Introduction
MiRoster
is a Windows 95/98 or Windows NT v4 or later based software tool to produce a conflict-free school schedule for both grades and teachers while allowing for the increasing complexity of today’s timetables.Just define teachers & professions and grades & courses and the MiRoster will automatically build all school’s timetables avoiding any possible conflict and strictly minimizing the number of empty periods in grades’ schedules. Once teachers and grades are defined, construction or update of school’s timetables is just a matter of minutes.
The tool is built around a proprietary automatic scheduling engine which implements multilevel fuzzy logic algorithm to execute the timetable construction task.
The tool’s main features are:
1. School Framework
The school framework means a set of disciplines, teachers and grades and their internal links which present the school’s educational structure. Any number of school frameworks under different names can be created to present various structures of the same real existing school. The school framework will be called, for simplicity, school.
The school includes a “warehouse” of all disciplines which are learned and educated. Disciplines are distinguished primarily by their name (Math, English, Physics level 2, Physics level 3, etc.).
The pool of disciplines to be learned by a grade (grade’s courses) will be assembled from the disciplines included in the “warehouse”.
Teachers can be qualified to educate one or more disciplines (teacher’s professions).
Once discipline is included as a course of at least one grade, there must be at least one teacher qualified to educate that discipline.
2. Windows
Each kind of issues (disciplines, teachers and grades), included in the school, is presented, on the desktop in dedicated common window. Each single issue (single discipline, teacher or grade) is presented in dedicated private window. Common windows are identical in their structure, appearance and response. The teacher and grade private windows are very similar in both their appearance and behavior although there are some minor differences. Discipline private window is totally different in its look-and-feel because of the more general nature associated with.
2.1. Common Windows
There are three common windows distinguished by their names: “Disciplines”, “Teachers” and “Grades”.
The common window includes two parts: a list of issues belonging to the same kind (disciplines, teachers and grades) and push buttons that activate different options to manipulate the issues included in the list.
Four buttons are included in common window: “Open”, “New”, “Update” and “Delete”. The buttons “Open”, “Update” and “Delete” deal with individual selected issue. The button “New” deals with the set of issues by enabling to add new issues to the list.
All buttons are inactive (dimmed) when the window placed into background.
Generally a part of buttons are active when the window is on front of other windows (“New” always is active when the window is on front).
The only reason for “Open” button to be in inactive state is when no item is selected in the list. Selection of any item in the list causes the “Open” button to change its state into active.
The two reasons for “Update” button to be in inactive state are (1) when no item is selected in the list and (2) when the private window, associated with the selected item in the list, is open. Selection of any item in the list and closing its associated private window (if open) causes the “Update” button to change its state into active.
A part of the reasons for “Delete” button to be found in inactive state is the same to those of the “Update”. In addition, “Delete” button will be found in inactive state if the selected item is included in other issues definitions (discipline cannot be deleted while has been defined as a teacher’s profession or as a grade’s course; teacher cannot be deleted while has been defined as a dedicated teacher in some grade, etc.).
2.1.1 School Disciplines
In order to define new discipline or a list of new disciplines, update or delete existing one or open and display the desired discipline’s information, the “Disciplines” window must be open and located at the front of other windows.
If the “Disciplines” window is visible on the screen, the click on its drag bar will bring it to front. Sometimes the screen of the computer is clattered by a lot of different open windows and then to bring the “Disciplines” window to front, select “School Disciplines” item in “Window” menu.
Once “Disciplines” window is open and located at the front of other windows, all the action listed above can be done.
2.1.2 School Teachers
In order to define new teacher or a list of new teachers, update or delete existing one or open and display the desired teacher’s information, the “Teachers” window must be open and located at the front of other windows.
If the “Teachers” window is visible on the screen, the click on its drag bar will bring it to front. Sometimes the screen of the computer is clattered by a lot of different open windows and then to bring the “Teachers” window to front, select “School Teachers” item in “Window” menu.
Once “Teachers” window is open and located at the front of other windows, all the action listed above can be done.
2.1.3 School Grades
In order to define new grade or a list of new grades, update or delete existing one or open and display the desired grade’s information, the “Grades” window must be open and located at the front of other windows.
If the “Grades” window is visible on the screen, the click on its drag bar will bring it to front. Sometimes the screen of the computer is clattered by a lot of different open windows and then to bring the “Grades” window to front, select “School Grades” item in “Window” menu.
Once “Grades” window is open and located at the front of other windows, all the action listed above can be done.
2. 2. Private Windows
The private window is named always as a desired issue (discipline “Geography”, teacher “J. Gross Jr.” or grade “A 10”) the window belongs to.
2.2.1. Discipline Private Window
The discipline’s window consists of two parts: upper and lower.
The upper one includes either a list of teachers qualified to educate this discipline, or a list of grades where the discipline should be learned. Two radio buttons “Teachers” and “Grades” are used to switch from one list to other. At the top of the window’s content region resides a bar which contains the summary information about this discipline. That information includes:
The lower part includes the sharing list of disciplines allowed to be learned at the same period as the desired window’s discipline (shared disciplines).
Drag-and-drop the discipline (a shared one) from “Disciplines” window to shared discipline window, attaches the discipline to the desired sharing list.
The “Remove” button, to remove a selected discipline from the sharing list, is included in the low part of the window.
A mouse click on the upper or the lower list activates the list and the control buttons associated with.
The window is informative only and nothing can be updated or deleted using it (except open teacher or grade private window when double click on selected item in a list).
2.2.2. Teacher Private Windows
This private window generally includes the information about teacher professions. There are three sections in the window: a bar with the name of currently disprofession, the schedule section and the common controls section.
When no profession is defined for teacher, the window is empty.
To define a teacher’s profession, one shall only drag-and-drop a discipline from “Disciplines” window to teacher window.
The current displayed profession name will be displayed in the upper part of the teacher private window.
The central (schedule) section presents week days fragmented into separate periods. Likewise it contains information about the profession units and includes four controls: three radio buttons “Single”, “Sum” and “Rating” and push button “Units”.
The click on “Rating” (availability mode) button enables to define whole days or single periods available or prohibited for teaching. Low available option means that the day or period will be available for teaching only when no other allocation opportunities are found. The following explains how to sign periods for adequate teaching availability, when availability mode is selected:
Later, once the schedule has been built, the “Single” button enables to display the single profession schedule where the grades’ names will be allocated in appropriate periods. “Sum” button facilitates the display of teacher’s weekly summary schedule including all profession the teacher educates. If the teacher educates more than one discipline, the particular discipline name will be displayed in each period frame. Either the grade’s names will be displayed there.
2.2.3. Grade Private Windows
This private window includes the information about courses to be educated in the grade. There are three sections in the window: a bar with the name of currently displayed course, the schedule section and the common controls section.
When no course is defined for grade, the window is empty.
To define a grade’s course, drag-and-drop a discipline from “Disciplines” window to grade window.
Tip: All disciplines defined in the school can be defined as courses of the grade at “one shot” by drag-and-drop some discipline from “Disciplines” window when <ctrl> key held pressed down.
Tip: All disciplines defined in one grade (“source” grade) can be “dragged” to another grade simply by drag-and-drop the “source” grade from “Grades” window to the private window of the second one. The courses defined in the first will be added to those already defined in the second.
The current displayed course will be named after the name of the discipline and displayed in the upper part in the grade private window.
To define a dedicated teacher to educate the desired course, drag-and-drop a teacher name from “Teachers” common window (or from discipline’s private one) to grade window. If the teacher is qualified to educate the course, the name of will appear in dedicated teacher field.
The central (schedule) section presents week days fragmented into separate periods. Likewise it contains information about the course learning units and specifications, includes the name of the teacher which is dedicated for this course (if defined) and a name of the course from another grade which is defined for a multiage learning. In this section six controls are included: three radio buttons “Single”, “Sum” and “Rating”, push button “Units” responding for course units, push button “Remove teacher” for removing a dedicated teacher and push button “Remove course” for removing a multiage course.
Click on “Rating” (availability mode) button enables to define whole days or single periods available or prohibited for teaching or single periods are dedicated for the course. Low available option means that the day or period will be available for teaching only when no other allocation opportunities are found. The following explains how to sign periods for adequate teaching availability, when availability mode is selected:
Later, once the schedule has been built, the “Single” button enables to display the single course schedule where the name of the teacher allocated for the course is displayed in the particular period rectangle.
“
Sum” button facilitates the display of grade’s weekly summary schedule including all courses to be educated. The disciplines’ names are displayed in the particular period frame.Remark: The colored period signs the following:
If, for example, some period is both shared locked, the color shall be defined according to priorities a, b, c and d. All colors can be customized using “Format” menu. Click and hold the mouse on the shared or multiage period will expose the collocated course.
3. Menu
3.1. File
The “File” menu generally enables the work with a school framework as whole rather then with separate parts of it (like disciplines or grades).
3.1.1 New school
Opens new school with empty framework. The already open school should be closed.
3.1.2 Open school
To open existing school select “Open” item from “File” menu. Only legal school files will be presented in the dialog window. Once the school has been selected, all the data associated with will be loaded and the “Disciplines” window will appear on the screen. If “Open” item is selected when another school is under work, the school under work will be closed and the information of will be saved.
3.1.3 Close school
Closes the already open school.
3.1.4 Save school as...
Enables to save the current open school under a new name different from the previous one.
3.1.6 Preferences
Enables to define a number of global parameters for school. This global parameters will be used when a new school or new issues for an existing school will be defined.
3.1.7 Print setup
Enables to define the setup of the printer.
3.1.8 Print
The information to be printed depends on the front window content.
In the window under interest a different types of information can be presented or highlighted.
In common windows (“Disciplines”, “Teachers” and “Grades”) one of the items in the list can be (or no item should be) selected.
The discipline private window includes either the list of teachers qualified to educate the discipline or the list of grades, the discipline will be educated in. Moreover, if the discipline is shared one, the list of disciplines which can share the same period with the desired one, is included.
The teacher or grade private window can present different types of information: the schedule summary or particular profession/course schedule or availability.
3.1.9 Quit
Termination of the program.
3.2 Shell
3.2.1 Clear schedule
Clear the school’s schedule already built and update the disk file with the one cleared.
3.2.2 Build schedule
Build the school’s schedule based on the defined issues in the framework. Before the build action takes off, the schedule will be automatically cleared and consistency check should be performed. If some inconsistencies in framework definitions are found, the appropriate message will be sent. There two options are open: the first one is to continue the build schedule process despite inconsistencies found, and the second one is to cancel build request, activate the Consistency check to see what happen and to take some actions to correct the framework issues or their links.
3.2.3 Consistency check
Check the consistency of issues which comprise the school’s framework and their links. Inconsistencies found are displayed in dedicated non editing window.
Consistency check includes (only a part list is presented here):
Correct action:
Correct action:
Correct action:
3.3 Format
This menu deals with the customization of fonts and colors in different parts of windows.
The font in any individual field in the window can be changed either by right button click on the field (for example period field in schedule table, day name, dedicated teacher, etc.) or by selecting the appropriate item from the “Format” menu. Changing the font or color will influence all field of the same kind - buttons, summaries, days, etc.
3.4 Windows
This menu deals with open and close of all the windows of the program.
3.4.1 Close window
Close the front window presented.
3.4.2 Close all windows
Close all the windows presented.
3.4.2 Close all background windows
Close all the windows presented except the front one.
3.4.3. School Disciplines
Open or bring to front the “Disciplines” window.
3.4.4 Close all disciplines
Close all disciplines’ private windows presented.
3.4.5 Disciplines (1, 2, etc.)
Bring to front the desired discipline’s private window.
3.4.6. School Teachers
Open or bring to front the “Teachers” window.
3.4.7 Close all teachers
Close all teachers’ private windows presented.
3.4.8 Teachers (1, 2, etc.)
Bring to front the desired teacher’s private window.
3.4.9. School Grades
Open or bring to front the “Grades” window.
3.4.10 Close all grades
Close all grades’ private windows presented.
3.4.11 Grades (1, 2, etc.)
Bring to front the desired grade’s private window.
4. How to do it...
4.1 Create new school
Intention: create a file (the file name is the name of the school) which contains all the information which characterize the school. A number of versions of the same school can be created simply by copying the existing file, changing the name (or signing a version number) and changing the characteristics of the school.
4.2 School definitions
Intention: define a general framework for the school which will be used as a default for detailed definitions of disciplines, teachers, professions, grades and courses.
4.3 Disciplines definitions
4.4 Teachers definitions
4.5 Teacher professions definitions
4.6 Grades definitions
4.7 Grade’s courses definitions
When a dedicated teacher will be assigned for a course:
When a multiage learning will be assigned for a course:
4.8 Consistency check
4.9 Schedule construction
4.10 Print
The print option is sensitive to the active window displayed on the screen. For grade and teacher windows a number of print options are available through a dialog wiwhich is displayed before the regular “Print” dialog window appears.
When “Grades” or “Teachers” window is active one, the print options should be changed when an item from the displayed list is selected or not.
4.11 Schedule lock
This option is useful when there is necessary to add courses, teachers or to do minor changes in the school scheduling when saving the existing scheduling in most of school grades. It is available to lock the scheduling of the complete school, all of the courses of a grade or any individual course.
Glossary
Course |
Discipline learned by grade |
Daily min. & max. Units |
Minimum and maximum continuous units allowed to learn daily (minimum is obviously must be one and maximum cannot exceed weekly units) |
Drag-and-drop |
Drag-and-drop procedure enables to link two issues in simple and easy way. - Choose the item (if it is a list item - simply click on its name) - While the item is selected, point the mouse inside the item’s rectangle - Press the mouse’s left button and don’t release it - Drag the mouse while the left button is still down (the rectangle will follow the mouse) to the destination window - release mouse’s push-button mouse The actions, which has been done, can be summarized as: point the mouse on the issue, drag the issue to the desired window and then drop the issue into the desired window (or in shortly drag-and-drop) |
Period |
The school day is separated into periods of time (45 minutes or one hour or any time period used by the school) |
Profession |
Discipline educated by teacher |
Sharing list |
A set of disciplines which can share the same period with the desired one. Each of the disciplines in the sharing list must be itself a shared discipline |
Unit |
Single period in the school (for example period of 45 minutes for single lecture is defined as one unit). The difference between period and unit lies in the use of them: period is used to assign the time slice in school day where the course (for grade) or the profession (for teacher) will be allocated in; unit is used in quantitative context to assign the time volume dedicated to course or to profession (weekly or daily) |
Weekly Units |
The weekly sum of course units to be learned by grade or profession units to be educated by teacher (for example 4 weekly units are convenient for math to be learned and 36 weekly units are convenient for single profession teacher) |