INSET and Training on Timetabling


Here are free timetabling Inservice Training materials that have proved to be useful for :
1. Individual study by timetablers who are already doing, or about to do, their school or college timetable,
2.   Individual study for professional development by those who wish to become involved in timetabling in the future, or who wish to understand more of the timetabling process,
3. In-service training sessions on timetabling delivered to your colleagues for these reasons.

The materials can be freely downloaded (as .pdf files; more details are given on the download page).

Once downloaded they can then printed out (in A4 format) for use within your school or college
provided that the © copyright notice is kept on each sheet.

All these materials have been well-tried and tested over a number of years, on many timetabling courses run by Keith Johnson and Paul Murphy.  We have over 50 years of timetabling experience between us.
1. The Timetabler’s Year
A brief timetable of timetabling.

Jump to the download page to download this sheet.
A fuller version is included in 'Timetabling - A Timetabler's CookBook'.

2.

A Glossary of timetabling terms
An explanation of some of the jargon used in timetabling.

 Jump to the download page to download these pages.
A fuller version is included in 'Timetabling - A Timetabler's CookBook'.

3.

Curriculum Notation and Curriculum Diagrams
A brief explanation of the notation used by OFSTED and others for drawing curriculum diagrams.
Jump to the download page to download this sheet.

For a more complete explanation of a Curriculum Diagram, with examples, there is a 6-page spreadsheet.
Jump to the download page to download this spreadsheet.
 
A fuller version is included in 'Timetabling - A Timetabler's CookBook'.

4. Staff Deployment Analysis
This topic includes work on the Contact Ratio, curriculum bonuses, etc.
More details may be posted later.  See also the HelpScreen in TimeTabler.
A full version, with software, is included in 'Timetabling - A Timetabler's CookBook'.

5. Options Pools / Blocks / Columns / Electives
An outline of different Patterns of Options Choices for students.
More details may be posted later.  See also Chapter 3 in the 'Timetabling' book.

6. Analysing Students’ Choices and
Constructing Option Blocks
The Options software and the Tutorial Booklet, which can be obtained free from the download page, give you a step-by-step guide to the power and ease of constructing Option Blocks by computer.
The Tutorial takes about 1 hour to work through.  By a series of problem-solving worked examples it shows you how to analyse your Students’ Choices quickly, and construct the best Pattern of optional subjects / electives.

The Windows version of Options, with a Tutorial, is available for free download NOW.

7. The Combing Chart
This is a very useful test for checking teacher-teams.  
It allows you to look for impossibilities in the data you are intending to schedule.
It is very helpful for the Timetabler if Heads of Department are given this INSET before the timetabling season.
This topic can be easily covered in a session of about 1 hour.

The INSET materials consist of a Briefing Note for the person giving the training; 2 FactSheets of information, and 2 Activity Sheets of work for course members to do (7 pages of A4 in total).

Jump to the download page to download these materials.
A fuller version is included in 'Timetabling - A Timetabler's CookBook'.

8. The Conflict Matrix
 Another test for checking teacher-teams, and seeing how the teacher-teams of one year-group might fit against the teams from another year-group.
It can be helpful for the Timetabler if Heads of Department are given this INSET before the timetabling season.
This topic can be easily covered in a session of less than 30 minutes.

The INSET materials consist of a Briefing Note for the person giving the training; 2 FactSheets of information, and 1 Activity Sheet of work for course members to do (5 pages of A4 in total).

Jump to the download page to download these materials.
A fuller version is included in 'Timetabling - A Timetabler's CookBook'.

9.

Zarraga 's Rule
A test for checking how parallel teacher-teams in one part of the school interact against the serial teams of teachers in another part of the school.

Jump to the download page to download these materials.
A fuller version is included in 'Timetabling - A Timetabler's CookBook'.

10. Scheduling Rules
 A practical problem-solving activity which looks at the rules and gives you practice with the musical-chairs moves that are used during scheduling.
More details may be posted later.
Full details are included in 'Timetabling - A Timetabler's CookBook'.

11. Timetabling using a Computer
The TimeTabler software and the Tutorial Booklet, which can be obtained free from the download page, give you a step-by-step guide to the power and ease of timetabling by computer.
The Tutorial takes about 1¼ hours to work through, during which time you will do at least one timetable.

This is also an introduction to timetabling if you have not done any before.

The Windows version of TimeTabler 4, with a Tutorial, is available for free download NOW.

12. Organising daily Cover for absent staff
 The StaffCover software and the Tutorial Booklet, which can be obtained free from the download page, give you a step-by-step guide to the easy way of arranging daily Cover by computer.
The Tutorial takes just 10 minutes to work through, and shows you the power and flexibility of this software, to save your time daily.
 
13. Timetabling courses
 To use TimeTabler and our other programs it is not necessary to go on a course.
The HelpLine Support (by email or phone), the worked examples in the Manual, and the interactive HelpScreens within the programs, all make it easy for you to use the programs.
However, you may still be interested in attending a course on timetabling principles so we have listed some timetabling course providers.
 

« Just click on items in the menu to see more details.

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

© Chris & Keith Johnson