A new buzzing topic among students and staff at Lexington High School is the change from six to four credit science courses. But how have teachers been adapting to this new schedule?
Advanced Placement (AP) science classes will go from meeting six times a cycle to four times, and many changes have been made to cover all of the curriculum in a shorter timespan.
“For teachers with multiple classes, one of the other challenges is that not every class does the same thing every day,” Reginald Hobbs, the head of the science department and an AP Biology teacher, said. “If you’ve taught six blocks, you’re not used to [the four-day system].”
Science classes often require time for labs and experiments to ensure that students can learn content through hands-on experiences. A shorter schedule may make it harder for students to understand material thoroughly.
“From my perspective as an AP teacher, we’re going too fast right now. Splitting it into two years might make it better for students, so they are more solid around basic chemistry overall. And then we can learn much deeper,” Andriy Barchuk, an AP Chemistry teacher, said.
Following the new course structure, some AP science classes will now have prerequisite courses before students can take the corresponding AP class. This may help students enter the college-level classes with a stronger foundation.
AP teachers will have to rearrange the curriculum for students to learn the course content successfully. This involves adjusting assessment timelines, as teachers will see their students less often than before.
“The thing that I think about a lot is that it takes time to assess, and it takes time to review. Those are things that aren’t necessarily new content, but can take up time in class. So managing and being intentional about those moments of assessment and those moments of review are important in planning when you’re planning a unit in the class,” Hobbs said.
Although there is concern about students having less time for science, the change also has some advantages for students’ schedules and preparation. With science occupying fewer class blocks, students will have more room to take other courses, allowing them to explore other interests such as art, music, and additional electives.
Teachers hope that this schedule change will be beneficial and worthwhile for students in the long run.
