The purpose of this state-of-the-art review is to provide a general overview of recent research on time distribution and second language (L2) learning with special implications for classroom settings. Several studies have been performed to examine how to best distribute the hours of L2 practice to maximize learning by comparing conditions that…

In January 2012, the West Virginia Governor's Office released an influential report, "Education Efficiency Audit of West Virginia's Primary and Secondary Education System," written by Public Works (2012), a management consulting company headquartered in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Based largely on this report, the West Virginia…

Why do a trimester schedule? With the advent of block scheduling, many high schools conducted research on utilizing that plan in a trimester format. There appeared to be three issues that most schools faced: (1) How to provide substantive instructional time that was not fragmented?; (2) How does the school climate contribute positively to…

To offer insights into scheduling strategies, this paper presents the effects of block scheduling in one rural public secondary school. This case study revolves around three questions: (1) "What prompted the school's move to block scheduling?"; (2) "How was block scheduling implemented?"; and (3) "How has block scheduling affected perceptions of…

The main topic discussed is a daily modular scheduling system initiated for the small enrollment at Pahranagat Valley High School in Alamo, Nevada, with specific reference to types of instruction, schedule procedures, and conflict problems. An evaluation of the scheduling system is also included. The report is written in dissertation format, which…

Block scheduling has grown rapidly in recent years. In North Carolina, 77 schools started block scheduling in 1995-96, bringing the total number of blocked schools in the state to 207. A previous evaluation compared 1995 End-of-Course (EOC) Test scores for block-scheduled (blocked) and nonblocked schools. This report presents results of the…

The use of four periods in the school day, as opposed to six, with each period 90 minutes in length is referred to as 4 X 4 block scheduling. In Virginia, as in many states, there is increasing interest in this kind of scheduling to deliver education that meets the instructional needs of students. In 1995-96, Western Branch High School (WBHS) of…

Some of the advantages and disadvantages of the electronic classroom are described, with particular reference to the scheduling of equipment use. An experiment with first-year language students in high school, some of whom used the electronic classroom, and some, a combination of conventional classroom and language laboratory, is discussed in…

The academic English-as-a-Second-Language program at Tokai International College (Hawaii), designed to bring students' English language skills to a level at which they can take degree-related credit courses, is described. The program, originally designed as a traditional second-language curriculum, was revised to consist of 3-hour instructional…

A survey of 12 medical and other health sciences schools which have implemented a standard three-year curriculum in the past few years revealed that only one of these schools is planning to revert to a standard four-year program. Some are introducing more attractive four-year curriculum options. The schools' self-ratings of the success of the…

A language education specialist who has studied elementary school second language programs, primarily in France but also in other European countries, outlines the factors he has found contributing to program success and makes recommendations for further development of second language education in Europe. Seven conditions for effective programs of…

A report on the results of changes in the introductory core French program summarizes three reports evaluating the effects of increasing the total amount of instructional time in French in grades 7 and 8 on students' acquisition of French language skills, attitudes, and cultural awareness. Random samples of students in four academic year grade 8…

A study assessing the instructional effects of increasing core French instruction in grade 8 from 20 to 40 minutes daily looks at students' acquisition of language skills, attitudes, and cultural awareness. A random sample of two groups of 150 students was chosen and the groups were administered different tests. Subjects were chosen randomly from…

A preliminary, descriptive overview of the students and their progress in the first year of a new French immersion program looks at the 1982-83 grade 8 cohort of 40 students, most of whom had come from the standard core French program in grades 6 and 7, and compares their progress in other subjects with two grade 8 classes in another school. Data…