New online features will assist class scheduling
MySite is the student Web portal used for both Saddleback College and IVC (Lariat archives)
New features will be added online to the custom-created student information system, coming out in a few weeks.
Jim Gaston, associate director of Information Technology for the South Orange County Community College District, together with Vice Chancellor Technology & Learning Services Robert Bramucci have been working on the features, which include a “smart app” that will automatically suggest classes for students rather than having to wait for students to enter what they want to take.
The issue of students trying to enter full classes has become a frequent occurrence at Saddleback College. Going back to look through all other options to try and find another class available was an inconvenience Bramucci and Gaston were hoping to correct.
With the new program, students won’t have to do all that work, Bramucci said. If one desired class is full, the new smart app system will automatically direct the student to the subject and to open classes of similar subject matter.
Bramucci said another benefit of the program is it helps students better manage class scheduling. Classes should be better planned to fit the student’s schedule.
Classes won’t conflict because the program will prevent students from choosing inconvenient class times by alerting the student to the conflict.
Saddleback is now the only school with this program, said Bramucci.
Students were intimately involved on the design team. Gaston and Bramucci have a team of students they have help with the program. They show the students ideas for programming and get feedback on the positives and negatives of the products. If students don’t like something, then Bramucci and Gaston will listen to them and try to figure out another way to make it work.
Bramucci is looking for student feedback on the smart app. The option to comment on the feature will be made available on Saddleback’s MySite Web portal.
Any student interested in the involvement of the design team for this new feature can contact Robert Bramucci at 949-582-4960 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 949-582-4960 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 949-582-4960 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 949-582-4960 end_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting or contact Jim Gaston at 949-582-4336.
More students’ help in making this new feature will help them become a success and help students find more ease in choosing classes.