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…

As schools continue to strive to meet federal testing requirements, many schools have been looking at ways to improve. During the 1990's many school districts thought they had found the method, tool, or program, with which to accomplish this goal: the "block schedule". This study was a comparison of the teaching strategies and attitudes of…

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…

Describes the ways in which block scheduling can decrease school-day interruptions, reduce discipline problems, and help students who need more time and a slower pace. Also describes block schedules' effects on students and teachers. Sidebars offer guidelines for block scheduling and selected references. (LMI)

Provides an overview of the arguments for and against block scheduling in the social studies. Teachers appreciate the extra time to develop key concepts, incorporate creativity in their instruction, and implement a variety of class activities. Reviews relevant procedures and teaching skills and recommends strategies for improving 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…

Discusses the transition from traditional teaching and scheduling to a comprehensive block schedule with team teaching at the middle school level. Describes the process of educational change, including framing the problem, establishing consensus for change, creating pure teams, designing the master schedule; also discusses implementation issues.…

Since 1989, North Carolina has implemented several statewide initiatives to establish high expectations for all students. State educators have also paid increasing attention to the flexible use of time as a resource for expanding student learning. Block scheduling is a reorganization of school time that is increasingly being adopted by North…

Block Scheduling has been considered a cure for a lengthy list of educational problems. This report reviews the literature on block schedules and describes some Oregon high schools that have integrated block scheduling. Major disadvantages included resistance to change and requirements that teachers change their teaching strategies. There is…

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…

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…