*Homework is given as an opportunity to grow at home, however some see it as an obligation or in some schools it is still given as a disciplinary measure.
Teachers spend a significant amount of extra time in their planning process to make sure that the homework assignment increases the student’s grasp of a specific topic and also to help them realize their own progress in relation to the knowledge they have acquired.
Homework is undeniably a very important part of the teaching and learning process. as new technologies are introduced in today’s classrooms, homework has to evolve as well. The 10-minute rule is a new concept which is changing the way teachers have to plan their homework assignments, as well as how lessons will be taught, this rule bases the amount of assignments given in relation to the grade level the student is attending.
This may raise issues for debate and encourage the whole community to discuss whether the amount of homework given concludes the learning objective of a topic. However, some schools today have removed homework as it has somewhat proven to be more productive in the pedagogical project. Others have discussed that the no-homework policy, is non-beneficial to students, as there is no guarantee that students will use their free time productively.
Homework and lesson planning
A common piece of feedback from teachers and their coordinators is that assignments need to be adjusted to force students to complete them. Others even, assign the work since the class activity was not continued or it was occupied in a lecturer time. Teachers have to clarify that lessons (after a significant amount of planning, improving, and implementing) have to have a clear expectation.
To overcome this, teachers have to explore new technology learning tools which will support them in their planning and teaching process. Tools such as Planbook or Kahoot helps them to implement dynamic ways of teaching to help motivate and improve the students ́ learning process. Also, in the planning and teaching process teachers must make sure that:
- Students develop autonomy and responsibility
Since homework is a time for reinforcing knowledge and for learning without a teacher’s guidance, it opens up the challenge for students to feel like they can execute the knowledge they have acquired during classroom sessions autonomously, but to also build on their own problem-solving skills. Properly delivering an assignment enforces students to organize themselves on time and ensure the quality of their own work.
- Learning stimulates a formation of themselves
By completing assignments autonomously, students can identify that some skill sets and subjects are well understood, while certain areas of themselves need more attention – having the skill of reflecting on their strengths and weaknesses is very valuable. This stimulates students to ask more questions in class the next day, search for reading supporting texts, wanting to do more activities in relation to the topics they are viewing, have a better understanding and, eventually, concluding more adequately the learning objective of a class or class topic.
- Homework allows students to practice the skills learned
Lessons learned in class play a role in familiarizing students with the knowledge and procedures needed to complete them. Furthermore, homework adds contribution to the systematization and appropriation of concepts. However, the biggest challenge are the roadblocks students face – In this context, a service such as Studypool can assist with overcoming these roadblocks as it helps students connect with experienced tutors who can help them tackle difficult homework tasks or guide them to the successful completion of unclear assignments.
Other ways to improve the teaching process and lessons:
Redesign classes based on learning assessments
By analyzing the implementation of the task, with all the mistakes and results, the teacher and the coordinator will know if there is content that needs to be further taught and explained with a different approach or methodology with a different approach.
When young people become aware that their mistakes provide valuable information for teachers, this will create a climate where queries, doubts and misunderstandings are not seen as problems, but rather they will show that new solutions can be sought by the pedagogical team and that learning really took place.
Planning training
Permanent monitoring of homework by the coordinator reveals the content and didactics needed to be included in the collective teaching schedule.
If learning goals are clear to the whole community and also to students, it is very important that the task is well-planned and that it makes sense. This would help the class to realize the value of the school assignments of the subject and how important it is to achieve the learning objectives.
In terms of the discipline or topic, they must all have the following characteristics:
- Relationship with the content being studied
- Challenges can be achieved
- Diverse proposals
- Compliance with individual needs
- Clarity in purpose and orientation
- Balance in quantity
In conclusion, homework assignments are given to help achieve the learning objectives as well as to give students an opportunity to apply the knowledge they have acquired. With the proper help and with all lesson concepts being clarified, new learning tools can be rightfully implemented by the pedagogical team in order to achieve these goals. When a proper lesson planning procedure becomes part of the lecturer’s routine, a more positive approach may lead to implement better home activities that can reassure an adequate learning process that meets the expectations of students and learners of every level.
We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!
