We plan our course, scheduling exams, quizzes, homework deadlines, and … and we do all this 3-6 months in advance. We try to integrate the experience with a lab schedule where different sections of the same lab might be separated by as much as 3 hours worth of lecture. We also have to accommodate external constraints such as midterm grade reporting and holidays that mean some labs meet that week and some labs don’t but yet are must still have the “same academic experience” and meet the “same outcomes.”
Is it any wonder that, after 7 weeks (roughly 23 hours of lecture), I am off by about 5% (which equates to one full day of lecture) and have a day with nothing to do but extra review for the coming exam. If I start the new material that comes after the exam, nobody will pay attention because they are focused on the immediate concern of this exam. If I move the exam up a day, those who have been procrastinating will be in a world of hurt and the previously established homework deadlines won’t match up to prepare them for the test.
Interesting new thought here. Unscheduled tests. We will have a test when we finish this material. You must remain current with material because you will only get 48 hours notice of when the exam is about to occur.
Chemistry with Dr. Mark 