Oh, how many battles have been fought over homework assignments! The debate over this academic staple has been ongoing since the inception of the education system. Does homework improve academic achievement? Do students need to do anything at home? These questions frequently pop up on Reddit and other platforms as people continue to ask them, hoping to spark a new trend to cancel such assignments. So, does homework really work? Let's find the answer to this question together!
What's the meaning of homework?
Homework can be defined as activities teachers give learners and are meant to be completed after the normal school day. Such assignments may be of different types, for example, reading tasks, problem-solving ones, essays, projects, etc. Homework aims to practice the content taught in class so that the students get an environment different from the classroom to practice.
What homework thus means is not merely a reiteration of the classroom activities. It is essential in encouraging self-learning and developing the student's analytical abilities. Furthermore, homework also assists students in developing other life skills. So, how much homework should students do? It depends on your educational institution and major.
Does homework really work? The time spent on homework by students depends on the grade level, content area, and learners' learning progress rate. How much time do you spend on homework? Elementary students could handle such papers in 20-30 minutes, while middle and high school students should spend 1-3 hours daily based on their classes and other activities.
What's the relationship between homework and academic achievement?
The answer to this question can be quite nuanced. The fact is that the type of assignment itself is not a direct booster of any student skill. Does homework improve academic achievement? Yeah, it does! Homework serves as an element that allows for a comprehensive improvement in the academic approach to acquiring new knowledge. However, here are some ways homework can affect academic achievement:
- It allows students to reinforce what they have learned in class.
- It can help students develop good study & research habits.
- It enables students to work independently and focus on crucial areas.
- It can foster parental involvement in a child's education.
- It can help students prepare for upcoming lessons.
However, we all know how low students' motivation can be when they have to write 2-3 pages daily, repeating everything already covered in class. Unfortunately, this is an integral part of the academic process that must be accepted. So, it is time to improve academic achievement!
Why students don't like homework assignments and how to fix that trend
The benefits of homework are often overshadowed by the fact that students find it a bothersome and tedious task that takes too much of their personal time and results in burnout and stress. Originally designed to help students reinforce knowledge they obtained in class, homework is nevertheless universally regarded as boring, tiring, and completely ineffective. So, what are the causes of this natural aversion and what can be done to shift the students’ perspective and reinforce the importance of homework to learners?
Why students disregard the concept of homework and find it unlikable:
- Loss of personal time. An average student spends up to eight hours at school. Every day, they wake up, get dressed, and go to school where they need to be fully engaged and socialize with their peers for an extended period. It is natural that upon coming home, these very same students crave time for themselves and their hobbies, and homework is viewed as something that intrudes upon these activities.
- Lack of relevance. Many students feel like homework is so out of touch with real life that it is automatically rendered useless. They believe that what teachers provide them with is busywork - an activity that keeps you occupied but has no real value and makes no sense in a long-term perspective.
- Difficulty balancing responsibilities. Students tasked with homework assignments already struggle with family duties, personal responsibilities, and extracurricular activities. If they don’t have the knowledge of basic time management skills, balancing homework and social life can become overwhelming.
- One-size-fits-all approach to students. A simplistic approach to homework often found in traditional learning can discourage students from making an effort. Those who find the material too easy often get bored halfway through the process, while students who struggle may find that the teacher’s pacing and the amount of workload is just too much. The outcome leaves both parties deeply dissatisfied.
How to make homework more appealing:
- Make it serve a purpose. Does homework help students learn? Homework is indeed helpful, but it takes effort and time to explain the value behind each assignment. Once students understand how each task serves a purpose and helps them achieve their goals, they are more willing to complete the assignment without pressure.
- Make it creative and exciting. Whole worksheets and reading passages have proved to be effective in the past, students no longer feel the need to cater to traditional forms of learning. Incorporating multimedia tools and project-based learning can spark the student’s interest and improve their engagement.
- Provide a freedom of choice. Providing students with a sense of control, however limited, can enhance their academic performance and productivity and help them see homework as a collaborative effort. This includes allowing students to choose their own essay topics and timeframes for completing homework assignments (within reason).
- Offer support and feedback. Students need to feel supported on their educational journey. If the teachers make a conscious effort to provide regular check-ins and deliver constructive feedback, students will find themselves more motivated to view their homework assignments as helpful rather than tedious.
Why essay writing services can be a game changer
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By knowing how to handle your homework, you will experience less stress in the future. Additionally, delegating papers helps to cope with force majeure situations when you don't have time for writing activities. Every EssayMarket review you read is another reason to consider writing companies as a 911 service that can handle unexpected academic problems. Does homework help improve grades? Yep, it’s much better than standing still and doing nothing.
Benefits of homework
Despite ongoing arguments about homework usefulness and value, it offers several significant benefits to students:
Academic benefits
Academic benefits of homework include the ability to memorize information and understand complex material through repetition of concepts and terminology. According to recent studies, students who remain diligent with their homework tasks and complete their assignments on time are more likely to score higher on standardized tests and generally have better grades than their peers who dismiss homework as having little value. This increases the probability of being accepted into prestigious colleges and builds student confidence.
Development of life skills
Does homework improve academic achievement? Without a doubt. However, it also enhances personal discipline and time management abilities. Over time, students learn how to organize their schedules independently and plan their study routines without interference. These experiences, including the ability to organize their workload without supervision, mirror real-world situations in the workplace and higher education. For example, having to juggle multiple tasks at once teaches students to set priorities and manage their time effectively. Homework and student performance have an influence that goes beyond the traditional classroom.
Homework assignments as an academic booster
Do not take homework assignments as the seal of Baphomet or an ancient witch's curse. This is part of the educational process. Treat it like a game with achievements that are very difficult to unlock. But when you succeed in such an activity, you will be proud of what you have done. Show motivation, and you will receive high grades. Do not fear what hundreds of generations of your ancestors have gone through! Plus, you always have fallback options like delegating assignments. Keep this in mind during your next writing session at home. Your studies await!