Introduction
Today we'll be looking at the differences between different schedules in a high school setting. The traditional schedule is comprised of seven 55-minute classes per day, and is referred to as the "Traditional Scheduling". The second schedule is an A/B setup, where classes meet every other day for about 90 minutes; each student takes seven to eight classes per semester, but only attends 4 per day. This is referred to as "Block Scheduling". There are supporters of both in modern education. Decide for yourself after reading the articles which you support.
Task
English, STEM, History: Article 1
Music, Kinesiology/Health: Article 2
Your job is to evaluate one of the given articles to analyze the arguments and reasoning behind it, and apply it to your own content area. Click on the link for the article, and use it to answer the questions provided. Discuss with your group. You will be sharing, so please back your arguments with reasoning from your own experience or the articles.
Process
Complete sentences are NOT necessary.
To open the first article, click here.
1. According to the article, what are the benefits and challenges of a block schedule?
2. Is there anything in the article that you believe to be bias or untrustworthy? Record it, and explain why you believe it to be so.
3. Think about how this schedule may affect your content area. In your group, is the majority for block schedule or traditional schedule?
To open the second article, click here.
1. According to the article, what are the benefits and challenges of a traditional schedule?
2. Is there anything in the article that you believe to be bias? Record it, and explain why you believe it to be so.
3. Look at the comments on the article. Record any you agree/disagree with (or find particularly interesting) and explain why. Remember that bias and/or personal experience may affect their responses.
4. Think about how this schedule may affect your content area? In your group, is the majority for block schedule or traditional schedule?
Now get ready to share some of your ideas! We'll go around, so be prepared with your answers and be ready to defend your ideas! This is an open discussion, so you are allowed to disagree.
Evaluation
You will be evaluated on your sharing of ideas with the class.