Timetabling (scheduling) a school or college timetable using computer software.
Timetabling (scheduling)
has a powerful effect on the life of a school or college, and if you are a timetabler
you carry a heavy responsibility.
Modern software can relieve you of much of the donkey-work
of timetabling, leaving you with more time to apply your skill and judgement
where they are needed in order to produce a timetable of the highest quality.
This page gives
you an introduction to a widely-used timetabling program called TimeTabler.
This extremely popular and proven computer software will schedule your timetable
for you.
Do not confuse this program (Keith Johnson's TimeTabler) with other programs with similar names.
Later you can download a copy of the software, with a Tutorial and some demonstration data.
TimeTabler
TimeTabler is a fast and friendly computer program, based on many years of timetabling experience and carefully designed to help you to schedule your timetable quickly and accurately.
TimeTabler requires no knowledge of computers. It is designed to allow you to sit at the keyboard controls and ‘drive’ your way through the timetable. The easier way.
TimeTabler has been continuously developed and improved by Keith Johnson and a team of expert timetablers over a period of thirty years, using the many comments provided by a large number of users in a variety of situations.
Many hundreds of schools and colleges now use TimeTabler
to do the actual scheduling of their timetables on a computer.
You can see the comments made by
people who have used the software.
Unlike other programs with similar names, this program actually does the timetable for you (others may merely check your manual timetable as an ‘electronic pegboard’, or have limited features).
TimeTabler
will cope easily with the largest school. And yet it is friendly for small schools as well.
Look how friendly the screens are:
It's as straightforward as 1-2-3-4. This is the screen for Step 1 : entering your Basic Data.
Every screen has a Help button, to explain what each part does.
You can see more examples of the Windows screens by clicking
here.
TimeTabler
for Windows will
run on any PC with Windows 95 or later.
('Mac' Users can run it by using Virtual PC.)
TimeTabler
has
been designed to ensure that you can emulate your normal timetabling method
but with the speed of a computer.
TimeTabler
is based on long timetabling experience and allows you to proceed
in a way very similar to your usual manual method, while you remain in full
control and can over-ride the machine at every stage.
And it is supported by a 24/7 Support Centre and a team of experienced timetablers. We are the experts.
TimeTabler will help you to deal efficiently with:
-
the scheduling of part-time teachers,
- option patterns,
- staggered lunch-breaks,
- split-site schools,
- shared teaching in the ‘Sixth
Form’,
- ‘consistently-setted’ blocks,
- etc. etc.
TimeTabler can deal with ANY curricular structure, of ANY complexity.
No other timetabling program can claim this.
And you can use
our HelpLine Support if you need help or advice
with any aspect of your timetable.
TimeTabler
is
totally self-checking. For example: it will never allow you to
allocate by mistake any one teacher to two classes at the same time; and it will
always warn you if you begin to put two classes in the same room; or if you
decide to put two separate lessons of Maths on the same day, etc. etc.
This means that the timetable is guaranteed to work when the new term starts.
TimeTabler will automatically take care of all normal requirements like putting 5 periods of French on 5 different days (unless you tell it not to).
Using the high
speed of the computer, combined with efficient & proven timetabling algorithms,
TimeTabler looks ahead and shows you
at every stage a recommended list of Priorities
for you to consider.
That is, it recommends which
lesson you should place on the timetable, and where
you should place it !
At every stage, you can follow the program’s advice or you
can make your own decision.
In this way you get the very best result of the computer’s
speed combined with your judgement & experience & your knowledge of
your colleagues.
This is the way to get a quality timetable.
But in addition
to this mechanical checking and prioritizing, TimeTabler
will do far more - it will do the actual
scheduling of the timetable for you ,
-
either interactively
(you and the machine working together),
-
or automatically (you
relax while the machine does the work).
There are more details shown on the next TimeTabler page.
AND
TimeTabler
has
a superb special feature called FIT.
If a problem lesson will not fit into your timetable, then TimeTabler
will quickly search through millions of complicated ‘musical
chairs’ moves in order to find and show some solutions for you to choose
from !
It’s fast and clever ! Wonderful !
AND, before you do your scheduling, you can use the Options program to sort out your students’ optional or ‘elective’ choices in an efficient cost-effective way. The new Windows version has even more features.
AND, after you have used TimeTabler, you can easily and quickly manage your daily Cover arrangements for absent staff using the StaffCover program. The latest Windows version has many new features.
AND, you can transfer your completed timetable into SIMS .net, Phoenix, WCBS/PASS, RM Integris and other Admin systems, or spreadsheets, using the Export section of TimeTabler.
Users’
comments.
Click here to see what Users
have said about TimeTabler.
FAQs
- Frequently Asked Questions
Click here to see the Answers, or place
an Order.
More
details.
Click here to move to the next
page, for more details of how TimeTabler works.
«
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