Homework remains a staple of many students鈥� educational experiences. But what do we know about the rationale for why teachers and schools assign it?
The results of a recent survey by the EdWeek Research Center reveal a wide range of motivations鈥攕ome focused on building students鈥� academic skills, some not.
The results are based on a nationally representative, online survey conducted by the EdWeek Research Center in December and January of 279 teachers.
The 糖心动漫vlog surveyed were asked what they see as the major reasons for assigning homework and were given a list of options. They were allowed to select any that applied.
When asked for the major reasons they believe students should be given those assignments, the largest portion of those surveyed, 51%, said homework raises the chances that students will master concepts by forcing them to practice.
Harris Cooper, a professor emeritus at Duke University鈥檚 department of psychology and neuroscience, said it鈥檚 natural that 糖心动漫vlog would see out-of-school assignments as an opportunity for a check-in on subject-matter knowledge.
鈥淗omework allows teachers to monitor students鈥� skill acquisition on a regular basis and adjust instruction accordingly,鈥� he said, 鈥渘ot just when they give tests, which may be too late.鈥�
Another major reason for assigning homework, picked by 50% of respondents, was strikingly different: That it teaches students discipline or responsibility.
Fewer of those surveyed, 31%, said that they assign out-of-school lessons because they shape instruction by helping the teacher pinpoint areas of student understanding and misunderstanding.
And the same percentage of respondents said a big reason they assign homework is to prepare students for tests.
Using homework to measure skills and teach responsibility can be tricky
Denise Pope, a senior lecturer at Stanford University鈥檚 graduate school of education, said measuring outcomes like mastery of concepts through the completion of homework, or using those assignments to teach students responsibility, is tricky under the best of circumstances.
She added that the process of giving out take-home assignments, on its own, means very little.
鈥淲e have no idea who is making sure the kid is doing the homework, making sure the homework is in the backpack,鈥� she said.
Pope added that there is no guarantee that the student is the one completing the homework.
鈥�AI can do your homework if you are privileged enough to have AI available. Your mom could do your homework, your teacher could do your homework, you could copy your homework from your friends,鈥� said Pope.
Other factors when considering homework assignments
The survey question was one of several that the EdWeek Research Center has put before teachers about homework over the past year. An earlier EdWeek story looked at whether the amount of homework teachers are assigning has risen or fallen over the past two years.
It found that more 糖心动漫vlog say the amount of homework being assigned has declined during that time period.
Another homework decision schools and 糖心动漫vlog need to weigh is whether assignments should factor into students鈥� final grades.
One reason schools may be assigning less homework is that researchers say it serves more as a proxy for privilege rather than how much students know or how motivated they are, according to EdWeek reporting.
Students who have less access to at-home resources, such as help from a parent or time if they have to work an after-school job, can be at a disadvantage.
What effective homework can look like
Pope suggests homework should be differentiated according to what students know and can do, without creating assignments that make students overly reliant on schools or parents.
If homework asks students to extend and apply knowledge鈥攁nd it is engaging鈥攖hen 鈥渋t鈥檚 developmentally appropriate,鈥� she said.
One potential benefit from homework鈥攚hich is not listed as an option on the EdWeek survey鈥攊s that those lessons can provide an avenue for teachers to stay in touch with parents, said Harris.
Homework can show parents 鈥渨hat is being taught, and let them see how their child is progressing academically,鈥� said Harris.
Data analysis for this article was provided by the EdWeek Research Center. Learn more about the center鈥檚 work.
