Homework or busywork?
Is it homework or busywork?
In a presentation, that I had the chance to look at (unfortunately, it is no more online), Marisa Constantinides, teacher educator, tries to answer the following questions about homework:
- Why do teachers assign homework?
- What is the rationale behind homework?
- What considerations should be taken into account when assigning homework?
- How much of it should be assigned?
- Does research support it?
- What are the different types of homework?
- What are some examples of good homework?
To answer the above questions, it is worthwhile defining what homework is.
What is a homework?
Homework refers to any out-of-class tasks assigned to students as an extension or elaboration of classroom work. There are three major categories of homework:
- practice,
- preparation,
- and extension.
Why homework is needed?
Some of the reasons why homework is assigned:
- Homework trains learners to study outside the confinement of the classroom. It builds self-discipline and autonomy.
- It trains learners to use resources such as dictionaries and grammar reference books.
- It develops problem-solving abilities.
- It offers a chance for the learners to practice some of the receptive skills such as extensive reading and listening.
Why homework can be busywork?
Why homework can be an unnecessary chore:
- Kids need time to relax, play, and have fun.
- Too much homework can result in students copying and cheating.
- Pointless homework may become busywork.
- Difficult homework can lead to the development of a negative impression of a subject.
