[Year 12 IPM] Re: Booking software -- does it integrate ??

Tue Nov 29 10:42:03 EST 2005

Hi folks,

   With the review of all the varying options for resource booking software ( by the way we wrote our own using asp pages and an access database )  it would be advisable to consider not just a great piece of software but to what extent does it fit in with your network ?

   Let me explain. When we look at software we are often taken by the end user functions and features which is all fine and necessary. 
However, consider your network . How are staff and students authenticated when they log on ?  Are they using Novell or Windows Servers or are there some out there using Linux servers for some network functions ?   If so, will you create yet another database of users with your new software to book resources or will it be able to "talk" to existing servers that have staff and student accounts  ? 

 It is HIGHLY ( yes, I am shouting ) desirable to have the new software authenticate ( use the name and password of staff and students ) on ( or against )  existing servers . 
Otherwise you will need to keep create a new user list database by importing the users from another server and updating the new program's userlist and passwords each time there is a change to staff or students if both are required to log on . Certainly even maintenance of staff userlists is a pain and an example of the disintegration of a system as opposed to the integration and consolidation of the user databases.

  Sometimes, new software will simply be able to "talk" to an existing database using protocols like LDAP to check that a user is indeed a staff member and is providing the credentials ( username and password ) found on an existing server. This is an example of keeping all databases tight without introducing a new database. Take a minute to consider how many hours are lost at your school with ( highly paid  senior ?)people simply moving data from point A to point B . And what else happens ?  Yes, it is never without problems as people forget or make mistakes or can't get to implementing it in time. This just confirms that humans are not good at moving data. 

  Now that I have your attention, take an audit of all the user databases operating in your school . How many different ones are there ? five, six, seven or more ?  Can these be integrated ?
One task I have for next year is to integrate timetabling, reporting and attendance into one package ( vs the current 3 different programs where changes have to moved across each time to the others ). Thereafter, I wish to integrate the remaining databases ......   Wish me luck !

 I hope this makes sense.

Kevork Krozian
IT Manager , Forest Hill College
k.krozian at fhc.vic.edu.au
http://www.fhc.vic.edu.au
Mobile: 0419 356 034

>>> grimshaw.andrew.j at edumail.vic.gov.au 11/29/05 09:32am >>>
we have a similar problem withe people overbooking the computer rooms and we dont even have booking software 

as the old saying goes "software doesn't make bookings, people make bookings"

-andrew grimshaw
Colac College
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Burnham Nerrida 
  To: Year 12 Information Technology Processing and Management Teachers'Mailing List 
  Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2005 7:31 AM
  Subject: RE: [Year 12 IPM] On the subject of Bookit (Crosspost)

  Hi Everyone

  We are currently looking at introducing Bookit next year. I have reservations purely because we have a few teachers who would dominate bookings. Does anyone have a way around this?

  Nerrida Burnham

  HOD Information Technology

  Mt Lilydale Mercy College

  120 Anderson Street

  Lilydale VIC 3140

  Ph: (03) 9237 1322 

  Fax: (03) 9735 0266

  -----Original Message-----
  From: ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au]On Behalf Of Trent Bolte
  Sent: Monday, 28 November 2005 3:47 PM
  To: 'Year 12 Information Technology Processing and Management Teachers' Mailing List'
  Subject: [Year 12 IPM] On the subject of Bookit (Crosspost)

  Hello Everyone

  Just wondering it anyone is out there using Timetabler to export to Bookit?

  If so, have you run into the problem where your export data from TT needs to have a field for the day so that Bookit can make sense of it?  For example, if you have a 10 day timetable then each period occurring on the first Monday will have a '1' attached, while the second Monday's periods needs to have a '6'.

  If the info from TT does not have this field then I have to manually alter the exported files before I can import them into Bookit.  This is not a hard job but there must be an easier way. (Other than getting someone else to do it)

  If you can help please email me directly to cut down on the crossposting,

  Cheers

  Trent Bolte

  LTC Mercy College Coburg

  -----Original Message-----
  From: ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Rod Kendall
  Sent: Monday, 28 November 2005 3:19 PM
  To: Year 12 Information Technology Processing and Management Teachers'Mailing List
  Subject: RE: [Year 12 IPM] Electronic booking systems

  Have used BOOKIT and it was great

  http://www.carobcom.com/bookit.htm 

  Cheers

  Rod

  Rod Kendall

  Head of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
  Head of Information Technology (Keilor Campus)

  Overnewton Anglican Community College
  2-30 Overnewton Rd 
  Keilor  VIC 3036
  Direct Tel : 03 9334 0134
  Mobile: 0418 138 601
  Fax: 03 9336 1835

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  From: ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Andrew Grimshaw
  Sent: 28 November 2005 3:06 PM
  To: Year 7 - 10 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List; Year 12 Information Technology Processing and ManagementTeachers'Mailing List
  Subject: [Year 12 IPM] Electronic booking systems

  hello friendly ICT teachers

  pls excuse cross-posts

  I am investgating electronic booking software and was wondering what other schools were using?

  I am thinking of installing the open source MRBS - has anyone else used this?

  thx, andrew grimshaw

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  IPM Mailing List kindly supported by 
  http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and 
  http://www.vitta.org.au - VITTA Victorian Information Technology Teachers Association Inc

  _______________________________________________ 
  http://www.edulists.com.au - FAQ, resources, subscribe, unsubscribe 
  IPM Mailing List kindly supported by 
  http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and 
  http://www.vitta.org.au - VITTA Victorian Information Technology Teachers Association Inc 

Important - 
This email and any attachments may be confidential. If received in error, please contact us and delete all copies. Before opening or using attachments check them for viruses and defects. Regardless of any loss, damage or consequence, whether caused by the negligence of the sender or not, resulting directly or indirectly from the use of any attached files our liability is limited to resupplying any affected attachments. Any representations or opinions expressed are those of the individual sender, and not necessarily those of the Department of Education & Training.