Student Options module

 

The Student Options module is used when students are offered a choice in their course of study and you are required to assign options to students based on their nominated preferences.  This module can also be used just to enter student details to obtain course lists and individual student timetables, etc.

 

The Home Page for Student Options allows the user to select from the following tasks shown below.

 

 

 

 

 

There are extensive curriculum checks, such as the number of students who have nominated or not nominated specific groups of options.  Once the student preferences are recorded, and curriculum checks made, the options are placed on a grid.  This can be done automatically (using the programs Create function) or interactively, or a combination of both.

 

The grid can have up to nine sub-grids, so that courses for different terms (or semesters) can be planned together.  Options can be specified for one or more sub-grids.

 

Once the grid has been developed the programs Auto function will assign options to students in a few seconds.

 

There are various features that give you extra control when auto assigning options.  You can lock in students to courses that have started on one sub-grid and yet to begin on another.  It is possible to exempt certain students (usually those just enrolled from this locking process).

 

You can specify any option that must be assigned to a student and easily change any options already assigned; an excellent feature when counselling students.

 

The module gives a large number of reports, based on fields such as roll class, house, home group, year level and gender.

 

Student Options is connected to the Timetable Development module to give individual timetables for each student, from within both modules.

 

Summary of Features

 

Information stage

• Student name, gender, units to be assigned, roll class, code, year level, house, home group are entered.
• Global edits and sorting of student details.
• Student information can be imported from other databases, compared with existing database and selectively incorporated.
• Option name, number of sub-grids to be placed on, weighting in number of units and gender restrictions are among the Option details that are entered.
• Preferences entered in order students want them or globally.  Preferences recorded on other databases can be imported.
• Multi User and single user versions of the module provides for simultaneous entry of preferences for up to 9 users.
• Tracking feature to make sure students have the prerequisites for their preference nominations.
• Tallies providing vital information to assist in deciding what subjects to run and number of classes needed.
• Conflict matrices are provided showing students who nominated each pair of options, or student wanting any combination of three or more options.
• There is an item to list students who haven't nominated at least one option from a list of selected options.
• Additional constraints to consider when creating the grid and assigning options to students.

Grid stage

• Create grid lines automatically and/or interactively.
• Automatic assigning of students according to their preference order.
• Interactive assign changes to student courses; provide detailed information on class sizes etc., so you can decide what courses are appropriate.  The Multi-user feature can handle this so up to 9 counselling sessions can be concurrent.
• Students can be 'locked' into certain subjects to ensure they remain, even if auto assign is used later.
• An advanced feature can be used to accommodate a sizeable number of late enrolments without altering previous student class allocations.
• The 'same' students can be allocated options at different times.
• Options can be 'tagged' to account for different unit weightings.
• Can generate individual student timetables, through links with the Timetable Development module, without leaving the Student Options module.

Reports stage

• Grid Report shows for each option, the line it was placed on, the number of students assigned and the maximum number allowed.  The number and names of students that missed having particular options assigned, and options not assigned are readily available.
• Course lists are provided.  Students assigned to particular courses, and those not assigned are available.
• Success Rates report shows for each preference the number of options assigned and not assigned and the overall percentile success rate.  Student names applicable to these numbers are readily available.
• Reports show the options assigned to each student, and in preference order and by grid line.  Reports can be restricted by gender, roll class, home group etc.