Division of Classes

[Teck Hock]

Hi

I have Year 1: 7 classes. We group into 2 cluster of 4 classes and 3 classes.
Let say 1A,1B,1C,1D as cluster A and 1E,1F,1G as cluster B.

In cluster A, the 4 classes are mixed together for English, Math and Science.
So each class has ELG1, ELG2, ELG3 and ELG4.
The ELG1 from class A,B,C,D will have English lesson together under Teacher 1
The ELG2 from class A,B,C,D will have English lesson together under Teacher 2
The ELG3 from class A,B,C,D will have English lesson together under Teacher 3
The ELG4 from class A,B,C,D will have English lesson together under Teacher 4

Similarly for Maths and Science.

Anyone can help with how should I go about doing the division?

I have tried but so far no success.

Thks

[Liviu Lalescu]

Hello,

I think this will work:

Two years: year 1A and year 1B.

First category in year 1A: A, B, C, D.

Then either add year 1A and teachers 1-4 to an English activity (the most efficient), or divide by category 2  in year 1A: ELG1-ELG4. So in total year 1A will have 4 categories in the less efficient but exact scenery.

[Teck Hock]

Thks for the fast respose.

Sorry forget to say, In Singapore, we also have 1 subject called Mother Tongue.
Students can either take Chinese, Malay or Tamil.
For this subject, we have students coming from all 7 classes.
Eg. Each class, A to G will have MLGp1, ML Gp2, ML Gp 3, CLGp1, CL Gp2, CL Gp 3, TLGp1, TL Gp2, TL Gp 3.
At Mother Tongue lesson, all students from class A to G under MLGp1 will attend Malay Lesson under ML Teacher 1.
All students from class A to G under CLGp1 will attend Chinese Lesson under CL Teacher 1.
So have 9 teachers concurrently.

Can this be factor in as well?

Thks

[Teck Hock]

Dear Liviu Lalescu

For the first questions, what about Math and Science?
How do I add them in?
Do I create as 3rd and 4th categories?

Thks

[Liviu Lalescu]

You're welcome! Please call me Liviu 

Yes, 3rd and 4th categories.

About Mother Tongue, this will come as 5th category in both years 1A and 1B, and you will use both 1A_Chi and 1B_Chi for a Chinese activity.

I attach what I designed, you can see the divisions of the years.

I strongly advise you not to divide and keep subgroups to a minimum, unless necessary. It is faster. But it might be also OK with divisions, if it solves in a timely manner.

[Teck Hock]

Woah, brillant.

So I just assign 1A English1 to a Teacher 1, 1A English2 to a Teacher 2. Correct?

Then for Mother Tongue, I assign 1A Chinese and 1B Chinese to a single Chinese teacher. Is it correct?

Thks

[Liviu Lalescu]

Yes, exactly.

You're welcome!

[Teck Hock]

This is exciting.
I just tried adding activities for English, Math and Science for Cluster A
I notice 1AScience1 and 1AScience2 are at different timing.
I thought all the 1AScience1 to 4 should be at the same time since we have different students from class A,B,C and D?

Thks

[Liviu Lalescu]

Since they are different students, the program will place the activities randomly, either simultaneously or not. If you want to ensure simultaneity, you need to add (more) constraints activities same starting time.

[Teck Hock]

ok. Understand.

Thanks. I have learnt alot today.

[Liviu Lalescu]

You're welcome! 

Let us know your progress.

[Teck Hock]

Just 2 curious questions:

1. Why we cant modify the weight of an activity?
2. Why we cant modify the number of split in an activity?

Thks

[Liviu Lalescu]

1. Why we cant modify the weight of an activity?

Weight of min days between activities constraints? You can modify this, in the constraints' list (either min days between activities constraints, or all time constraints). You can modify more/all constraints at once, by a button in the min days constraints dialog or by Advance > Spread activities over the week.

2. Why we cant modify the number of split in an activity?

You can decrease the split, by making a subactivity inactive. You cannot increase the split, because this would mean that the activities following the current activity would need to increase their id as well, which would be too complicated.

[Teck Hock]

Picture 1. Add activity - the weight is there
Picture 2. Modify activity - the weight is not there

Thks

[Liviu Lalescu]

Oh, yes, I know this. But each time you add the activity like that, it is automatically added a time constraint of type min days between activities. So please follow my previous answer for modifying the weight and other parameters of this constraint.

Let me know if now it is clear.