How does timetabling effect the student experience?
The annual National Student Survey (NSS) includes 3 questions for Organisation and Management, all of which are impacted by the students experience of timetabling:
13. The timetable works efficiently as far as my activities are concerned
The timetable is the primary process in question, with students basing their score on how their timetable has worked for them. If they or their classmates have experienced any unexpected issues with their timetable in this or previous years, or the timetable does not meet their preferences the scoring for this question is likely to suffer.
14. Any changes in the course or teaching have been communicated effectively
Although this question targets changes to the students course and teaching, the student experience regarding any changes to the timetabling of these courses/modules and the consequential communication are incorporated within the students thinking when answering this question.
15. The course is well organised and is running smoothly
Organisation is the key theme, therefore timetabling is again a factor for students when scoring for this question. A timetable that doesn’t account for the students preferences, undergoes last minute changes/cancellations as well as other negative factors all influence how the students score this question.
With the students experience of timetabling being integral to the scoring of these Organisation and Management questions, ensuring the students have a positive experience for timetabling is critical to improving upon the scores for these questions and the Institutions overall NSS results. Many existing or potential institutional processes can play a part in students having a negative or positive experience of their timetable and the processes involved. It is the understanding of what the students want from their timetable as well as all the different processes that can effect the timetable’s ability to deliver this, that is critical to improving the student experience of timetabling.
How Education Space Consultancy can help your institution to improve the student experience for timetabling
As Director of Education Space Consultancy, I (Ben Moreland) have detailed experience with the HE sector of uncovering the students preferences for timetabling, discovering and investigating those processes that effect the timetable, as well as forming and implementing a timetabling action plan focussed on improving the student experience of timetabling within an institution. Communication, engagement and understanding of timetabling within the institution are key areas that I focus on in order to resolve student experience issues for timetabling and deliver a consultancy report that focusses on providing informed recommended actions for improving the student experience.
The consultancy service provided therefore typically includes onsite meetings and workshops with central and departmental administrative staff who work within timetabling, as well ask key academic staff and student representation. The workshops and meetings are focussed towards engaging with all those effected and involved with the timetable, in order to improve the understanding and reach solutions that are actionable and address the student experience issues raised. This involvement and engagement, helps to create a institutional focus on delivering the actions recommended within the consultancy report – as these actions will have derived from the discussions and solutions discussed within these workshops.
The consultancy service I provide, is focussed on helping your institution to work together to solve the timetabling issues it faces and create a timetable that truly delivers an improved student experience.
If you are interested in discussing this further and/or would like further information on what is included within this consultancy service please don’t hesitate to get in contact with Ben Moreland, Director of Education Space Consultancy or complete the contact form below