Rethinking Homeworkin light of technology

Why and How Homework?

Why give it?

How do we design it?

How do we make it something they want to do?

http://helfantpd.wikispaces.com/

Typical Beliefs about Homework

Serves to extend learning beyond classroom

Intellectual ability is intrinsically more valuable than nonintellectual

Homework teaches responsibility (or obedience?)

Lots of homework is consistent with rigorous program

Good teachers give HW and good students do it

What the Research Says?

Amount of time spent on homework is positively correlated to achievement

Homework appears to be more effective for older students (15+)

As more variables are controlled for, + correlation is diminished

There appears to be an optimum amount of HW at each grade level

Tenets of LearningQuality teaching matters

Skills require practice

Time on task matters (we might need to redefine the tasks )

Quality of task is as important as time

Learning is individual

Children differ in readiness and developmental level

Children differ in learning styles

Children differ in motivation, persistence, and organizational skills (executive function)

Frustration is detrimental to motivation and desire to learn

Homework that is not completed does not help learning

What about Grading?

Once the number is attached the learning stops

Grade should reflect learning not behavior

We must ask:

Why don’t they do their homework?

What is the effect on future learning?

How do I meet the needs of individual learners?

THERE AREN’T EASY ANSWERS!

Value Added HW

Needs to be done to be successful

Doesn’t cause frustration

Enhances the classroom experience

Meets each student where they are

Has a student Hook

No Option to Take a Zero – Must Be Done

Homework HelpersTechnology Enhanced Homework

Consider HW as Formative AssessmentFeedback over Grading

Use to determine lesson plan as much as to assess

students

Google Forms

Moodle Forums

Electronically Provided Feedback

QuiaWebAssign

MoodleSchoology

WolframAlpha

Drill and Practice

Differentiating HW

Homework tasks that are too difficult are a major demotivator (Tomlinson 2003, Vatterott 2003)

DiigoGraphic Organizers-

MyWebspiration

Note:Boring is bad too-

Tiered Learning Objects

LAMSUdutu

Raptivity

Online Discussions

Ning Alternatives EdmodoMoodle

Schoology

Diigo Groups

Peer Review

Mahara

Shared Copy Grading

Expertiza

Review Basics

A move to metacognition

Self Assessment

•Portfolios

•Online Journals/Learning Blogs

•Google Forms – Daily Update

•Key Idea

•What you struggled with

•Question you still have or skill you need to work on

A Radical ChangeMove the Lecture and Tutorial to HW

Podcasting (2)

Screencasting

Tegrity Lite

iTunes U

Open Source Courses