Introduction to Timetabling & Curriculum design

 November 2009

 

www.mistservices.co.uk

Trainers

Chris Knights-Branch

Timetabling trainer and consultant, with education background

9 years commercial experience training for Serco

Works with State schools, Academies, Independent schools,

International schools

Peter Knights-Branch

40 years experience of timetabling

25 years in education, including headship

Worked with schools across the world

 

www.mistservices.co.uk

AgendaTime is very limited!

9:30 Introduction and overviewCoffee 11-11:15 Timetablers’ calendar

Curriculum ‘v’ TimetableConclusions on curriculum aimsTypes of curriculum designs and modelsDifferent timetable structures

13:00 Lunch13:30 Combing chartsCoffee 15:00-15:15 Staffing proformas

Teacher poolsClash tables, Zarraga’s rule

16:15 Questions and Answers including software solutions

 

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Timetabling is not just mechanical ! The following e-mail is unfortunately not uncommon: We are in a major falling roll situation and need to look at the curriculum to reflect this.

If we don’t reduce staff costs we will be bust by 2011!

Conclusion – so many factors influence schools and ultimately the timetable

(See white paper at mistservices.co.uk)

 

www.mistservices.co.uk

Curriculum designo Want to enable you to ‘question’ the timetable or the curriculumo A timetable is the output of a curriculumo Timetabling is not just a big puzzle! It impacts on so many people, so you should allow thinking time and reflection time!o What is a curriculum?o How is it derived?

Taskso Curriculum aims (page 5) – 10 minuteso Organisation of learning (page 7) – 10 minutes

Homeworko Curriculum from a learners perspective (page 9)

o Curriculum aims and aspirations (page 11)

 

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Curriculum modelso Contextual curriculum (page 13)

o Common skills and attributes (page 13)

o Primary model (page 14)

o Project blocks (page 15)

o Stage not age (page 16)

o Cross year blocking (page 16)

Considerationo It is important to consider the different types of models and where they could fit into your school and add value or help raise achievement, motivation, retention, attendance etco It might be that you could use a hybrid

Warningo Many of the changes you bring into your curriculum bring a +ve to the school or learner but act as a –ve for the timetabler!

 

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Timetable structureso Blocko Dynamic blocko Lessonso What does a curriculum diagram look likeo What observations can be made from just looking at a curriculum plan?o How do you collect all curriculum, staffing and subject information?

Tasko Take a curriculum diagram and the timings for the year group, what is good/bad about the curriculum diagram?o What changes could you potentially make?o Do you reckon it will schedule?

Warningo Every change has an impact, many timetablers underestimate this, ultimately loosing scheduling time i.e adding stress !

 

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Timetable analysis & testso Subject demando Subject (staff) supplyo Curriculum bonuseso Understanding different curriculum figureso Combing chartso Staffing proformaso Teacher poolso Clash tableso Zarraga’s ruleo Rooming fraction

Warningo It takes more time to receive all information back from colleagues than you may expect!o Strive for consistency and accuracy!

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Software Solutions

NOVA T6

•Used by SIMs schools•Relatively easy to use•Curriculum planning very neat and quick•Screens are ‘consistent’•Complete tasks in set screens•No extra cost as typically comes with SIMs

Facility Scheduler

•Used by Facility schools•Extremely flexible (24/7)•Powerful auto scheduler•Views are configurable•Relatively high learning curve•Configuration and power is its weakness!•No extra cost as comes with Facility

TimeTabler

•Used by variety of schools•Easy to use•MIS independent•Relatively in-expensive•Designed around timetabling tasks

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Web pages

MIST Services www.mistservices.co.ukTimetabler www.timetabler.comSerco Learning www.sercolearning.comCapita SIMs www.capitaes.co.uk

Twitter www.twitter.com/mistservicesTwitter deck www.tweekdeck.com