A Web-based Decision Support System for Managing Course Timetabling in Online Education

Year 2025, Volume: 28 Issue: 3 , 923 - 934 , 13.06.2025

Mevlüt Uysal , Onur Ceran , Mustafa Tanrıverdi , Erdal Özdoğan , Mutlu Tahsin Üstündağ

https://doi.org/10.2339/politeknik.1517479

https://izlik.org/JA42EK25LE

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic precipitated an abrupt transition from traditional face-to-face instruction to online learning, posing significant challenges in managing course timetabling and ensuring efficient bandwidth utilization. This paper presents the development and implementation of a web-based Decision Support System (DSS) that employs a simulated annealing algorithm to optimize course scheduling in an online education context. Seamlessly integrated with the university's Student Information System (SIS) and Learning Management System (LMS), the DSS enables automated timetable generation and real-time data synchronization. Program coordinators can make necessary adjustments, while students and instructors access their schedules through a user-friendly interface. Experimental results demonstrate a substantial improvement in the distribution of concurrent connections compared to manually generated timetables, significantly reducing peak server loads by up to 66% and standard deviations. The proposed DSS addresses the immediate challenges of the shift to online education while offering a scalable solution for future needs, thereby enhancing the online learning experience for both students and instructors.

Keywords

Course Timetabling , Online Education , Decision Support System , Simulated Annealing Algorithm

Çevrimiçi Eğitimde Ders Çizelgelemesini Yönetmek İçin Web Tabanlı Bir Karar Destek Sistemi

https://izlik.org/JA42EK25LE

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemisi, geleneksel yüz yüze eğitimden çevrimiçi öğrenmeye ani bir geçişi zorunlu kılmış ve ders çizelgeleme yönetimi ile verimli bant genişliği kullanımını sağlama konusunda önemli zorluklar ortaya çıkarmıştır. Bu makale, çevrimiçi eğitim bağlamında ders programlamayı optimize etmek için tavlama benzetimi algoritmasını kullanan web tabanlı bir Karar Destek Sistemi’nin (KDS) geliştirilmesini ve uygulanmasını sunmaktadır. Üniversitenin Öğrenci Bilgi Sistemi (ÖBS) ve Öğrenim Yönetim Sistemi (ÖYS) ile sorunsuz bir şekilde entegre olan KDS, otomatik ders programı oluşturma ve gerçek zamanlı veri senkronizasyonu sağlamaktadır. Program koordinatörleri gerekli düzenlemeleri yapabilirken, öğrenciler ve öğretim üyeleri kullanıcı dostu bir arayüz aracılığıyla ders programlarına erişebilmektedir. Deneysel sonuçlar, manuel olarak oluşturulan programlara kıyasla eşzamanlı bağlantıların dağılımında önemli bir iyileşme olduğunu, maksimum sunucu yüklerinin %66'ya varan oranda azaldığını ve standart sapmaların önemli ölçüde düştüğünü göstermektedir. Önerilen KDS, çevrimiçi eğitime geçişin getirdiği acil zorlukları ele almanın yanı sıra gelecekteki ihtiyaçlar için ölçeklenebilir bir çözüm sunarak hem öğrenciler hem de öğretim üyeleri için çevrimiçi öğrenme deneyimini iyileştirmektedir.

Keywords

Ders Çizelgeleme , Çevrimiçi Eğitim , Karar Destek Sistemi , Tavlama Benzetimi Algoritması

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