Multi-subject instructional period
Encyclopedia
In an educational milieu MSIP can be defined as the either the Manitoba School Improvement Plan or the Multi-Subject Instructional Period. For the purpose of this article the acronym MSIP will be used exclusively to refer to the multi-subject instructional period.
The Manitoba School Improvement Project dates from 1991, when it was established as a result of the vision of the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation, a Canadian charitable foundation. The Foundation was interested in enhancing education for "students at risk" and needed a province with an educational community that would welcome and support their involvement. The Province of Manitoba met their criteria and a pilot program was begun. Established initially with a very definite urban
focus, the program has in recent years expanded to not only include the province's rural
community but other Canadian
jurisdictions.
MSIP promotes an alternative academic schedule for high school
students. Students in Canada
generally attend high schools where the school year is divided into two semesters consisting of four period days. Class time can vary slightly but most classes last between 70 and 76 minutes. Instead of the standard four 75-minute periods found in the semestered school MSIP schools adopt five 60-minute periods including one 60-minute multi-subject instructional period.
selections determine their timetable and where the MSIP class will fall. In many cases the MSIP class begins with 20 minutes of silent literacy work - reading or writing complimenting the movement to improve literacy skills. The rest of the period students may use for work on assignments, make up work they missed due to absences or get help in areas where they are falling behind.
Students have the ability to move within the school environment during their MSIP period to seek extra help, use computer and research resources, attend guidance counselling
appointments and meet with subject teachers where possible. The flexibility of this format alleviates the disruption normally associated with the typical semesterted schedule.
, to a science lab to complete an assignment, or see a teacher for academic support. MSIP schools report
that on any given period approximately 5% of students travel to an area outside of the
MSIP class. Schools experiencing timetabling difficulties due to a shortage of lab space and gymnasium facilities have in effect created more facility opportunities with this 5 period system.
Timetable Conflicts: One of the early goals of the MSIP schedule was to deal with the increased number of conflicts students were experiencing in a shrinking school. Having 5 slots to place classes reduces the probability of class overlaps.
, improved group interactions skills and an improvement in students’ abilities to memorize information.. For many non-academic students MSIP also provides shorter classes making it easier for students to focus and complete homework in their MSIP class before going home.
Student-Centered Learning
is a by-product of the MSIP period. The MSIP format demands that students be self-directed and organized each day by creating an environment of student autonomy - students are in charge of their own agenda. Homework
, research
and even group meetings are scheduled by the student during their MSIP period. This results in an increased level of responsibility and ownership over their own learning
.
Mastering Learning: Research emphasizes the need for “do time” for consolidation of learning; MSIP provides this time. Each day students will have 60 minutes of ‘do time’ to complete homework, prepare for tests, and work on projects and assignments. This time will promote ‘mastering’ learning and prepare students to learn new concepts and skills, thus improving overall performance.
The Manitoba School Improvement Project dates from 1991, when it was established as a result of the vision of the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation, a Canadian charitable foundation. The Foundation was interested in enhancing education for "students at risk" and needed a province with an educational community that would welcome and support their involvement. The Province of Manitoba met their criteria and a pilot program was begun. Established initially with a very definite urban
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
focus, the program has in recent years expanded to not only include the province's rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
community but other Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
jurisdictions.
MSIP promotes an alternative academic schedule for high school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
students. Students in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
generally attend high schools where the school year is divided into two semesters consisting of four period days. Class time can vary slightly but most classes last between 70 and 76 minutes. Instead of the standard four 75-minute periods found in the semestered school MSIP schools adopt five 60-minute periods including one 60-minute multi-subject instructional period.
How MSIP works
Students attend their regular four classes each day plus a one-hour supervised MSIP class. Students in any one MSIP class are arranged in multi-grade formation with varied levels of ability. Their courseCourse (education)
The very broad dictionary meaning of the word course is the act or action of moving in a path from point to point . There are multiple meanings for this word, some of which include: general line of orientation, a mode of action, part of a meal, a mode of action, and many more. This article focuses...
selections determine their timetable and where the MSIP class will fall. In many cases the MSIP class begins with 20 minutes of silent literacy work - reading or writing complimenting the movement to improve literacy skills. The rest of the period students may use for work on assignments, make up work they missed due to absences or get help in areas where they are falling behind.
Students have the ability to move within the school environment during their MSIP period to seek extra help, use computer and research resources, attend guidance counselling
School counselor
A school counselor is a counselor and an educator who works in elementary, middle, and high schools to provide academic, career, college access, and personal/social competencies to K-12 students...
appointments and meet with subject teachers where possible. The flexibility of this format alleviates the disruption normally associated with the typical semesterted schedule.
Structural Benefits
Resources: MSIP increases students’ access to learning resources. During their MSIP, students are allowed to travel to an area like a computer lab to do researchResearch
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
, to a science lab to complete an assignment, or see a teacher for academic support. MSIP schools report
that on any given period approximately 5% of students travel to an area outside of the
MSIP class. Schools experiencing timetabling difficulties due to a shortage of lab space and gymnasium facilities have in effect created more facility opportunities with this 5 period system.
Timetable Conflicts: One of the early goals of the MSIP schedule was to deal with the increased number of conflicts students were experiencing in a shrinking school. Having 5 slots to place classes reduces the probability of class overlaps.
Educational Benefits
Studies of existing MSIP schools show improvement in students' inductive thinking abilitiesCritical thinking
Critical thinking is the process or method of thinking that questions assumptions. It is a way of deciding whether a claim is true, false, or sometimes true and sometimes false, or partly true and partly false. The origins of critical thinking can be traced in Western thought to the Socratic...
, improved group interactions skills and an improvement in students’ abilities to memorize information.. For many non-academic students MSIP also provides shorter classes making it easier for students to focus and complete homework in their MSIP class before going home.
Student-Centered Learning
Student-centred learning
Student-centred learning is an approach to education focusing on the needs of the students, rather than those of others involved in the educational process, such as teachers and administrators...
is a by-product of the MSIP period. The MSIP format demands that students be self-directed and organized each day by creating an environment of student autonomy - students are in charge of their own agenda. Homework
Homework
Homework, or homework assignment, refers to tasks assigned to students by their teachers to be completed outside of class. Common homework assignments may include a quantity or period of reading to be performed, writing or typing to be completed, problems to be solved, a school project to be built...
, research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
and even group meetings are scheduled by the student during their MSIP period. This results in an increased level of responsibility and ownership over their own learning
Learning
Learning is acquiring new or modifying existing knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, or preferences and may involve synthesizing different types of information. The ability to learn is possessed by humans, animals and some machines. Progress over time tends to follow learning curves.Human learning...
.
Mastering Learning: Research emphasizes the need for “do time” for consolidation of learning; MSIP provides this time. Each day students will have 60 minutes of ‘do time’ to complete homework, prepare for tests, and work on projects and assignments. This time will promote ‘mastering’ learning and prepare students to learn new concepts and skills, thus improving overall performance.
See also
- Chippewa Secondary SchoolChippewa Secondary SchoolChippewa Intermediate and Secondary School is located along the Chippewa Creek area of North Bay, Ontario. It is a member of the Near North District School Board.Chippewa's motto is "Carpe Diem" which translates to Seize The Day...
- Student Centered LearningStudent-centred learningStudent-centred learning is an approach to education focusing on the needs of the students, rather than those of others involved in the educational process, such as teachers and administrators...
- Semestered SystemAcademic termAn academic term is a division of an academic year, the time during which a school, college or university holds classes. These divisions may be called terms...
- Education in GeneralEducationEducation in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...