Make the Most of Your Time

Bill Blynt
Aug 25, 2008

In a recent article in District  Administration, the allocation and efficient use of time in America's schools was investigated. Educators have been involved in discussions about the impact of time on learning for many years. Although the findings show that time plays a significant role in promoting student learning, the research shows that simply adding time to the instructional school year, day or course will not increase student achievement. It is not only the amount of time allocated to instruction, but also the efficient use of this time that influences the degree and depth of learning. The research presented indicated that the relationship between time and learning is not a direct relationship. The degree to which the time allocated is used with students engaged in rigorous learning activities that are aligned to the priorities identified in a course curriculum has the greatest impact on learning. Simply adding more time to a school year, allocating more time to core subjects or providing additional time through after-school or summer programs will not automatically increase student achievement.

Time can best increase learning when this time is used to provide students with enriched learning opportunities focused on the essential content identified in a course curriculum. This additional time should not only be focused on the essential content, but also be used to provide students with opportunities to learn at a higher level. Activities designed should not be focused on doing the same thing over but be used to provide activities that allow students to anchor their knowledge. These activities should require students to extend their thinking. Extending Thinking activities require students to use one of the level two thinking skills (cause/effect, induction, analyzing perspective, etc.). These skills enable a student to anchor their learning and thus retain this learning over a longer period of time. Research cited in the article, "Using Time Effectively", showed that students in the same course, but provided additional time and engaged in rigorous activities were able to perform at a higher level on higher level assessment activities and retain their learning for a longer period of time.

As schools look for ways to increase time with students by changing schedules, extending the school day, or offering Saturday and summer opportunities, care should be taken to monitor how this time is used. Targeting instruction during this time to the priorities identified in the curriculum and requiring this time be used with students extending their thinking about the content or accelerating their learning by previewing and/or building background knowledge will have the most dramatic influence on achievement and maximize the benefits of this increase in instructional time.