For some college students, the opportunity to sleep in is a hot commodity.
These same students — desperate for an extra hour or two of shut-eye — might find justification in a new study touting the benefits of later starts to their school days.
The study, spearheaded by professors from the University of Nevada–Reno and Open University in the United Kingdom, first looked at when students wanted to start their days while considering brain function and peak function for college students.
Researchers found that colleges should, for the most part, start classes in the latter part of the morning, around 11 a.m. — a time when most students are “at their best.”
“We want the students to learn,” University of Nevada professor Mariah Evans, who co-authored the study, told NPR. “We go to great lengths to increase academic performance with methods that are less effective than the free solution of just changing the timings.”
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According to the study, most college students aren’t morning people. In the study, students were asked, “Do you consider yourself a morning or an evening person?” A quarter of the students said they were morning people while about half said they were “probably evening” or “definitely an evening” person.
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In further research, the study found students had higher rates of functionality during the later morning, around 11 a.m. and noon. At 8 a.m. — when most colleges start classes — students were at nearly half the functionality they’d be at if classes started around 11 a.m. There are also higher levels of productivity that last longer than classes typically run, often when students are studying and doing homework.
Ultimately, the study suggests that students who are more productive at night should start their days later.
The study suggest there is no real overall optimal time for students to start class, as it depends on the individual and what they prefer. Overall, though, colleges should consider having students start later in the day as they will be able to get more out of their education.
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Colleges Should Start Classes Later in the Day, Study Says originally appeared on usnews.com
