Which statement correctly contrasts Clock Hour and Contact Hour?

Which statement correctly contrasts Clock Hour and Contact Hour?

• A. Clock Hour is defined as a 60-minute instructional period.
• B. Clock Hour is defined as a 50-minute instructional period.
• C. Contact Hour is defined as a 60-minute instructional period.
• D. Contact Hour is defined as a 70-minute instructional period.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is the difference between clock time and instructional contact time. A clock hour is a 60-minute block of time, used to measure actual elapsed time in scheduling and reporting. Contact hours, on the other hand, count the amount of instructional interaction, and are typically defined as about 50 minutes of instruction per contact hour in many systems. Therefore, the statement that a clock hour is a 60-minute instructional period is the correct one. The other options mix up the durations or misstate the nature of a contact hour (50 minutes, not 60, and 70 minutes isn’t a standard definition).

The key idea is the difference between clock time and instructional contact time. A clock hour is a 60-minute block of time, used to measure actual elapsed time in scheduling and reporting. Contact hours, on the other hand, count the amount of instructional interaction, and are typically defined as about 50 minutes of instruction per contact hour in many systems. Therefore, the statement that a clock hour is a 60-minute instructional period is the correct one. The other options mix up the durations or misstate the nature of a contact hour (50 minutes, not 60, and 70 minutes isn’t a standard definition).