C2k Help
Program Sets => All Others => Topic started by: bahhumbug on January 31, 2006, 09:02:38 PM
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I saw booking systems mentioned on another thread but I wanted to hear a few more opinions about it.
What different systems people use to book rooms and so on.
We just use a manual sytem. If someone wants to book a room they phone me.
If you've got online/Learning Resource systems how do you operate them ? How far ahead can a room be booked and for how many periods ?
Is there a check to prevent "hogging" of rooms by one teacher or dept?
How do you resolve competing demands ?
All that sorta stuff. And if Stephen's still got that download addy I wouldn't mind having a look at that.
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I have a word document that contains a table made out as a timetable. I've put it into the Learning Resources and teacher simply open it and add their name to the period that they want. I allow booking up to 3 weeks in advance - which requires 3 different forms in the Learning Resources.
My problem is not the hogging of the room but the teachers that book the room and then don't turn up.
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Nobody want to tell me about their booking systems ?
Ah g'wan ye will ... you know you want to ...
g'wan, g'wan g'wan ......... g'wan. g'wan, g'wan g'wan !
:lol:
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We got the same thing as casper here, but we got ours in Excel documents that we print out and put on the notice board in the office beside the computer room that if a teacher wants to use one of the computer rooms they just put their name and class on it.
We don't really get much of a problem with teachers hogging the rooms, they seem to be ok there and we never seem to get the problem with teachers booking the rooms and then not turning up.
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I operate a manual system. The timetable is kept in my office and the only static classes are the computing and junior IT. I make out the timetable for the whole year and some do book quite far in advance. It is a first come first serve basis.
We do have one or two staff members who would like to live in the IT suites and I have to be quite 'polite' about overbooking.
As for booking and not turning up - that doesn't go down well with me and I make sure they know it.
:x
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Yeah, theres no point in taking the computer room and then not turning up when it could well be used by another class who don't know its not actually being used.
I almost forgot to mention, we run a 3 week booking system here, where obviously the teachers can book the rooms 3 weeks in advance if they need to, we also have the rooms permenantly booked for a few classes like ICT of course and technology.
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Our technology dept is used only for that subject - they are very protective of their gear. We have 3 IT rooms and the library has 27 machines and can be booked.
I get the staff to fill in the timetable in pencil and have caught a couple of staff rubbing out other bookings when it suited them!!! Who said a degree didn't mean anything 8)
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we have the same as blondnotstupid. we have a timetable of classes such as i.t, business studies etc . during the free periods it can be booked when ever in advanced.
the timetable is printed each month and put up in the staff room. then the teachers that want it can simply write in the free periods. takes a load of my hands since its in the staff room outta the way
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The use of Learning Resources is probably not the most resourceful method for an online booking system. As mentioned previously it was designed here more as a means of forcing certain members of staff to actually use their computers and have to learn to use LR if they were going to bring a class to the IT suites.
Previously we used booking forms which were stored in files at the front of each of the ICT rooms. A teacher simply had to input their initials, subject and year group into the specific block. Problems, although the file was marked DO NOT REMOVE FROM ROOM certain members of staff were too lazy to walk to the computer room so sent a student to lift the file. Sometimes the file would be missing for days before it turned up again. The files were then chained to a table at the front of the rooms, the file pages would then go missing for days!
V1 of our online booking form wasn’t much better. I created a template which basically matched the paper version and set up a folder with all the weeks in the school calendar. A teacher could open the week they were interested in and add their details to the period they wished to book. Problems, as blondnotstupid said “caught a couple of staff rubbing out other bookings when it suited them”. Well imagine the electronic equivalent, in the privacy of your own room simply overtype another staff members booking as you couldn’t find another suitable time.
V2 therefore had to be a backward step due to the inconsiderate actions of a few and has been running for over a year now. At the root level is a folder called Booking Forms, within that are the folders for each of the ICT suites. In each of these folders are the all the available weeks throughout the year e.g. “February 6-10 Wk1.doc”. We run a two week timetable here hence the Wk1. These folders are read only so a member of staff can only see room availability. I have another folder called Downloadable Booking Forms which contain a template for teachers to fill in with their requests. These file are downloaded by any member of staff wishing to make a booking; it only needs downloading once as they can reuse it. This folder had to be made read only too as some individuals tried to add their data there. Another folder called Requests was created and set up as “handing in point (write only)”. Each morning I check this folder then add the data to the relevant file. Problems, depending on the number of bookings, I can spend up to 10 minutes a day adding this info. On the upside though it has stopped staff trying to book the rooms at weekends and holidays! The fact the files reside in LR also means that the rooms can be booked from home. Why anyone would want to spend their time at home booking computer rooms is just one of those mysteries in life but some do.
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that all must of took some thinking. brilliant idea... mite borrow from this in the future
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Having an electronic timetable wouldn't work here. I have staff members who have only logged on to the network when forced, i.e. at report times or to make exam entries. Even then, though I provide them with idiot guides, they only log on if they know I am close by to hold their hands.
Some here have never used their c2k email. Dinosaurs! :shock:
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Having an electronic timetable wouldn't work here. I have staff members who have only logged on to the network when forced, i.e. at report times or to make exam entries. Even then, though I provide them with idiot guides, they only log on if they know I am close by to hold their hands.
Some here have never used their c2k email. Dinosaurs! :shock:
That was exactly the problem here and one of the reasons for creating the electronic version. It's amazing how resourceful staff members can get when there is no plan B. I'll have to say that the introduction of the electronic booking form was met with great hostility. It was even the topic of conversation at a number of staff meetings. Thankfully after a few months the whinging gradually decreased and now everyone just gets on with it without any fuss. I should have mentioned there is of course the obligatory dummies guide also residing in the folder but thankfully it is rarely seen in use now.
As for using the computers, I think the use of the electronic registration helped this. Periods 1 and 9 are obligatory every day so any member of staff teaching during these particular periods will have to be logged on to send their class registration. Although it's not essential quite a number of the staff provides registration on a period per period basis. I'm sure at some point in the future this will become obligatory too but that's another thread.
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Yaaaaaaaaaay!!! I knew ye wanted to ! :lol:
Interesting. Mind you the online sys doesn't really seem any more efficent than them lifting the phone to me.
Major benefit may be that it gets them using the system. I tagged an email I sent in September to all staff. Only just over half of them have to date read it !
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Yaaaaaaaaaay!!! I knew ye wanted to ! :lol:
Interesting. Mind you the online sys doesn't really seem any more efficent than them lifting the phone to me.
Major benefit may be that it gets them using the system. I tagged an email I sent in September to all staff. Only just over half of them have to date read it !
You hit the nail on the head there; it's going nothing to do with efficiency. I'm simply trying to drag the staff kicking and screaming into the right century. If they want to book the computer suites, they have to use a computer. If they want a job done they have to email the request which means they will have to use a computer. Back in September tagged emails were under 30% read rate, thankfully that is really on the up. We're trying to implement email usage much more and the school briefings are now sent to all staff via this method on a weekly basis. I try and make most communications by email now, yes it's more time consuming than lifting the phone but again if they want the answer to the question they are going to have to use the computer. A plus point to this is you don't get the "while you are here could you just..."
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All of the teachers (bar 1) use the on-line system that I have in place. There has never been any problems and I've never known any other way of booking the IT Suite. I'm here just over 4 years and there was an on-line booking system in place when I started.
To be honest there's no point in tagging an email because the receiver can just deny the receipt being sent - I know I do :twisted:
I've told the staff here that the quickest way to get me is to email me. I'm not always in my room but outlook is always running and I can see the new mail when I get back. I tend to respond quicker to email requests that telephone/hand-written ones.
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We have a timetable on the outside of both computer room doors, and a copy of them in the staffroom. There are periods set aside for IT classes each week. The teachers are meant to fill in when they want to book either of the two IT rooms on Mondays in the staffroom, then the head of IT fills in this info into the timetables outside the corresponding class.
This is however a VERY bad system!!!! Not only does the HOD not always fill in the info, Some teachers just turn up outside the room, fill it in there and then, and make the room double booked, Others fill in the form in the staffroom and never turn up, Some teachers don’t even bother filling in anything which means if I plan to update or install any new software I have to leave to let THEM teach!!!!! This isn't too bad until the next teacher comes along and demands to know the reason why "That piece of software I gave you is not installed!!!!" (Even though they did NOT specify when they needed it installed by)[/i]!!!!!!
[/i][/b]
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Yep, that's why I have the only copy of the booking timetable. I don't let teachers have it precisely because they would just turn up without booking.
They don't seem to understand that advance planning is a good thing !
At one time we had a rule that at least 48 hours notice was required but for various reasons that has gone by the board. My situation is a bit odd due to an amalgamation and 2 buildings but hopefully those anomalies will be resolved soon.
Being based in 1 of the buildings what goes on in the other seems to be a complete shambles with teachers just taking classes in any time they feel like it. I don't understand what sort of lesson planning allows for that !
Another complication is that we are supposed to have a rule that says pupils have to supervised by a teacher when in the computer room BUT an exception has been made for 6th formers.
Like I said ..... a shambles !
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I know what you mean about lesson planning, We have 3 digital cameras which need to be booked out 3 days in advance to solve any conflict. The art teacher came to me one day and asked to take one of the cameras, (She had not booked it), and as it turned out they were all being used. I told her they were all previousley booked and are all out. She then asked, In a Very ignorant way, "Well what do YOU expect ME to do this lesson then?".
I cant seem to get it into their heads that there is a limited suply of hardware to go around, and that is why if they need something setup, they need to book it! I would love it if we had an unlimited budget, but we dont!.
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It's nice to see that we all have similiar problems :) :) I had originally thought that these problems were unique to me - boy was I wrong. I must say though some of my problems don't seem to be bad. Yes I have teachers who book the room and don't show up, or book it and then turn up 20 minutes after the start of the period leaving me to supervise their class.
Unfortunately it's in my contract that I have to supervise the 6th formers that are in my room during free periods, but the chances of me being there to supervise are slim - I'm usually out and about solving problems etc.
Out of curiosity how many computer suites do you have? And how many are bookable?
We have:
> 20 computers - 5 suites (1 bookable)
> 10 computers - 4 suites
<= 9 computers - 3
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turn up 20 minutes after the start of the period leaving me to supervise their class
or ask if they can send send some of their class .. that's why the teacher supervision rule's handy (they somehow usually manage to send the disruptive ones). There are pupils I don't mind about, who want to work and are no bother but you have no authority with the stroppy ones and they know it ! What I do is lock the room as soon as it's empty and let the teacher open it when they arrive.
Tho' in a way I'm lucky. Head of IT knows the score.
2 suites of 24
2 of 20 (ancient and not on c2k, well I've decommissioned 1 of them now. it was a waste of time)
+ tech has 7
Each Dept has at least 1 c2k machine and 1 laptop (+some with older machines too)
Several whiteboards - I don't even know how many - that I never get to see or play about with. Had 2 hours training when the first one arrived but that was the last I saw of it !
What about training ? Does anybody ever get on any relevant courses ? Are there any ? :lol:
last I was on was the C2k training for authorised users. Before that ......... errrrrrrr ........... errrrrrrrrr........ :?
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1 with 24
1 with 20
1 with 12
2 with 9 (Lib & Tech)
1 with 6
Music has 1 C2k and 5 stand alone stations.
All other rooms have between 1 - 3. 15 E500 laptops converted (All seem to look them, None seem to use them).
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15 E500 laptops converted (All seem to look them, None seem to use them).
Didn't you realise Ray ? They're fashion accessories !
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What about training ? Does anybody ever get on any relevant courses ? Are there any ? :lol:
last I was on was the C2k training for authorised users. Before that ......... errrrrrrr ........... errrrrrrrrr........ :?
Training????
NO!!!!
Technicians are NOT ment to have training, They are automatically ment to know how EVERY piece of equipment in the school, and how it works. They are ment to remember things that happened ten years ago, and predict things that will happen in the next ten!
Didnt you know that?
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They're fashion accessories !
Of course, How could I have been so wrong! :lol: :lol:
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I use the manual booking sheet system. The sheets are kept in the relevant suite and the teachers have to go and check availability and then book a slot that fits. Some teachers tried to get me to book rooms for them but after I had explained that I don't get paid enough to do real work, they got the message and took the long walk around the four IT suites. :twisted:
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Technicians ........ are ment to remember things that happened ten years ago, and predict things that will happen in the next ten!
:shock:
Yes, how stupid of me. I know this. It's just that sometimes I live in this fantasy world where the job we do is valued and appreciated.
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I have posted where I got the system I use in the General discussion section and in the opinion thread. The site I downloaded from does have a demo of the system running.
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we have 40 E500 laptops - most are out to teachers in mobiles as we took their c2k workstations off them and brought them inside.
5 bookable rooms which are :-
3 computer rooms with 27, 26 and (24 + 2 laptops)
Library - 20 stations
1 other with 15 machines
I think our current number of workstations is 190 actual c2k and 20 upgrade legacy.
I am also still running our old network throughout the school but there are only about 60 machines on it
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We use an excel system bought of Ian Lee, seems to work well teacher can view timetable and book any period in the year cost us £15 from http://www.idlee.co.uk/download/ictbooking/index.htm
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Richard this program , does it have to be installed on the system , and is it C2K verified??????
did u pay extra to get it installed?
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does anyone else use this software????? :?
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I've downloaded it but haven't had a chance to install or play around with it. I'm going to test it on our webserver.
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so what way can we install it???
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We use this software http://sourceforge.net/projects/mrbs Totally free and works great. Haven't had a single problem with it.
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do u install this on the managed side? or local?
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It uses php so it will have to be installed on a webserver - or a similiar configured machine
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I use mrbs too and it is a brilliant solution. It has been installed now since before christmas and already there is a dramatic increase in the use of the ICT suites.
Prior to this it was a case of teachers having to come to my room to book the rooms and if I wasn't there they had to go around the school looking for me.
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The excel package needs no installation.
I created a new staff are called ICT Resources in the staff resources area copied all the worksheets to that area then created a shortcut to the opening worksheet moved the shortcut to the shortcut bank on DC01 then allocated that shortcut out as a software package under teacher tools. All completely above board according to C2K.
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Could you explain the shortcut bank to me please?
Is it possible to place a custom shortcut on the teachers desktop using this method?
I have a few things running at the moment on the intranet and i would like to provide handy links to the teachers, room booking etc.
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sorry, i just looked up the help menu on shortcut banks. like i should have before i posted my question!!
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Ah the old IT saying 'If all else fails read the instructions' :)
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Ah the old IT saying 'If all else fails read the instructions' :)
I
Thought that was only a myth. . . . Does anyone actually read the instructions. . . . for anything?? :lol: :lol:
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I usually Google something before i open the instructions booklet... gives a better feeling of acomplishment :)
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lol its all about the pride he he