Messages

OK thanks. Here is an example of what I mean:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tGgey1EfzSS3V16SPTirCN-IVeXWGMVB6HC49dsFKT4/edit?usp=sharing

I would think this might be a common need?

Thanks for the program - I've been using it for years now!

I'm able to add an activities same day constraint but it takes a long time to go through every activity and add this. Is there a quicker (global) option?

i.e. Math classes happen 9 out of 10 days, 3 sections each (Math A, Math B, Math C). I want to have all three sections on the same day and not split between days.

Thanks for any tips you can share!

Matthew

I am trying to find a shortcut on importing data. I have one grade level set with teachers, activities, and constraints. I have 3 more grades to enter with almost identical info. Would this be the way to do it?

Got it - thanks!

Thanks! I'm home on my mac right now, so I'll have to try this when I get back to school on a PC.

Do I run the "test-first-and-last-day.fet" file or the "liviu-matthew2.fet" file?

I appreciate your help!

Matthew

There will be a couple of room constraints needed, but mostly not.

Grades 5 and 6 share a building

Grades 7 and 8 share a building

They both have the same two issues:

1) They should not have Project scheduled at the same time
2) They cannot have more than 2 periods of CORE classes at the same time (or they do run out of spaces)

I was going to ask these things next!

You guys are so helpful - thank you!

Matthew

Each teacher gets one of those periods free, so it's OK.

I only used generic names while we troubleshoot.

Sent you an email with a link to a Google Doc.

thanks

Matthew

I just ran Liviu's file and it was missing half of the core classes - I put each core class back to 2 duration, and that seemed to fix it - no more empty periods.

I think this works, and I understand what you did with the constraints.

If a customization is needed for the A and F days to be available as "split days" then I would gladly receive it - thanks!

I'm attaching the latest file with the added duration.

Volker - I was having a hard time splitting the class of 50 into two groups of 25 and also into 3 even groups, so I simplified it by lumping them together. It won't have any negative impact on our schedule.

thanks

Matthew

I tried to set up 5th grade only on this file. Because core classes are always scheduled in blocks of 2, I decided to block schedule them here - makes it easier to read.

In generating this file it did place the split days consecutively (C&D days in this example), but that's not necessarily the case.

Please see attached FET file and output file to see more...

thanks!

Matthew

[Split day A]

On 4 of the 6 days, every student takes all 4 classes in one of three subgroups:

Math / Sci  / SS
LA / Math  / Sci
SS / LA / Sci
Sci / SS /  Math

On the two split days, they take the same 4 classes over 2 consecutive days. For example:

Split day A
Math / Sci  / SS
LA / Math  / Sci

Split Day B
SS / LA / Sci
Sci / SS /  Math

I was holding off on building this in FET until I figured this out. I was able to make a schedule - it just wouldn't keep the split days consecutive.

I'm trying to keep up with your ideas, but it's tricky to understand!

Just one note - realizing my "Core" terminology was not totally helpful. The 4 periods called "core" represent 4 activities (Math, Science, Social Studies, and Language Arts). Each is taught 3 of the 4 periods in a CORE block (like my math example image) with the large class split into 3 subgroups.

4 periods of core classes would be a variation of this:

Math / Sci  / SS
SS / LA  / Math
Sci / LA / SS
Sci / LA /  Math

except that we run a 6-day cycle...

I think it's the last option. To maintain flexibility, it would need to be a constraint. I wonder if I could split the 5 periods into different activities - the split day might have different rules than the consistent days?

There are 4 grade levels, each with 4 subjects (activities) that would need to follow this pattern - i.e. 16 different activities in the whole schedule.

thanks

Matthew

Thanks again,

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "circularly". I'm attaching a pic of our actual full schedule with 4 grade levels (years). If you just look at the periods called "Core", you can see that there are 4 each day except the "split day" - 5th grade's split days are A and B, 6th grade's are D and E, 7th grade's are D and E, and 8th grade's are C and D.

I would typically schedule an Activity called "Math" for each of the three subgroups, and split it by 5 in a 6-day week.

Trying to make sure the split day is not separated by a regular day.

thanks

Matthew

Thanks for the replies - I'm not sure if the second idea is something that will work - I need to read it a few more times to see if I understand!

I wanted to post a clearer example of the pattern required. It applies to several classes at once, but in this example I am showing the impact on one math class. The color coding is to represent the same lesson taught to a group. Attached is an image of a pattern that works, and one that doesn't. Hopefully this is clearer...

thanks in advance!

Matthew