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October 16, 2006

Homework???

Finally, the debate is heating up again over the value of homework. Over the past few days I've seen a number of articles referencing new books and articles on the value of homework. Some of them talk about the value of homework in terms of the number of hours of homework different grades are required to do. There are anecdotal studies and a few scientific studies. However, most of them miss what I consider key issues in homework or any other assignment.

First of all, if their aim is to have students become better critical thinkers we need to make sure that all of our assignments encourage and support critical thinking. Too much of school and too much of homework fills time rather than pursuing goals. It's pretty easy to spot these kinds of things when you hear teachers talk about “sponge activities.” When I ask students about homework or even class work, many of them can't distinguish one class from another; they simply say “we did a worksheet" to describe math, social studies or English classes.

Second, it seems dangerous to me to send students off to complete tasks by themselves that they couldn't do well in the classroom. Under the watchful eye of a teacher, and veering off-track becomes a teachable moment. When left to themselves or assisted by parents who don't understand what is happened in the classroom, these same experiences become breeding grounds for incorrect strategies or misconceptions.

Wouldn't it be better if we all worked toward a time when school time was maximized to engage students in activities that really did move them forward in critical thinking? And, we made sure that all teachers were able to provide great assignments and great support.

Posted by Pat on October 16, 2006 11:44 AM