Efficacy Of High School Scheduling Policies PDF Download

Purpose of the study . The purpose of this investigation was to study the effects of block scheduling in Missouri high schools on instructional strategies. The conceptual framework guiding this study is the relationship between time and teacher behavior. This study focuses on the effects of longer class periods on instructional strategies. Procedures . Using data from an initial survey of Missouri school leaders which revealed the prevalence of block scheduling in the state, schools were selected to participate in the study. Twenty-five schools using block schedules were selected. Twenty-five schools using traditional schedules were selected to serve as a comparison group. Approximately one-half of the teachers from each of the 50 schools were asked to complete a survey entitled "Survey of Missouri High School Schedules and Teaching Strategies." This survey was designed and field tested by the researcher. Findings . Six hundred seventy-eight surveys were returned from the original 1245 sent out for a 54% return rate. The statistical analysis of the dependent variables, instructional strategies, yielded the following results: (1) There is a statistically significant difference (Analysis of Variance test) in the use of the instructional strategies, discussions and research projects at the .05 level of significance. Research projects were reported in higher use in schools with traditional schedules, while the instructional strategy of discussions was reported in higher use in schools with a 10-block schedule. (2) There was also a significant correlation, as evidenced by the Pearson Product Moment Correlation, between the amount of inservice time provided to Missouri high school teachers and their use of cooperative teaching, group work, labs, and interdisciplinary teaming. Conclusions . The following conclusions were drawn: (1) The use of thirteen selected instructional strategies by Missouri high school teachers is not dependent on the type of schedule the school has. Surprisingly, the use of research projects is greater in schools with traditional schedules, while teachers in schools with 10-block schedules rated their use of discussions higher. (2) If a school decides to block schedule, teacher inservice can enhance the probable effectiveness of that schedule, especially in terms of the teachers use of four specific instructional strategies: cooperative teaching, group work, labs, and interdisciplinary teaming.