Q U A R T E R
A quarter model would see each semester divided in half.
• There would be approximately 39 to 42 instructional days per quarter
• Students would take a maximum of two 5-credit courses per quarter
• Courses that are 3-credits would be split in half for the quarter
• An exam schedule will be at the end of each quarter (November, January, April and June) for final exams and Diploma Exams
Pros
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Focus on two courses instead of four - This can help students be more organized and alleviate the stress of juggling many topics
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Mastering content - By having two classes a day that are three hours, student's can concentrate on thoroughly learning the content taught to them. Additionally, longer classes allow for more practice time in class, a valuable component for receiving teacher feedback and one-on-one assistance
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Frequent assessment - with the rigorous three hour class length and condensed time frame of which material must be taught, it is common that students will experience a more frequent rate of assessment compared to a semester or yearly school calendar. This allows for both formative and summative assessment to be conducted more often and allows students more opportunities to learn
Cons
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Faster pace - quite often during a three hour lecture two lessons will be covered, amounting to a greater deal of new content at one time
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Frequent assessment - with the rigorous three hour class length and condensed time frame of which material must be taught, it is common that students will experience a more frequent rate of assessment compared to a semester or yearly school calendar. This can be overwhelming for some students
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Engagement - three hour lectures can be long and strenuous, affecting a students ability to stay focused and motivated
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Missing Classes - missing one class in the 1/4 system is equivalent to missing two days due to commonly having double lessons. This makes attendance vital.
To discover student feedback regarding the 1/4 system, follow the link below