David Davenport

Time on Task, part 2.

Last week I posted a item reviewing the research on time on task in which “academic learning time” was typically found to occupy only 50 percent of any given class period. This week I have learned from the website of the National Center on Time and Learning (http://www.timeandlearning.org/resources/index.htm) that the state of Massachusetts has found the financial resources to implement an “Expanded Learning Time Initiative” for a handful of low-performing schools. Classes begin at 7:45 and end at 3:55. Each school receives an additional $1,300 per student to cover increased staffing.

It is much too early to determine how much impact this will have on student achievement but it should be significant. Since this represents an increase of approximately 2 hours in the school day students will receive at least 1 hour more of academic learning time (see time on task “1″). The Expanded Learning Time Initiative has also facilitated block scheduling. One science teacher explained that this now provides time for the activities associated with each lesson. Previously these were conducted on separate days and the continuity of the lesson was broken. Obviously this is much better for both students and teachers.

Likewise, the Miami-Dade County School system has created “school improvement zones” which echo the ELTI in Massachusetts. Class days are longer and so too is each class session. The results are thus far encouraging. Particularly noteworthy is the addition of an Academic Improvement Period to each class day, a period in which students develop creative interests.

I will track these activities and keep you informed about them.

dpd 9-29-2008