Exam Seat Planner Required

[yus786]

Not really sure where to start with this or whether it's easier to do in excel.

• I have 10+ classes with approx 20 kids in each class.
• They now have exams and we have sorted the room out
• I need to be able to plan their seating requirement so kids from the same class are not sitting next to each other

Any idea's anyone?

 

[raskew]

Hi -

Think we'll need to know the seating setup, e.g. 4 rows of 5, 2 rows of 10, or whatever.

Bob

 

[yus786]

Hi -

Think we'll need to know the seating setup, e.g. 4 rows of 5, 2 rows of 10, or whatever.

Bob

Thanks

Lets say 20 rows of 10, which makes it 200.

 

[gemma-the-husky]

if you have rows of 10, then seat 15 say will be next to seats 14,16,5,and 25

so just dont allocate seat that violate this - i think you will have to write a function (use random number generator) to keep allocating seats for each pupil until you get one that meets these conditions.

 

[DCrake]

Personally I would print out a grid from Excel with seat numbers on them. Then I would get plenty of coloured shapes, then working in grids of 9 I would place the red ones in the centre of each sub grid (red = class 1). This ensures that no two pupils are less than one seat away from each other. Repeat this for each of your classes. You may have to fine tune the seating arangements slightly, but in theory this will work. Once you have agreed your seating plan make a copy of it and save it for next year.

This really is only a one off exercise and getting access to do it for you would take longer than doing it the above way. A good teacher would actually turn this task into a puzzle that completed in a classroom situation involving the pupils themselves. You could be really hurtful and give it them as a homework project.

David

 

[yus786]

Personally I would print out a grid from Excel with seat numbers on them. Then I would get plenty of coloured shapes, then working in grids of 9 I would place the red ones in the centre of each sub grid (red = class 1). This ensures that no two pupils are less than one seat away from each other. Repeat this for each of your classes. You may have to fine tune the seating arangements slightly, but in theory this will work. Once you have agreed your seating plan make a copy of it and save it for next year.

This really is only a one off exercise and getting access to do it for you would take longer than doing it the above way. A good teacher would actually turn this task into a puzzle that completed in a classroom situation involving the pupils themselves. You could be really hurtful and give it them as a homework project.

David

Hi David

Yes I totally agree and attempt this in excel.

However I'm not sure i understand your comments.

>> Personally I would print out a grid from Excel with seat numbers on them. I understand this

>> Then I would get plenty of coloured shapes, then working in grids of 9 I would place the red ones in the centre of each sub grid (red = class 1). I'm sorry i don't understand what you mean here

>> This ensures that no two pupils are less than one seat away from each other. Repeat this for each of your classes. Again not sure here

Appreciate you help on this...

 

[DCrake]

I have cobbled up a little spreadsheet to show you what I mean.

David

 

[yus786]

I have cobbled up a little spreadsheet to show you what I mean.

David

Excellent thanks a bunch...

 

[yus786]

I have cobbled up a little spreadsheet to show you what I mean.

David

Just realised that the classes have about 20 kids each.

using your example - i can only get 9 children

What do you think i should do?

Thanks again

 

[raskew]

Hi -

I've never before suggested a manual solution, but this is the exception to the rule.

Label the classes as A thru J (total of 10 classes)
then, with a grid 10 wide by 20 deep.

1) The first row runs A - J
2) The 2nd row runs C - J then A & B
3) The 3rd row runs E - J then A - D
4) The 4th row runs G - J then A - F
5) The 5th row runs I & J then A - H

Now, append (copy) that structure 3 times for a total of 20 rows.
One member from each class will be seated in each row.
No Class A (etc., thru Class J) student will sit in front, rear, to the side of (next to) or directly diagonally to a fellow class member.
Attach names to the various class designations and you're cooking.

This was done manually (took about 3 minutes, not considering adding the
actual names).

I'm still puzzling how I could program this.

HTH - Bob

 

[DCrake]

The grid I showed you was hyperthetical and only a visual representation on how to seperate the kids. If you notice the colours are classes not kids in each sub grid you will have 9 kids from 9 different classes, each one seperate from another kid in the same class. The more grids you have the more kids are seated.

9 is the minimum size, why not increase the grid size to suit say 5x5

David

 

[raskew]

you will have 9 kids from 9 different classes, each one seperate from another kid in the same class. The more grids you have the more kids are seated.

9 is the minimum size, why not increase the grid size to suit say 5x5

I'm lost. There are 10 classes with 20 kids each. 10 X 20 = 200 kids

Where does 9 come in?

Bob

 

[DCrake]

The reason I suggested 9 is that if you get two kids froom the same class you would need at least 9 desks 3 by 3 with the pupil one sat in the centre this means pupil 2 cannot sit vertically, horizontally or diagonally next to pupil one. You have placed an imaginary boundary around him/her of desks. By repeating the grid of 9 until you have all seats covered you can safely say that no 2 kids from the same class are sat next to each other.

David

 

[SQL_Hell]

Here at Access Programmers not only do we give out database advice, we can also rearrange your classroom!!

 

[DCrake]

It's called versatility....