Pros and Cons of Time Constraints

While setting up projects, it is often common to allocate a certain amount of time for each section of a project to be completed. For example, a student will have one day to research online, one day for drafting a report, one day for editing, one day for sharing, etc. Timelines are an important part of the planning process, and teachers use them to avoid wasting as little of their precious classroom time as possible. But beyond efficient use of time, deadlines also provide students with a clear objective and goal for each day. Unfortunately, teachers are not always able to predict how much time a task takes. Technology problems, lack of resources, confusion, and a myriad of other problems can strike when least expected. Then there is the problem all teachers face with students working at different paces. Some may finish quickly while others will struggle to meet the deadline. It's a delicate balancing act that will require teachers to be prepared and to think ahead.