Adults often find themselves transitioning from one activity to another in a short time span. Most of the time, they do not feel they have a lot of control over their schedules, but wish that they could carve out extended time to relax and focus on one project. Picture a group of children in the block area who have spent 15 or 20 minutes building…

Suggests reforms for academic scheduling that would allow persons to earn baccalaureates in a shorter period of time than the traditional 4 years. (HS)

In this paper, a heuristic algorithm for constructing school timetables is described. The algorithm is based on an exact method that applies to a family of particular timetable problems. The procedure has been used to construct timetables for Swiss schools having about 50 classes, 80 teachers, and 35 weekly periods. Less than five percent of…

Discusses four types of master scheduling: (1) traditional or manual scheduling, (2) computer scheduling, (3) ultra-sophisticated scheduling such as flexible-modular scheduling, and (4) innovative noncomputer assisted scheduling within the traditional school framework. (Author/DN)

Several studies have found that an inordinate amount of potential instructional time is lost in the American secondary school classroom. This paper briefly overviews the history and types of block scheduling in secondary schools and presents findings of a study that examined the perceptions of administrators and teachers in two large eastern…

A well-crafted school schedule can enhance usage of time, space, and resources; improve instructional climate; help solve instruction-delivery problems; and help establish desired programs and instructional practices. This article discusses scheduling challenges (providing quality time, creating a school climate, and providing varying learning…

Thorough investigation of scheduling options is needed to facilitate the development of a tailor-made schedule for the small school. The traditional scheduling model usually only works well in urban or suburban schools. When this mass production model is imposed on small schools, student needs become secondary to the dictates of the schedule. The…

The major topic is the modular scheduling program developed for Virgin Valley High School in Mesquite, Nevada. The concept of modular units in curriculum planning is described with various modular units illustrated graphically. Also included is an example of a hand-generated modular schedule system which is adaptable in schools with a 200- to 33…

This report is an excerpt from the National Education Commission On Time and Learning Final Report, "Prisoners of Time," published in April, 1994. In it, the Commission concludes that the reform movement of the last decade is destined to founder unless it is able to harness more time, and better management thereof, for learning. The…

Before outlining a proposal for a flexible trimester calendar to replace the traditional semester system at San Bernardino Community College, other alternatives such as the early semester, 4-1-4, and quarter systems are reviewed. The proposed trimester system, developed in accordance with the California Flexible Calendar and School Finance in…

Describes how one new high school principal changed the school's traditional scheduling plan. Teachers liked the change and used scheduling as a tool for accomplishing various instructional goals as they emerged. Students noted potential pitfalls of changing schedules. The paper discusses how to accomplish successful schedule change. (SM)

A current educational trend involves looking for ways to make the most efficient use of the time students spend in school. As schools embrace curricular reform, those on the front lines are reevaluating traditional beliefs about how schools are structured. This book contains a collection of articles that present information necessary to making a…

Building and implementing a school master schedule is one of a school administrator's most crucial tasks. A master schedule can either create opportunity or hinder teaching students. This is particularly true in middle-level schools, many of which are using information about the learning characteristics of early adolescents to reexamine how…

Curricular innovations designed and implemented in the language department at Colorado College which are based on modular scheduling are discussed in this paper. Sequential courses of several varieties are discussed including: principal "full courses;" interdisciplinary courses; "half-courses;" and "adjunct courses." The courses are designed in…

A random sample of 55 faculty and 593 students in 28 classes was surveyed to determine class scheduling preferences for three-semester-hour courses and to relate them to existing scheduling patterns at Moraine Valley Community College. Fifty-five percent of the students preferred two 90-minute class sessions per week, 27% preferred one three-hour…