Block scheduling is the practice of having classes about twice as long as 'traditional' classes, meaning about 90 minutes instead of 45 to 50 minutes. This means that students meet with a teacher half as often as during a 'traditional' schedule, but they get about twice as much 'contact time.' This kind of schedule has about 3 variations and is increasingly being used throughout America. Some people like it, others hate it.
Sites 5
- InfoWeb - Block Scheduling Information A well balanced research report on various components of block scheduling in 25 high schools in North Carolina.
- The Problem With Block Scheduling The Case Against Block Scheduling: An Educational Fad that Hurts Academic Performance.
- Block Scheduling: Is this Right for America's Public Schools? A research paper focusing on the pitfalls and benefits of block scheduling.
- Block Scheduling: A Solution or a Problem? This articles discusses whether block scheduling is a flexible scheduling alternative that benefits students, or a fad that's sure to pass.
- Education Policy Analysis Archives - Block Scheduling Effects on a State Mandated Test of Basic Skills Study which examined the effects of a tri-schedule on the academic achievement of students in a high school. The tri-schedule consists of traditional, 4x4 block, and hybrid schedules running at the same time in the same high school. Effectiveness of the schedules was determined from the state mandated test of basic skills in reading, language, and mathematics.