Consult a comparison website for an overview of the types of course scheduling programs available

Certain websites offer comprehensive information about various types of educational scheduling software. Such sites can help you compare the different programs and services available and allow you to make a more intelligent decision about the one that would be right for your institution's needs.

I recommend: Capterra offers a great deal of information for a wide variety of class management software, including class scheduler software. Many of these programs help integrate administrative functions with the needed class software. Many also include links to product demos. (To filter the site's school administrative software to receive only class-scheduling software entries, check the "class sheduling" box in the sidebar and click "filter now.")

Look for course scheduling software vendors that provide demos, tours, tutorials and free trials

Take advantage of any educational products or information a vendor offers to help you learn more about its class management software. Free trials also provide excellent opportunies to see how the software will work in your school setting and whether it offers the features that you need.

I recommend: CyberMatrix offers a downloadable free trial of its system-based class scheduler software, as well as online tutorials, demo and product manual.  Madrigal Soft Tools, available in both system-based and web-based versions, provides a free trial, tour, tutorials and FAQs to answer your most pressing questions.

Consider more economical system-based class scheduling software or freeware if cost is a factor

System-based class software can give you the basic capabilities needed to considerably improve your class booking outlook at a lower cost than hosted course shedule software services. You might even want to consider freeware if your school is small or this is your first experience with classroom scheduling software. Freeware can give you the opportunity to try the product, gain experience in its use and determine exactly what your school's needs are.

I recommend: Create Student Class Schedules With Excel is a $300 downloadable class software program that lets you use the well-known spreadsheet program for educational scheduling software applications. Abacus School Pro, originally designed for community art school use, is versatile enough to use in other school environments, as well. Its website link provides clear screen shots of the software, which illustrate its capabilities. Silk Scheduler is a state-of-the-art system-based educational scheduling software program with a planned 2008 release of its Silk Scheduler Web-Based Version. And, if freeware is your interest, Tucows offers its downoadable Mimosa Class Scheduling Software.

Investigate web-based course scheduling software for greater convenience and less hands-on work

Web-based versions of education scheduling software will save you the inconvenience of troubleshooting, maintaining, updating and upgrading software components yourself--or hiring an IT expert to handle those responsibilities for you.

I recommend: Web-based class scheduling programs are offered by such companies as aal Solutions, which features its eSIS software, and Rediker Software, which offers both web- and network-based options. EMS (Event Management Systems), also provides complete scheduling services through its EMS Campus software. My Campus Portal is a class scheduling software module that can be plugged directly into your school's existing web page to facilitate online student registration.

Select course schedule software to help you keep track of multiple classes

Some types of class scheduler software are appropriate for individual teacher use and could prove helpful to teachers of private group courses, seminars or workshops. These programs can help you organize the scheduling of all the classes you teach and keep better track of the students who register for each.

I recommend: Appointment Quest is a web-based course schedule software application that allows your students to self-register for your classes, prevents overbooking and sends out automatic reminders so your students won't miss their classes.