Newswise — Michael Smyers, a junior in electrical engineering at Kansas State University, knows how hard it can be to find a class schedule that works well for a student. In fact, he said, most students settle for one that just "works."
"I spent three or four hours trying to get the best schedule," Smyers said of his first time registering. "Freshmen are last in line to pick classes. Whenever I had a schedule that seemed to work, I discovered one or more classes were closed, and I had to start over. It was extremely difficult and frustrating."
But Smyers, Olathe, didn't just complain about the difficulties facing registering students, he created a computer program to help make the process a little easier.
"Getting a working class schedule is very time consuming," he said. "I thought there must be a better way. I looked extensively for something to help me. I'd much rather use someone else's tools than reinvent the wheel. But I couldn't find anything I could use."
Smyers' resulting program, Course Scheduler, contains all the classes and class times taught at the university selected (only K-State and the University of Kansas are available now, but Smyers plans to soon offer more). Students enter their required classes for the semester and the program shows the students all of the possible class combinations. Features students can select include "Consider Closed Sections," "Allow/Disallow Certain Sections," (such as 7:30 a.m. courses) and "Lock/Unlock Section," (to take a class with a friend).
"This program gives a student an incredible advantage now," Smyers said. "This program is important because, for the first time, a student can easily find a working class schedule that fits their lifestyle and body clock." The tasks students face at registration include choosing from 4,000 to 5,000 different classes, making sure no times conflict, leaving time for lunch, scheduling classes that aren't completely across campus from one another, fitting in courses with labs, lectures and recitation time, and, finally, checking to make sure courses aren't closed.
Smyers said his interest in programming started when he was nine years old. He initially wrote Course Scheduler to solve his needs only.
"But once my friends realized I could make their schedule in minutes, I was very, very popular during enrollment times," he said. "Early versions only worked for K-State, but I also had friends at KU who were suffering during enrollment and encouraged me to modify it to work with other schools."
Smyers said the idea of using a program to schedule time is not a new concept. But, using a program to not only schedule a student's classes, but also easily figure out and show all the possible class combinations is innovative.
Smyers said his goals in life are centered on working for himself, so this program is a continuation of that goal. His interest in entrepreneurship and programming began with his dad, and has extended into his time at K-State.
"I've never taken any programming courses," he said. "My father got me started when I was very young and I was raised in a creative entrepreneurial environment. I am always looking for a better solution to any problem. And the environment here at K-State in the engineering college -- they encourage you to blaze your own trail and make an effort to support what you do."
Smyers said the college has supported his efforts to get the Course Scheduler out to others. He said professors and administrators in the college slowly became aware of his program and the knowledge worked its way up to the assistant dean of engineering, Ray Hightower, who was "incredibly supportive," Smyers said.
Smyers was encouraged to set up a demonstration table outside the college enrollment area for new students in June 2003 and was provided a booth for demonstrating his program at the recent K-State Engineering Open House. Hightower also sent e-mails with links to the program to engineering students for fall semester enrollment, had the program installed on computers in the engineering library, described and recommended the program in his orientation to new transfer students in April, and plans to include it with his orientation for new engineering students when they enroll in June.
Hightower said it has been a pleasure to support Smyers in his efforts.
"Michael is a very unselfish, energetic, capable young man," Hightower said. "His original goal was to provide himself an easier method of selecting courses for his semester schedule than the present available methods. His software program worked so well he wanted all K-State students to benefit from his efforts and he expected nothing in return. This very unselfish attitude is the primary reason we support and promote his efforts. Michael has also worked hard to design his program to be 'user friendly' and to provide excellent guidelines and support. His design goals have been met, but he is constantly modifying his program to improve it."
Smyers said he has more than 1,300 registrants who will be notified as the new semester's classes become available for download. He's also had interest from other schools to make the program work for them -- this may ultimately turn his idea into an entrepreneurial opportunity, he said.
"I have had an overwhelmingly awesome response," he said. "Everyone loves the idea, praises the ease of use and sometimes suggest improvements." Next up, Smyers hopes to create a "freshman" mode for those who have no concept of how college classes and scheduling works.
To see Smyers' creation, Course Scheduler, go to http://www.coursescheduler.com
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