Week Four
What literature will inform your research?
Research
Questions: Would a different type of homework assignment increase
student completion rates?
In my
personal finance course, homework completion is very low. The students in
this class, who complete homework, routinely score higher on the
assessments. Therefore, I am wondering if I change the type of homework
assignment will I get a higher completion rate. I wonder, if I have a
higher completion rate for homework, will I then have a higher average on
assessment?
Below are
some resources that I have found:
"Technology that simply
transfers a gradual release—the “I do, we do, you do” structure—to an online
format is a form of passive learning that strips math of student agency and
rigor".
"Students
today cannot imagine a world without technology. It is embedded in their daily lives. So it is only natural that students expect to
have access to technology in the classroom".
"Two studies (Trautwein 2007 and Dettmers
et al. 2010) show a positive correlation between
high-quality homework and mathematics
achievement. Students who completed their
homework assignments scored better on assessments".
"We can enhance the learning process and
make concepts come alive through engaging and interactive media. We may also offer additional supports to
address the needs of all learners and create customized learning
experiences".
"Many teachers and parents
believe that homework helps students build study skills and review concepts
learned in class. Others see homework as
disruptive and unnecessary, leading to burnout and turning kids off to school. Decades of research show that the issue is
more nuanced and complex than most people think: Homework is beneficial, but
only to a degree. Students in high
school gain the most, while younger kids benefit much less".
"By high school the evidence shifts. Harris Cooper's
massive review found, in middle and high school, a positive correlation between
homework and student achievement on unit tests. It seems to help. But more is not always better. Cooper points out that, depending on the
subject and the age of the student, there is a law of diminishing returns. Again, he recommends the 10-minute rule".
"When
considering homework alternatives like the ones below, we may need to rethink
both the purpose and the method. In the end, perhaps its deliberate
practice, and not assessment, that the whole idea of homework should be
about. The assessment factor comes naturally as our learners work through
their own process of self-improvement". This website also give alternate homework
resources.
"Homework was linked to better test scores in high
school and, to a lesser degree, in middle school. But there is only faint evidence that homework
provided academic benefit in elementary school".
This article gives some alternatives to traditional homework.
This
website gives many different types of activities for personal finance.
This activity on page 24 caught my attention because we are currently studying
home mortgages. This activity gave some information and then asked
student to write a scenario that would fit one of the descriptions.
Here are
some examples of budget templates that I could use as an alternate homework
assignment. I could have students keep track of their expenses for a week
(or two) and then use excel to graph their data.
This
workbook had some alternate activities that I could send home with students. One I liked is a survey on attitudes about
money (pg. 25) Students take the survey, find out what they are
characterized as and then have to answer some questions and write a response.
How the
market works is an online simulation of the stock market. Teachers can
create an account and have students play against each other. Besides the
simulation, there are pre-built activities and lessons for students to
participate in.
Great post here Keri. I really like your action research question and think you make a strong connection between the rate of homework completion and students' grades. I go back and forth on giving homework but in the end I do see it as a way for students to receive the extra practice time that we don't have in class at home. I hope that you are able to find ways to make the homework assignments more appealing and engaging for all of your students. I also think you have some great pieces of literature right here. Some of these articles even look like ones I have probably read before (Edutopia, Teachhub, Wabisabi, ). I am excited to see how it all comes together for you. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the post. My feeling about homework is if you don't practice at all by yourself and the first time you have to do a question without help is a quiz or test, then you are probably going to struggle. If I can just a little more out of the students away from class, I really believe they will be more successful.
DeleteHi Keri,
ReplyDeleteI looked at one of your resources, and noticed that manipulatives were referred to as technology. This sits well with me. One thing I do want to ask you is, do your students have electronic homework or is in in math books/ pencil paper. Personal finance seems to lend toward using budgets, so I expect your students use spreadsheets. Do they practice filling out tax forms? Sounds interesting.
Carrie
Currently all of their homework is pencil/paper. I would love to have more options for types of homework (spreadsheet, reading/response, podcast etc.) and I'm hoping that this research will push me to be more creative in the type of homework I assign. Thanks for your thoughts.
DeleteI couldn't agree more! My school has a no homework policy which I am on the fence about. Many of my students don't get enough time during school to practice what we are working on and they need that extra time outside of school to develop their skills. I am not into giving homework just for the sake of keeping students busy but I do feel it plays a strong role in a child's developmental skills.
DeleteHi Keri,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy your research question and definitely understand where it is coming from being a math teacher. I have had to resort in making every out of class assignment taking less than 15 minutes. That has drastically increased completion rates. It also helps that we have a 30 minute independent practice period where students can go to any teachers room to get help with homework. The majority of my students finish their "homework" assignments there. I am really interested to see what you find to increase the rate of finished homework.
I feel that most of my assignments can be completed in under 30 minutes if a student sits down and gets to work. We usually have time in class to get started and even that has not motivated some students.
DeleteHi Kerri,
ReplyDeleteInteresting topic. I am curious about the students homework habits from earlier years. The ones who are doing well- did they complete assignments when they were younger? For those who don't complete assignments- is this a trend? Can the assignments be completed on their phones using apps? I know personal finance would have helped me at that age.
I don't know for certain about homework trends from past years, but I can say confidently that it was probably about the same. Currently their homework is pencil/paper. I'm hoping to find some ways to use their phones/apps for some upcoming assignments. Thanks for the question.
DeleteKeri,
ReplyDeleteI know I will learn something from this action research.
My paper and pen homework from the book has great turn in rate. My packet homework is about 50% and my electronic homework (excel) is 40%.
I have found that the word problem style of homework is disliked very much. The students really need help understanding what is being asked when a lot of information is given.
What materials are you using for personal finance?