The numbers tell the story of the Lassonde School of Engineering's adoption of a block model delivery of classes - and it's a success by any measure.
York University's engineering block model - where students complete one subject at a time - led to a 70 per cent reduction in failure rates, a 108 per cent increase in the number of students scoring top grades and a 47 per cent reduction in unmanageable stress among students.
On top of that, there is a 45 per cent increase in students reporting they are able to complete their academic work on time, and instructors report a significant increase in student engagement which results in more active participation in class.
Typically, engineering students take 11 courses in their first year - five in the first term and six in the second. Students in the block model, however, take one subject at a time, rotating through subjects during 3.5-week blocks. The focus is on foundational subjects such as algebra, programming and calculus.
"We realized our students were going from one subject to another, every day," says Mojgan Jadidi, an associate professor of civil engineering and director of common engineering at Lassonde who oversees first-year engineering curriculum. "They had two, three, four or even five different courses, their lab and tutorial - and that's happening five days a week."
Feedback on the traditional model showed that first-year students were struggling, she says, indicating they were feeling overwhelmed and stressed out, unable to concentrate. To address this barrier to first-year learning, Lassonde introduced the block model in Fall 2023. Originally launching with 72 openings, the model expanded to include 150 - about one-quarter of the first-year class - in Fall 2025.
Coordinating this learning model involves team teaching, with faculty from different disciplines collaborating to design courses, Jadidi says. A team of faculty from engineering, physics, mathematics and computer science design the course tests with a focus on real-world engineering problems.
Jeff Harris, associate professor in the Lassonde School of Engineering, says York's model was inspired by the VU Block Model, developed by Victoria University, Melbourne, and the Block Plan at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Victoria University initially implemented block teaching across all first-year courses, eventually expanding it to all years.
With growing interest at Lassonde, Harris says York is considering adopting the block model for all first-year engineering students.
Students participating in the block model have two days of working at home with asynchronous material to study before class, followed by three days of in-class work. Professors provide students with videos to learn theory and foundational knowledge, preparing them for discussion and problem solving in class, Jadidi says. The videos include quizzes so students can ensure they have a solid understanding of the concepts.
Harris notes that the hybrid component also benefits students who commute to campus.
"We have students coming to campus three days a week instead of five," he says, noting it gives students more flexibility.
Harris says the learning advantage is that students advance their learning by building on each skill as they proceed. The modular design also distributes the workload evenly throughout the school year, and the hybrid work arrangement mimics the sort of workplace students may graduate into.
"This initiative marks a turning point in how institutions can redesign learning for today's students," says Sal Paneduro, director of educational innovation at Lassonde.
"We've spent five years building this model as a blueprint for systems change," says Paneduro. "The block model helps reframe the first-year experience to foster belonging and enable deeper learning. The pilot will continue with Phase 2: an integrative first-year curriculum developed with the Faculty of Science, grounded in problem-based learning and competency-based assessment. It's this kind of scalable innovation that positions Lassonde to lead, not just within York, but across a shifting post-secondary landscape."
York is the only engineering school in Canada to use block model curriculum, says Jadidi, who hopes it will distinguish York's engineering program from other schools.
"We are doing this for students' success in their journey at Lassonde," she says. "Definitely when the success goes up, that can be a key factor for student retention and recruitment."
This story was originally featured in YFile, York University's community newsletter.
