19 abr 2011

Quarter System

I haven't thought about the quarter system much recently, but my undergraduate school, my graduate school, and my first tenure track job all used the 10 week quarter system, and I actually prefer it to the 16-week, drawn out semester. I think I can present a lot of information concisely in 10 weeks. More time doesn't actually give you more efficiency with that time, or more depth. Quarters provide more flexibility.

1 comentario:

Andrew Shields dijo...

My Dad taught Mathematics at the University of Toledo from 1974 to 1999, and once around 1980, they switched from quarters to semesters (or perhaps it was the other way around). About ten years later, a new president of the university wanted to switch back, but first a committee to decide which system was better was created. Their conclusion was that both have advantages and disadvantages, and that the best system is the one you are using, because switching is more trouble than it's worth. Their recommendation was clear: don't switch back. So of course the University switched back.