling
Who should do the timetable?
21 curriculum formulae
Glossary of timetabling terms
How to use the CD

Index

To Order the book, there are 3 choices:

• • 1. Pay by credit card by clicking here, or,
    2. Pay by cheque using this form, or,
    3. Be invoiced by quoting a school purchase order number on this form.

Publishing history:
‘Timetabling’ was initially published by Hutchinson Ltd, as ISBN 0-09-141630-2.
It was then published by Stanley Thornes Ltd and Nelson Thornes Ltd, as ISBN 0-7487-1077-9.
This revised & expanded full-colour edition, now with over 200 illustrations and a CD, published by October ReSolutions Ltd, as ISBN 978-0-9561161-0-9

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If you have any queries, please e-mail them to: ask@timetabler.com
We will answer any questions you may have about using the software with your particular curriculum.