[sims] Timetabling in Nova-T6

[Bananas]

Timetabling for the first time in T6 this year and I can't believe how much more intuitive it is compared to doing the same in Scheduler. Even though it looks and feels rather dated I actually managed to bang the curriculum plan in within a few minutes.

 

Should be ready to push the go button later this week.

Edited May 13, 2014 by Bananas

[PhilNeal]

Do you work for us

[Bananas]

No, you offering a job?

[creese]

No, you offering a job?

 

If you find and continue to find it that easy, the world is your lobster.

[Bananas]

Well it'll be interesting to see if it all goes together well or if i've found it easy because i'm doing it wrong. Still waiting some final staffing and I guess then we'll find out.

 

I found Scheduler very difficult and I was bracing myself for more of the same and was quite pleasantly surprised, especially things like putting option blocks in for KS4

[CAM]

Primary or Secondary?

[Bananas]

Secondary hence KS4

[CAM]

Ahh didn't spot that part. I've used T6 and did a transition from T4 and rather like it. It is a bit complex though and Windows 7 hates it as the window borders are slightly smaller than the window making scrolling a pain. Never worked out how to fix that one!

[vikpaw]

If you find and continue to find it that easy, the world is your lobster.

The sorting hat must have picked Slytherin for @Bananas as Timetabling is a dark art congrats.

[jallsop]

Timetabling for the first time in T6 this year and I can't believe how much more intuitive it is compared to doing the same in Scheduler. Even though it looks and feels rather dated I actually managed to bang the curriculum plan in within a few minutes.

 

Should be ready to push the go button later this week.

 

Bon Chance Mon Ami,

 

I loved timetabling, but it is a rather specialised job, and not everyone was happy with my approaches. T4 and M&C was what i used first, and then T6. Once i got my head around T6, it made so much sense.

[tli]

I'm also currently timetabling in NovaT after a number of years with Scheduler. I'm not sure that I would agree with the statement that NovaT is more intuitive.

 

I agree that getting the initial curriculum plan on was much quicker but I've found some of the other processes far less intuitive. I would hardly describe processes such as building linear blocks as intuitive. I'm also finding the process of making changes to an existing timetable rather clunky compared to the ability to work directly on one of any number of Scheduler timetable views.

 

Scheduler is not without it's problems and NovaT is doing the job but I would describe NovaT as different rather than better. In the end, it rather depends on what you like and how you prefer to work.

[Bananas]

Different people find different approaches work for them I guess.

 

For me it is far more intuitive building blocks etc in scheduler is horrible.

 

Probably because you've got a few years of it under your belt you're more proficient in it than me I've only done one complete build in it from start to finish and despite being on the training courses found it really hard going.

 

All the different views in scheduler are just very confusing.

 

Maybe Nova-T just clicks with my way of thinking or had a good trainer or I've done it completely wrong. Who knows lol.

 

Each to their own

[tli]

It is true that you get used to Scheduler after a while. I've been using it for 10 years so I've got to know my way around and, when things don't seem to work, there's always another route. Mind you, the fact that I've spent a lot of those 10 years supporting CMIS schools with timetabling probably proves that you're not the only to find difficulties with it.

 

Prior to that, I actually used NovaT (- it must have been NovaT version 2 and half or something!) and I quite liked that but it's changed quite a bit since as you'd expect.

 

The world has also changed with complex school days and extended school hours. That's another area that I think Scheduler wins as it allows proper time based scheduling rather than doing things in a contrived, period based way.

 

In the end, we all have to get on with what we've got and, as with all aspects of MIS, you make it work, as best you can, for you.

 

Good luck and have fun!