Manual Timetable Planning allows authorized users to create, adjust, and refine timetable allocations by assigning teachers, subjects, and required learning resources or places to individual periods.
It can be used to prepare a timetable entirely manually or to make adjustments after using Auto Plan.
When to Use Manual Timetable Planning #
Manual planning is useful when:
- A specific teacher needs to be assigned to a particular period.
- An automatically generated allocation needs to be changed.
- A priority requirement needs to be accommodated.
- A timetable needs to be fine-tuned after Auto Plan.
- A particular allocation cannot be planned automatically.
- The user wants direct control over individual timetable slots.
Manual planning and Auto Plan can therefore be used together during timetable preparation.
Selecting a Timetable Slot #
Users can work with individual timetable slots and allocate the required teaching activity to a specific period.
An allocation generally identifies:
Class → Subject / Split → Teacher → Period → Learning Resource / Place
The available information and inputs are based on the configuration and allocations already defined for the timetable.
Intelligent Inputs and Validations #
EasyEdmin provides intelligent inputs and validations while making manual allocations.
These help users identify whether an allocation is appropriate before it is added to the timetable.
The system can consider relevant timetable information such as:
- Teacher availability.
- Existing teacher allocations.
- Subject requirements.
- Learning resource / place usage.
- Timetable conflicts.
- Other configured timetable constraints.
This reduces the likelihood of creating invalid or unintended allocations during manual planning.
Managing Teacher Conflicts #
A teacher generally cannot be allocated to multiple conflicting periods.
For example, if a teacher is already teaching Class 8-A during a particular period, assigning the same teacher to Class 9-A during the same period would normally create a conflict.
EasyEdmin provides validation to help identify such conflicts.
Where an institute intentionally requires the same teacher to take the same subject for multiple classes at the same time, timetable conflict handling can be configured to allow such arrangements.
Managing Learning Resource / Place Conflicts #
Learning resources or places can also create scheduling conflicts.
For example, if a Science Lab is already allocated to one class during a particular period, assigning the same lab to another class at the same time may create a conflict.
Manual planning validations help users identify such situations and make appropriate allocations.
Working with Split Subjects #
When a subject has been configured with splits, the applicable splits appear separately in the timetable.
Users can allocate the appropriate teacher and period against each split.
For example:
| Class | Subject | Split | Teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class 8-A | Science | Chemistry | Teacher A |
| Class 8-A | Science | Physics | Teacher B |
| Class 8-A | Science | Biology | Teacher C |
This allows manual planning to represent the actual teaching arrangement for the class.
Joined Periods #
When an activity requires multiple consecutive periods, users can allocate them as Joined Periods.
For example, a practical session requiring two consecutive periods can be planned as one joined allocation rather than two unrelated teaching allocations.
This helps preserve the continuity of activities that require more than one period.
Adjusting Existing Allocations #
Manual Timetable Planning can also be used to adjust allocations that already exist.
Users can modify the timetable when a teacher, subject, period, or learning resource needs to be changed.
During such changes, EasyEdmin’s validations help ensure that the resulting allocation remains consistent with the applicable timetable requirements.
Drag-and-Drop Adjustments #
EasyEdmin provides drag-and-drop functionality for swapping timetable allocations.
This allows users to make quick adjustments while refining the timetable without recreating the allocations from the beginning.
The applicable validations continue to help identify conflicts or other issues resulting from the change.
Working with Fixed Allocations #
Fixed allocations are protected from changes by Auto Plan.
Manual planning can still be used to manage the timetable around these protected allocations.
When making manual changes, users should take care not to unintentionally alter allocations that have been deliberately fixed as part of the institute’s timetable requirements.
Working with Locked Classes #
A class timetable can be protected using the Class-Level Timetable Lock once the timetable for that class has been finalized.
A locked class is protected from changes by Auto Plan.
This lock is primarily intended to protect the class timetable during automatic planning. Authorized users can still manage the timetable according to the applicable timetable management controls.
Manual Planning After Auto Plan #
A common approach is to use Auto Plan first and then use Manual Timetable Planning to refine the result.
For example:
Auto Plan → Review → Identify Required Changes → Manual Adjustment → Validate → Finalize
This approach combines automatic planning with direct user control over individual allocations.
Timetable Completion #
As manual allocations are added or adjusted, EasyEdmin updates the timetable’s completion information.
Users can monitor:
- Completion percentage for individual classes.
- Overall timetable completion.
This helps identify classes or timetable requirements that still need attention before the timetable is finalized.
Final Review #
Before activating or publishing the timetable, users should review the completed allocations.
Particular attention should be given to:
- Teacher schedules and workload.
- Subject period requirements.
- Teacher availability.
- Learning resource / place usage.
- Split subjects.
- Elective subjects.
- Joined periods.
- Fixed allocations.
- Any intentionally permitted conflicts.
- Class-wise and overall completion.
Key Points #
- Manual Timetable Planning provides direct control over individual timetable allocations.
- It can be used independently or together with Auto Plan.
- EasyEdmin provides intelligent inputs and validations during manual allocation.
- Teacher and learning resource / place conflicts are considered during planning.
- Split Subjects can be allocated separately according to their configured structure.
- Joined Periods can be used for activities requiring consecutive periods.
- Existing allocations can be adjusted as required.
- Drag-and-drop can be used to swap timetable allocations.
- Fixed allocations are protected from Auto Plan.
- Class-Level Timetable Lock protects a completed class timetable from Auto Plan.
- Timetable completion can be monitored at both class and overall levels.
- The completed timetable should be reviewed before it is activated or published.
