Wikipedia

Block scheduling

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Time Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
09:00 – 09:50 Math English Math English Math
09:55 – 10:45 English
10:50 – 11:40 History Science History Science History
11:45 – 12:35 Science
12:40 – 01:00 Lunch
01:05 – 01:55 P.E. Computer P.E. Computer P.E.
02:00 – 02:45 Computer

Block scheduling is a type of academic scheduling in which each student has fewer classes per day for a longer period of time. This results in more time for teaching due to less time wasted due to class switching and preparation.

Conversion to block scheduling became a widespread trend in United States schools in the 1990s. Prior to that, many schools scheduled classes such that a student saw every one of his teachers each day. Classes were approximately 50 minutes long, but under block scheduling, they became approximately 90 minutes long. Many pros and cons to this alternate method were and are debated.

The exact method used varies greatly between schools. Below and on the right are two fake schedules demonstrating common examples.

Time A Days B Days
09:00 – 10:45 Math English
10:50 – 12:35 History Science
12:40 – 01:00 Lunch
01:05 – 02:45 P.E. Computer

In the example on the left, the first day of school is an A Day, the next a B Day, the third an A Day again, and so on. A similar type of schedule, called 4x4 block scheduling, puts all the A Days in the first semester, and all the B Days in the second. The benefit to this is that it allow students to "double up" so to speak, and take two courses in one year which they ordinarily wouldn't be able to take due to serial issues such as taking Algebra 1 in the First Term and Algebra 2 in the second. This also allows students to retake a course they did poorly in. This is especially useful for seniors who may need to retake an essential class they fail, where as in other schedules they would not be able to graduate with the class at the end of the year, with this it is possible if the student is motivated enough to put in the effort to pass the class the second time through, and still graduate with the class.

A study *[1] by the College Board found that students taking AP courses on a 4 x 4 block schedule score less well than do students taking the same AP course on a traditional full-year schedule. This is true no matter whether the block-scheduled course is taken during the Fall or the Spring semester.

See also

Flexible modular scheduling

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