MOD Schedule

Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart utilizes a six-term modular (MOD) schedule. Each MOD lasts 29-30 school days, with four 80-minute class periods (bins) per day. Students have the same classes every day for the six-week MOD, then they begin the next MOD with new courses for the following six weeks, and so on. The school day is divided into class periods, designated A, B, C, and D bins, during which courses are scheduled. Some select 45-minute classes also take place before school in 0 bin. A break of some sort (lunch, for example) is intentionally scheduled between each bin to allow students to pause between classes.

The longer class times allow for a deeper dive into the curricula and provide valuable opportunities for critical thinking, high level application, and creative problem solving. Strong relationships develop between teachers and students in these sustained longer periods which greatly enhances and positively impacts both instruction and learning. Additionally, when learning is spaced as it is between MODs, students experience the productive struggle of retrieving the information as they recall content from a previous MOD. This allows for long-term retention in an approach to learning backed by cognitive science.

Grade 10 Sample Schedule

Outcomes

Overall Outcomes

• More emphasis on skill-based curriculum and academic programs
• Students who are critical thinkers and problem solvers
• Increased depth of exploration and discovery in each course
• Highly engaged students who develop a life-long love of learning
• More authentic and immersive social awareness experiences
• Slower pace of school day and workload to reduce stress and anxiety
• More time for extra-curricular activities and family life
• Stronger relationships between teachers and students
• Opportunity for global experiences