S

Flex Block & Economic Thinking

By: Haodi Zhang

Question

What is the economic thinking behind flex block choice of students and teachers?

Choice

Problem Too many alternatives to choose for flex block

Alternatives Criterion

Relaxing, Fun, Active, Educational Evaluate Decision

Is Flex Block a Valuable Time

77%

23%

YesNo

Reasons Behind Students’ Choice

28%

42%

12%

8%

5%5%

FunEasy/RelaxingEducational purpose ServiceNo reasonOther

Cost

40%

43%

2% 7%

8%

What would you like to have instead, if flex block did not exist?

Free periodEarly dismissalAnother classStart extracurricular earlyStudent lead activity

Incentives

9th Grade Fun

10th Grade Relaxing, Educational

11th Grade Balanced response

12th Grade Relaxing

Relaxing (***)

Fun (**)

Educational (*)

50%

25%

6%

13%6%

9th Grade

FunEasy/RelaxingEducational PurposeServiceNo ReasonOther

17%

48%

13%

17%4%

10th Grade

FunEasy/RelaxingEducational PurposeServiceNo ReasonOther

40%

40%

20%

11th Grade

FunEasy/RelaxingEducational PurposeServiceNo ReasonOther

31%

50%

6%

6% 6%

12th Grade

FunEasy/RelaxingEducational PurposeServiceNo ReasonOther

Juniors & Seniors

1~4

5~8

9~12

13~16

17~20

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

16

4

0

1

2

How often do you at-tend your flex block?

26%

74%

Would you still sign up for flex block if you

have the option to opt out of it?

YesNo

75%

25%

Is Flex Block a Valuable Time

YesNo

Choice (Teachers)

Problem Think of a flex to run

Alternatives Criterion

Relaxing, Educational, Self interest Evaluate Decision

Reason Behind Teachers’ Choice

Self Interest (***)

Relaxing (**)Valuable

Experience (**)

HL Class (*)

Self interest

Relaxing

Fun

Valuable experience for students

HL class time for IB students

Self in

terest

Relax

ing Fun

Valua

ble ex

perien

ce for

studen

ts

HL clas

s tim

e for

IB stude

nts02468

109

1

4 42

Why is Flex Valuable to Teachers?

Cost

11%

22%

22%

44%

What would you like to have instead, if flex block did not exist?

Early dismissalStay and workHave students run an ac-tivityStart extracurricular ear-lier for teachers who coach sportsHave normal class

Consequences

Negative Not able to change flex block during middle of

semester Might not be able to be with friends

Positive Creates a productive and non educational time

Conclusion

Students tend to choose flex activities that are fun or relaxing

Teachers tend to choose flex activities based on self-interest or something relaxing

Flex block is a valuable time