Determining time allotment is an important step in curriculum design. There are several key factors to consider when determining how much time to allocate for each subject: The importance of the subject and addressing learners' needs and interests. A subject's role in meeting curriculum goals. The child's ability and readiness to engage with the material based on their capacity and the material's complexity. The grade level and increasing attention spans as children mature and develop. The average number of available school days each year after accounting for holidays and events. This determines the total time available for learning.

1. EDUC. 3: INTRODUCTION TO CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT August 24, 2013
John Daniel P. Gumban | Factors That Determine Time Allotment 1
Factors that Determine Time Allotment
Importance of the Subject
Childs’ Ability
Grade Level
Average Number of Days
Introduction
Determining time allotment is one of the seven steps in curriculum design. In 1963, an
American psychologist, John Bissell Carroll states that time is the most important variable to
school learning. Carroll defined degree of learning as time actually spent in learning divided by
the time needed for leaning. He explains that time spent is the result of opportunity and
perseverance. Opportunity is determined by the classroom teacher and perseverance is the
students’ involvement with academic content; the specific measure is called allotted or
allocated time.
According to the works of Anderson (1983), Bloom (1976), and Fisher et al., (1980)
allocated time is the amount of time specified for an activity or events. In designing curriculum,
we need to analyze the objective and content of the curriculum to be able to estimate the time
requirements. And there are several factors to be considered in determining time allotment
that influence in the result or the outcome of the curriculum design. First is the importance of
the subject, where the portion of classroom time spent teaching students’ particular
knowledge, concepts, and skills. Second is the Childs’ ability or the capacity of the learner to
understand instruction. Third is the grade level or the series of educational level. And last is the
average number of days or the amount of time spent in school in a year.
Summary of the Report
Importance of the Subject
 Address the learners needs and interest according to the goal of the curriculum
 Determine the amount of time to be spent on each subject
Childs’ Ability
 Determine the amount of time the learner is willing to engage actively in
learning.
 Time allotment must agree with the child’s readiness for the learning material
and/or experiences.

2. August 24, 2013 EDUC. 3: INTRODUCTION TO CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
2 Factors That Determine Time Allotment | John Daniel P. Gumban
Grade Level
 Increasing attention-span of the learners upon their maturity, age and
development.
Average Number of Days
 Determine the total available time
 Consider the public holidays, and special school occasions.
Issues and Concern
1. If the learner does not spend any time for independent studying, learning can take place
only during contact teaching hours.
2. The negative attitude and character of the learner that affects the allotted time in
learning.
3. There is a waste of time if the teacher does not have enough knowledge/mastery of the
subject.
4. The unexpected class suspension that can affect the total available time.
Recommendation
1. The learner should spend a quality time of independent studying.
2. The teacher must seek the help of the parents in disciplining their child.
3. The teacher must have enough knowledge/mastery of the subject.
4. Should have enough buffer time to have make-up classes.
References
 Policy Guidelines on the Implementation of Grades 1 To 10 of the K to 12 Basic Education
Curriculum (BEC) Effective School Year 2012-2013. DepEd Order No. 31, s. 2012
 Kathleen Cotton. (1989). Close-Up #8: Educational Time Factors. School Improvement
Research Series. U.S. Department of Education.
 McIlrath, D., & Huitt, W. (1995, December). The teaching-learning process: A discussion
of models. Educational Psychology Interactive. Valdosa, GA: Valdosa State University.
 Karjalainen, A., Alha, K., & Jutila, S., (2006). Give Me To Think: Determining Student
Workload In Higher Education. Ministry of Education, Finland.
 School Calendar for the School Year (SY) 2013-2014. DepEd Order No. 10, s. 2013