The opinions of secondary students who have attended both 4 x 4 block and traditional scheduled secondary schools as to their popularity and effectiveness

Melanie Sharon Williamson, Tennessee State University

Abstract

This study was conducted at four Tennessee public high schools that offered block and traditional scheduling. Two of the high schools were on traditional scheduling and two were on block scheduling. The sample included students in grades 10, 11, and 12. The students ranged in ages from 15 to 19 years. The students who were enrolled at the time of this study had previously attended both block and traditional scheduled schools. The enrollments of the four participating schools were 404, 202, 165 and 44 students yielding a total of 815 participants. During the fall semester of the 2002–03 school year, participating students were given a 20 question survey. Descriptive data were tabulated and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to determine if statistically significant differences existed among student perception and satisfaction with block scheduling versus traditional scheduling. Participants were grouped by gender, race, age, and grade. A statistically significant difference was found and revealed that African-American students preferred the block schedule as compared to students from other races. Results of the ANOVA revealed students in grades 10 and 12 preferred block scheduling. However, students in grade 11 preferred the traditional schedule. No statistically significant differences were found between male and female satisfaction with block scheduling. It was concluded that gender alone did not determine student satisfaction with block or traditional schedules. Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations were compiled: Results should be shared with the board of education research department and with Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee, Public Schools administrators. Continuous monitoring and data collection should be implemented to determine the appropriateness of block scheduling.

Subject Area

Curricula|Teaching|Secondary education

Recommended Citation

Melanie Sharon Williamson, "The opinions of secondary students who have attended both 4 x 4 block and traditional scheduled secondary schools as to their popularity and effectiveness" (2003). ETD Collection for Tennessee State University. Paper AAI3107466.
https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/dissertations/AAI3107466

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