Homework

What is it??? Homework is defined as tasks assigned to students by school teachers that are meant to be carried out during non- school hours

Distinctions in Homework Assignments

Homework can be classified according to... (1) its amount: the frequency and length of assignments (2) its purpose: instructional and noninstructional (3) the skill area utilized (e.g.. read, submit written products, perform practice drill)

And... (4) the degree of individualization (are assignments tailored to meet the needs of each student?) (5) the degree of choice permitted the student (are assignments compulsory or voluntary?) (6) completion deadlines (long-term or short-term?) (7) social context (is the assignment to be done independently or cooperatively?)

Effects of Homework

Positive Effects Immediate achievement and learning –Better retention of factual knowledge –Increased understanding –Better critical thinking, concept formation, information-processing –Curriculum enrichment Long-term academic –Encourage learning during leisure time –Improved attitude toward school –Better study habits and skills

Nonacademic –Greater self-direction –Greater self-discipline –Better time organization –More inquisitiveness –More independent problem-solving Greater parental appreciation of and involvement in schooling

Negative Effects Satiation –Loss of interest in academic material –Physical and emotional fatigue Denial of access to leisure-time and community activities Parental interference –Pressure to complete assignments and perform well –Confusion of instructional techniques

Cheating –Copying from other students –Help beyond tutoring Increased differences between high and low achievers

Factors influencing the effectiveness of homework

Exogenous Factors Student characteristics Student ability Student motivation Student study habits Subject matter Grade level

Assignment Characteristics Amount Purpose Skill area utilized Degree of individualization Degree of student choice Completion deadlines Social context

Initial Classroom Factors Provision of materials Facilitators Suggested approaches Links to curriculum Other rationales

Home-Community Factors Competitors for student time Home environment, space, light, noise, and materials Involvement of others-- parents, siblings, other students

Classroom Follow-Up Feedback-- written comments, grading, incentives Testing of related content Use in class discussion

Outcomes or Effects Assignment completion Assignment performance Positive effects (noted above) Negative effects (noted above)

Effectiveness of Homework

Three types of homework research can be used to help draw conclusions about the overall effectiveness of the practice The three topics are the comparisons of homework and no treatment, homework and in-class supervised study, and the relationship between time spent on homework and academic-related outcomes

Findings... The average student doing more homework outperforms about 65% of students doing less homework Homework had a more positive, but small, effect on academic-related measures than did the form of supervised study offered by researchers as its appropriate equivalent The average student doing homework outperformed about 60% of students not doing homework

Summary of Findings Concerning Variations in Homework Time on homework –For elementary school, no effect –For junior high school, positive effect up to hours a week –For high school, no effect until 1-5 hours, then positive effect Instructional purpose –Preparation and/or practice more effective than current-content only –Few data on other purposes

Skill area utilized –Not enough data to draw conclusions Degree of individualization –No difference between individual versus group assignments –More data needed on possible interactions Degree of student choice –Not enough data to draw conclusions Parent involvement –Poor methodology prevents conclusions

Teacher instructional and evaluative comments, grade –No data on effectiveness per se –No difference in effect of different strategies Incentives –Poor methodology prevents conclusions