Here’s What Researchers Say About Which Part-Time Student Schedule Is Best – Two Consecutive Days Or Alternate Days

 

Many – if not most – school districts are considering having students come to physical class just two days a week and, in that way, have a small enough number of students so that social distancing can be maintained.

But which schedule is best for students – consecutive or alternate days?

I asked that question of two highly regarded education researchers, Justin Reich and Matthew Kraft.  Here’s what they said:

Nothing I know of. Research provides useful guidance in situations that are close cognates (we studied N phenomenon in X(1); since your class X(2) is like X(1), our guidance is probably helpful); the pandemic isn't cognate to anything, so any research guidance will be speculative

— Justin Reich (@bjfr) July 1, 2020

There might be an overall average answer to your question, but it will also likely splinter by a number of factors. Likely, some kids benefit from some forms, and other kids benefit from the opposite form.

— Justin Reich (@bjfr) July 1, 2020

It also may be that how the decision is made is more important than the actual decision. Maybe either answer can work as long as that answer has widespread community buy-in. E.g. as long as a faculty decide together and get behind something, they can make either work.

— Justin Reich (@bjfr) July 1, 2020

💯 what Justin says.

I'd also ask teachers who've experienced both traditional 5-day a week class schedules and block schedules with alternating days to get their take.

— Matthew A. Kraft (@MatthewAKraft) July 1, 2020

So, following up on Matthew’s question, what do you say, teachers who have taught both block and five-day schedules?