How effective is education in two shifts. What studies say about student performance by age and class

In many countries of the world, including Romania, students learn in two shifts, i.e. morning and afternoon. In this context, the question arose whether this system is healthy for children, but also whether it is effective from a didactic point of view. Specialists' answers are divided.

Students go to school in two shifts PHOTO Inquam Photos / Octav Ganea

Two-shift education is a very widespread practice in many countries around the world. Including in Romania. There are thousands of Romanian students who study not only in two but also in three shifts. The afternoon schedule led to discussions among parents, teachers, and specialists about the efficiency of the teaching process. The possibility that learning in two shifts has negative effects on children's health is also discussed.

Many foreign specialists say that the discussion should be nuanced and that it is difficult to give a clear verdict. It is certain, however, that depending on the time of day, the brain reacts differently.

Mathematics is best learned in the morning

The problem of the efficiency of students studying in two shifts has concerned specialists including from countries such as Great Britain, the United States or Bulgaria. Through studies or classroom experience, teachers have identified that teenagers learn better in the morning. At least in math. It is about a study carried out by teaching staff from Royal Holloway, University of London.

They observed that when teenagers had math lessons in the morning their exam results improved by 7% compared to when they had lessons in the same subject in the afternoon shift. Another study, carried out this time by Bulgarian specialists, shows the same result. Using a decade-long data set from a high school specializing in humanities and languages, Velichka Dimitrova examined academic performance, class schedules, and absenteeism rates and found that exam results could be improved just by reorganizing the schedule.

For example, exact sciences are better assimilated in the morning, while subjects that require creativity are more successful in the afternoon. “In the morning, the mind is rested so we are better at doing something repetitive, like solving problems, where we need more speed, attention and concentration. In the afternoon, this process seems to slow down. On the other hand, history is more suitable for the afternoon, when we are more creative and open to discussion”says the Bulgarian specialist for “Teacher Toolkit”.

And other studies show the same thing. Students are better at repetitive tasks or reasoning that require focus and attention in the first part of the day, while creativity or discussions are more prolific in the second part of the day. Obviously, it is about a time interval until 18.00. These considerations are also based on the study of Nolan Pope from the University of Chicago who observed that students are much more productive in the morning in the exact sciences, in particular.

Teenagers work better, a little later

Other studies show that the early morning learning and teaching schedule does not suit teenagers, i.e. high school students, very well. For example, these studies indicate that the adolescent's biological clock is a bit out of whack, especially for reasons related to the biological transformations they are going through. That is precisely why the early morning hours are not to the liking of the adolescent biological clock.

Research has shown that due to changing sleep patterns during adolescence, academic gains can be made by starting school later. Typically, adolescent cognitive function peaks in the afternoon, not the morning. If we schedule math in the morning then many students will not do as well as in the afternoon.

However, do not confuse the afternoon hours (between 12:00 and 18:00) with the evening hours, when fatigue sets in and productivity decreases. Specialists say that the most suitable mornings for teenage students would be physical activities. Kim-Ling Sun, a professor with two decades of experience in the department, supports this idea. In the sense that, says the teacher, for high school students and students the best program and with the best educational results starts at 11.00. “Current cognitive research informs us that the best time of day to attend a university course is after 11:00”says Kim Ling Sun for Best Colleges.

Young students learn better in the morning

Many teachers and teachers with teaching experience say that for primary and secondary school students, the morning program is the best. And this in conditions where schoolchildren are more rested.

At least that's what Daniela Alupei, an experienced primary education teacher from School number 2 in the city of Săveni, tells us. “Morning hours are the most beneficial for children. They are more rested, more energetic and more attentive. Especially since they need this to learn many new things. The afternoon would be very difficult for them, they can no longer concentrate, they are already tired from the whole day”says Daniela Alupei. A 2018 study by Daniel H. Pink in his book “When” shows the same.

It points out that people generally function and feel their best in the morning, with their highest energy levels. They feel happier and have a much higher level of life satisfaction. At the same time, the lowest level of depression or anxiety is recorded in the morning, although this varies according to the individual chronotype, showing highs in the morning and lows in the evening. Pink, citing various research, points out that mornings are the best time for peak performance, while late nights bring mood swings, with effects on well-being, concentration and memory.