This article gives an historical perspective of block scheduling as well as looking squarely at the advantages and disadvantages of it. It focuses on how block scheduling affects such things as school climate, staff morale, and most importantly student achievement. Results from surveys given to administrators and students utilizing block…

Post-pandemic, many universities are seeking ways to better engage students and support them to stay with and succeed in their studies. Immersive scheduling, whereby students complete units over shorter time periods than the traditional 12-15 week semester or trimester, may be a way to do this and improve academic outcomes at scale. This paper…

Despite growing interest in immersive block models in higher education, very little is known about the experiences of international students in these non-traditional forms of learning. To enable an initial view of how international students perceive and perform in an immersive block model, we used an exploratory mixed methods approach to examine…

The first year in Higher Education (HE) is an international priority because of its importance to the retention of students. While initiatives to improve students' commencing experience continue to develop one area that has received limited consideration is the first-year curriculum. The aim of the research reported in this paper was to enhance…

A multidisciplinary Australian University introduced a block model of blended, sequential 4-week blocks to first-year students. This natural experiment compares the inaugural block and two prior cohorts on satisfaction and performance (n = 15,989 satisfaction and n = 86,545 assessment observations). Mixed effect cross-classified models with…

The transition to online teaching as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic led many universities to think strategically about the delivery of learning, teaching and assessment and the subsequent implications for student engagement and attainment. This piece of research builds upon literature around 'immersive scheduling', referred to as 'block…

In 2018, Victoria University adopted a new teaching delivery model, now known as the Block Teaching Model (BTM). The aim of this study focuses on how this new approach to teaching has impacted student learning and academic success, in particular for students who come from a disadvantaged background, compared with those who come from a…

Primary school teachers need adequate professional knowledge and motivational orientations to qualify scientifically and technologically literate students. Previous studies have focused on the impact of coursework on (pre-service) primary teachers' content knowledge, rather than on the development of academic self-concepts. In addition, the…

This study compared the academic performance of seventh-grade students on a state-mandated social studies accountability test by the instructional time configuration used and explored the relationship among the variables of gender, race and poverty on this performance. Results of 24,919 seventh-grade student social studies test scores from 117…

In a time of resource challenges, many educators see the cost of expanding learning time as a barrier. However, with at least 1,000 schools across the United States currently expanding learning time, data show that schools can implement the approach cost effectively. Expanded learning time schools manage three levers that both build quality…

Research was conducted to determine what impact school organization and classroom dynamics had on student achievement. Results from standardized benchmark tests found no significant differences in scores across all schools and content areas; yet, end of course standardized measures indicated that students in sites employing block scheduling…

Compares the effects of traditional and block schedules on the academic achievement of high school students with and without disabilities. Finds no difference in academic achievement for either students with or those without disabilities whether enrolled in highs schools with traditional scheduling or those with block scheduling. (Contains 3…

Four-year longitudinal study prepared for board of education evaluates the influence of block scheduling on high school academic achievement in a small, midwestern city. Finds evidence of positive relationship between block scheduling and improved achievement in academic subject areas. (Contains 10 references.) (PKP)

Many postsecondary institutions utilize learning communities to increase social engagement and attachment to the college community. In recent years, these communities have proliferated as part of a trend fueled by low retention and persistence rates, increasing reluctance of 4-year institutions to provide remedial education, and pressure on…

Documents Virginia's history of adoption and implementation of block scheduling, highlights common forms of block scheduling, and describes mistakes that caused schools to abandon block scheduling. Describes three key variables (time, teachers, and students) in the use of block scheduling to improve student achievement. (PKP)