By Laura Lane
Senior Sandhya Manivannan listened, and as a result, spent the next year and a half studying block scheduling for her Intel science research competition submission.
Recently, she learned that she had been named of Long Island's 89 semifinalists for the 2003 Intel Science Talent Search. Both Manivannan and Clarke will receive $1,000 in recognition of her scientific achievement.
"When I heard Dr. Cirello speak about block scheduling, I began to think that it might be an interesting topic [to use] for my submission for Intel," Manivannan said. "I was surprised when I found out I was a semifinalist. I had forgotten to check the net that morning where they post the winners.,
Dr. Carol Smyth, the Clarke Science Department chairwoman, was not surprised.
"Sandhya is a very well-rounded and motivated student," Smyth said. "She is very diligent in her work, and positive in about everything she does. Even when she was having problems with the block scheduling project, she was still smiling."
Manivannan attributes some of her success to the support and encouragement she has always received from her parents. She admits she found the topic interesting, though being an Advanced Placement student, she never personally experienced block scheduling.
Block scheduling is an educational experiment for Regents students. Different schools throughout the country, as well as Clarke High School, are trying it, in the hope of raising SAT scores. The format is fairly simple. Students begin the program in the 11th grade. Instead of taking period classes, they take two periods of either social studies or English per term. At the end of each term, they take their SAT's on that subject, rather than wait until the end of the school year. Clarke has been involved in the program for the last three years. Manivannan wanted to see if the program was working academically.
"Sandhya statistically compared the scores from the SAT's the year before block scheduling to last years scores," Smyth said. "She also surveyed students and teachers on what they thought of it."
The 17-year-old said the results of her study show students participating in block scheduling received an overall 10-point increase in English scores and a 4-point increase in social studies. She said her surveys gleaned a mixed reaction from both teachers and students.
As for Manivannan, she has her own opinions on block scheduling.
"I think it is interesting and helpful, because students take Regents at the end of the semester [with block scheduling] and alleviate the end of the year test," Manivannan said. "I think this helps to relieve the overall pressure of testing."
Manivannan hopes to be a doctor someday. In the meantime, she is preparing to enter her project in the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair and the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. She is also hoping to make it into the next round and be one of the finalists for Intel.
"Kids weren't really interested in my project until they heard I was a semifinalist in Intel. Then everyone was interested and asked me all kinds of questions," she said.
