A college that is attempting the “chronopédagogie”

Photo By Pascal Huot
The director of studies at the cégep Lévis-Lauzon, Denis Deschamps, is interested in the ” chronopédagogie “, a new approach that takes into account the biological clock of the students to promote their academic success.

Daphnée Dion-Viens

Monday, 21 aug 2017 00:01

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Monday, 21 aug 2017 00:01

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It is the day of re-entry in the most of the cégeps in the province this morning. On the South Shore of Québec, the cégep Lévis-Lauzon tries this year to adapt more to the biological clock of the students.

The cégep would be one of the first in Quebec to focus on ” the chronopédagogie “. It is a new approach that allows to adapt the teaching according to the biological rhythm of the students based on the results of the research in this area, ” says Jessica Lebel, research professional at the faculty of educational sciences of Université Laval.

This last was at the cégep Lévis-Lauzon last week to give a lecture on this topic, which was attended by approximately 200 teachers in the framework of a pedagogical day.

“We wanted to give a frame of reference to the people so that they understand why we made a schedule change this year. There is a scientific basis to it all, ” explains the director of studies at the college, Denis Deschamps.

In the classroom an hour later

The cégep Lévis-Lauzon has decided, a few months ago, to modify its schedule for the autumn in order to allow a majority of first-year students begin their classes at 9 a.m. instead of 8 h. The initiative has attracted attention in the region, since it should help to reduce the traffic congestion in this area.

But in college, it is pointed out that this disruption of the schedule is primarily designed to improve student success. Studies show that a schedule later in the morning allows the teens to sleep longer, which can lead to improvement in their school results.

“Raise up a young one at 6 a.m. so that he could be sitting in a classroom for 8 h, this is equivalent to an adult having to get up at 4 am in the morning “, shows Mr. Deschamps.

At this conference on the ” chronopédagogie “, the teachers were also sensitized to the importance of planning the content of their courses according to the time of day

“Value “

Studies have shown, for example, that it is better to do some tests to adolescents in the late morning or in the afternoon, ” says Ms. Lebel.

The work team, or teaching methods participatory are also preferred in the late afternoon, a time of day where students can be less focused.

According to Denis Deschamps, this new approach more widespread in Europe and the United States is a “value-added” for teachers. Students and the general public will also be invited to attend two other conferences on the same topic in the coming weeks.

“It is not wrong the first to speak of chronopédagogie at the college level, always in a perspective of school success,” says Mr. Deschamps.

Schedule change at the cégep Lévis-Lauzon

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Fall 2016

70 % of new students had three to five courses, which began at 8 am in the morning

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Fall 2017

77% of new students have two courses or less, which start at 8 a.m. in the morning