[Phys-L] Re: Quarters vs Semesters

[Robert Cohen <Robert.Cohen@PO-BOX.ESU.EDU>]

My point was that to compare 3 10-week quarters with 2 15-week semesters
(and then stating they are the same because the total instruction time
is the same) misses the fact that there are exams.  If we only allowed
final exams, the semester structure would allow for more non-exam
instruction time.

Comparing 4 10-week quarters with 2 15-week semesters is a different
animal.

P.S. When I mention that frequency of exams is "good", I am thinking of
"formative assessment is good" and, for many classes, exams may be the
only formative assessment.

____________________________________________________
Robert Cohen; 570-422-3428; www.esu.edu/~bbq
East Stroudsburg University; E. Stroudsburg, PA 18301

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Forum for Physics Educators
> [mailto:PHYS-L@list1.ucc.nau.edu] On Behalf Of Rauber, Joel
>
> In the quarter system school I went to, the intro physics
> class had 5 exams plus a final exam.  So we were tested about
> every two weeks.  If frequency of exams is good, I was
> apparently in pedagogical heaven.
>
>  (Actually, it was a very good course, with an excellent
> instructor, so we didn't mind the above average exam count
> for my university in that
> course.)
>
> How many tests an instructor gives in a term, is way more
> instructor dependent than quarter/semester system dependent,
> so I don't think this sort of calculation is very relevant.
> You can semester or quarter system courses with high or low
> exam counts.
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