Pacing in Class+

Implicit Pacing:

Implicit pacing serves as the default method of tracking progress within the Genius platform. For instance, if a student is enrolled in a 20-week course that contains a total of 60 assignments, the system automatically calculates that the student needs to complete three assignments each week to stay on track. This calculation is achieved by dividing the total number of assignments by the total number of weeks, which results in a weekly pacing guideline. This information is readily available to students and parents through the Pacing page, allowing them to monitor progress straightforwardly.

In scenarios where students may enroll at different times, such as during rolling admissions, implicit pacing becomes particularly valuable. For example, suppose two students in the same course section start on various dates. In that case, it can be challenging for a teacher to determine how many assignments each student should have completed at any given moment. However, by utilizing implicit pacing—dividing the total assignments by the total weeks—the system ensures that each student’s pacing is accurately reflected, regardless of when they enrolled. This means that even if one student joins the course two weeks later than another, their pacing will still be adjusted accordingly to keep them on track.

Explicit Pacing:

Explicit pacing, on the other hand, requires the teacher or another authorized individual to define a specific weekly pacing structure. For instance, a teacher might decide that for a 20-week course, a student should complete one assignment in the first week, followed by three assignments in the second week, two assignments in the third week, and so forth throughout the course's duration. This tailored approach enables a more personalized learning experience that can cater to diverse student needs and course objectives.

Note: It's important to clarify that while the teacher must set the number of assignments to be completed each week, they do not need to specify which particular assignments those will be. This setup is managed at the course level by selecting the course, navigating to the "Master Pacing" page, and then choosing an appropriate pacing structure.

Implicit pacing, as the default configuration, is designed to facilitate easy tracking of student progress. By automatically dividing the total number of assignments by the number of weeks allocated for the course, it provides a clear expectation of workload. For example, with 60 assignments spread over 20 weeks, the system indicates that students should aim to complete three assignments each week. Below, you will find various images that illustrate how pacing appears within the courses.

The following examples showcase images of implicit pacing as seen from the student dashboard. Students can view their actual completed assignments in comparison to the expected assignments they should have completed, based on the overall course duration. To access their pacing information, students can navigate to the Student’s Tab, select Pacing, and look under the Enrollments block in the left navigation menu.

Explicit pacing comes into play when a teacher or authorized user specifies a precise weekly pacing plan. The initial step in establishing explicit pacing involves defining this pacing at the course level on the master pacing page. To do this, click on the Courses tab and then select Master Pacing, located under the Sections and Pacing block in the left navigation menu.

This section is dedicated to setting up explicit pacing. If a pacing structure already exists, it can be selected from a drop-down menu. Alternatively, one can click on “Add new pace” to create a new master pacing setup tailored to the course's needs.

Once you have chosen or created the master pacing for the number of weeks, you can then enter the expected number of assignments that students should complete each week. This enables a structured approach to learning that can be tailored to the course's objectives and the students’ progress.

Note: As previously mentioned, the teacher is not required to indicate which specific assignments must be completed; instead, they only need to specify the number of assignments due each week. In the example provided below, you will notice that the number of assignments owed can vary from week to week, highlighting the flexibility that explicit pacing offers.