Is there an easy way to have my students sign up for time slots?

When I had to sign up for a live (on the computer) presentation time in an online class, the instructor started a discussion about it, that way we could see which spots were already taken and which were still available. As we replied to the discussion, the instructor filled in the time slots on the original post so people would be able to see their response was noticed by the instructor.

In the initial discussion, the instructor gave us a deadline to pick our time slots and said that anyone that had not picked a time by that deadline would be assigned to the remaining times and it would be their responsibility to make it for the presentation.

I think I may have a secure way to do it. Set up a spread sheet they can access online however is easiest. Facebook, whatever. The 18 time slots are displayed and they get to x or enter a number in each time slot. They mark the one they want, and then send you an e-mail on who has that slot. The other students can see what slots are taken and what slots are available and make their selections. If they have a problem then you can work it out with them. You may have to e-mail a few students but most of them should be able to work it out.

Make a chart and publish it on your class page. Have them check the chart before they email you. The first student will of course see an empty chart and can choose any time he wants, but as spots are taken and you keep updating the chart, students will only be able to take slots that are available.
I don’t know what platform you are using but in a Wiki or with Google docs., students who have registered to your page can fill in the spots in a chart themselves.

Doodle works pretty well for this.

Speaking as one who likes to game and social-engineer the various security systems put in place to manage various industrial operations and processes, I can tell you right now that you won’t want a spreadsheet that all can access to enter their times and “see what is available and then pick one of those slots”. A schemer with bad intent can mix up others’ times so that they miss their slots, or just wipe out chosen times—for the hell of it—after people think that they’ve signed up into available slots.

No, you control the appointment book.

My own preference would be to arbitrarily hand out assigned times and then let the students barter and trade among themselves to rearrange the schedules to suit themselves best. Once they’ve established what the times will really be (within the parameters that you set in the first place), then they can let you know who will be calling and when. If any students (one hopes a tiny minority) can’t arrange for a time within those parameters that suits them, then they can make individual separate appeals for “special handling”, which you can accommodate or decline, depending on how far they plan to stray from your intended bounds.

@CWOTUS We having trouble with each other?

@CWOTUS
I can tell you right now that you won’t want a spreadsheet that all can access to enter their times… A schemer with bad intent can mix up others’ times so that they miss their slots, or just wipe out chosen times—for the hell of it—…

I thought about that too when I suggested they fill out the chart themselves, but I think that a small class of 18 students is usually a solid group where those things happen very seldom. The instructor can, in any case, indicate that no one can just delete a student on a particular spot. Emails to the instructor indicating the slot they selected or print screens can serve as backups, in case someone decides to take another students place.

My own preference would be to arbitrarily hand out assigned times and then let the students barter and trade among themselves to rearrange the schedules to suit themselves best.

The pedagogical trend these days (specially in on-line courses) is to have people accomplish their tasks in a time that suits them and not be too controlling of their time other than the fixed scheduled time for the group to meet for a Webinar, group chat, or the like. Students’ time is as valuable as the instructors’ and they appreciate it when they feel they can work around their own schedules.

@DeanV That app seems very useful.

I understand @CWOTUS‘s concern about people rearranging the schedule to get the times they want, that’s why I didn’t recommend a document that each person could assess and edit. While one would hope that people could be mature and do things correctly, unfortunately that is not always the case, even with adults in a college or professional setting.

There has to be some sort of scheduling ap out there though doesn’t there? If not, one of you techie types get out there and make a million bucks.