Bromcom Timetable Query

[ssouth]

Just a question for any schools out there using Bromcom -

 

Our timetabler decided to use the Keith Johnson timetable package, which while it is compatible with Bromcom, apparently it isn't recommended to use for ongoing timetable changes once the academic year is "live" in September.

 

I'd be interested to know whether any other schools use Keith Johnson Timetabler, or any other timetabling package and how it interacts with Bromcom.

 

Bromcom say that you can just use the Bromcom MIS for ongoing timetable changes, but I'd be very interested to know people's experiences.

 

Thanks in advance.

[noelmm]

We use Bromcom and up until this year have used Keith Johnson and you are correct, we could upload the completed timetable into Bromcom but couldn't use it to make any changes etc. however I would ask how many changes would you make in a year that you wouldn't do directly within Curriculum?

 

This year we have moved to the Bromcom e-Timetable software and our member of staff responsible for the timetable has found it a challenge however this could be because it's their first year doing the timetable.

[CyBeRkId2002]

Have no direct experience other than to say we are a new school to Bromcom and this year our timetabler (outsourced) has created the timetable in e-Timetabler.

 

I believe she did the initial work in Nova as she was so much more familiar with it, then moved things across to E-Timetabler. She had similar thoughts that it was generally not as slick as Nova (which is really saying something!!!)

 

We went with this as it was what bromcom recommended, and as i had no knowledge of how the timetable translated to classes etc. I saw it as a complicated voodoo-type thing that was best left alone but know I understand it is ultimately just a collection of classcodes, sessions and teacher initial assignments I would probably be equally happy having it created in Nova, KJ Timetabled or any other software that suits so we will investigate the best option for next year's timetable.

 

With regards amendments in Bromcom, we were bulk moving students and teachers, rescheduling individual sessions for different teachers etc pretty much on day one with our data manager off, and no prior knowledge of how it all worked. This is something I wouldn't have been prepared to do in Nova.

 

I suppose it depends on the complexity of the change. Apparently we had a mix year band change once which I wouldn't really fancy, but again I'm fairly sure the software would be up to it.

[CyBeRkId2002]

Also, would appreciate an honest appraisal of KJ vs etimetabler if at all possible. Would it be possible to have a quick chat with your timetablers, possibly in the new year?