iPads revolutionize class scheduling (photo)
The course selection book app has been downloaded onto the school iPads. Students will use this app to schedule their classes for the 2017-2018 school year. “It’s getting us one step closer to streamlining the scheduling process,” Mrs. Michelle McGinty, school counselor, said. “By doing this online, it will make Ms. Reedy’s job of creating the master schedule so much quicker.”
The new iPads are being utilized school-wide this year, whether for Winter Carnival voting, the 2016 mock presidential election, personal surveys or, now, as a means of scheduling courses for the next school year.
In order for students to create their 2017-2018 schedules, they will use course selection books installed onto the home screen of their iPads. This will completely change the scheduling process; students will no longer struggle to find time to go to the library and schedule courses on the computers.
“It’s getting us one step closer to streamlining the scheduling process,” Mrs. Michelle McGinty, school counselor, said. “By doing this online, it will make Ms. Reedy’s job of creating the master schedule so much quicker.”
Students can look forward to a few other scheduling changes as well.
“The teachers, for the first time, have gone into Skyward and made class recommendations for students. As a student, I would be able to go onto Skyward and see what classes my teachers recommend for me,” Mrs. McGinty said.
Teacher recommendations can be beneficial to those struggling to select courses.
“[This is] good because teachers can help recommend classes that are good for your skill level since they know how well you did in their class,” junior Bobby Moyer said. “It can really help you schedule classes you are capable of being in so you don’t get stuck in a class that is too much for you.”
The school counselors also met with each grade level individually in the auditorium to talk about the scheduling process, instead of going around to individual social studies classes like they used to.
“I think it is helpful for the guidance department, the students and the social studies teachers,” senior Emily Witmier said. “Guidance is super busy, so having three meetings rather than making them run around to all the social studies classes means that more time can be spent on their other responsibilities. Having assemblies also means students have more time to spend learning in social studies classes, and teachers do not have to plan their classes around the interruptions.”