Question

The code below ensures that when a user accesses control panel, they are ran through a quick verification process to validate what their entities are. For instance, if a user is level 1 they are only given access to video feed which means nothing else is available to them.

When I look at the code though, I can see video feed being called when case 1 and 3 are called. I would possibly enjoy an alternative to make the code more efficient.

I was told a possible array could make things a little easier but then again this is faster.

    switch ($_SESSION['permission']) {
        case 1: // Level 1: Video Feed
            include ("include/panels/videofeed.index.php");
            break;
        case 2: // Level 2: Announcements / Courses / Teachers
            include ("include/panels/announcements.index.php");
            include ("include/panels/courses.index.php");
            include ("include/panels/teachers.index.php");
            break;
        case 3: // Level 3: Announcements / Video Feed / Courses / Teachers / Accounts / Logs
            include ("include/panels/announcements.index.php");
            include ("include/panels/videofeed.index.php"); 
            include ("include/panels/courses.index.php");
            include ("include/panels/teachers.index.php");
            include ("include/panels/accounts.index.php");
            include ("include/panels/log.index.php");       
            break;
        case 4: // Level 4: Teachers
            include ("include/panels/teachers.index.php");          
    }

Answer 1

Frist you may run better if you use require_once if its possible.
The second point is to shorten the url it seems that its every include the same.

Maybe try to use it in a function for example:

$permission_id = $_SESSION['permission']

function requireModule($moduleName, $path = 'include/panels/') {
    $moduleName .= '.index.php';
    require_once($path . $moduleName);
}

// if you want you can add an arry for it:

$permissionModules = array(
    array('videofeed'),
    array('announcements', 'courses', 'teachers'),
    array('announcements', 'courses', 'teachers', 'accounts', 'log', 'videofeed'),
    array('teachers')
);

// now we can put it in a more effectiv way

if(array_key_exists($permission_id, $permissionModules)) {
    foreach($permissionModules[$permission_id] as $includes) {
        requireModule($includes);
    }
}

Wrong ? Correct me!