Homework has played a central role in children’s school experiences for decades (if not centuries). Many valid reasons are being brought to light lately in favour of banning homework, but is going to that extreme the right move? Discover the reasons why homework still has some benefits to offer students.
Key Takeaways
- Homework is a valuable tool for academic learning
- The biggest problem with homework is the amount (too much) and the quality, not the idea of homework itself
- Primary students and secondary students have different homework needs that should be respected
Homework Can Help Students In School and Beyond
While many students, and some parents, would rather not have to worry about take-home assignments, homework can play a pivotal role in education.
Homework is intended to help students engage with their classroom learning, practise valuable life skills, and prepare for university. It’s important to note that most ‘traditional’ homework is really only appropriate for secondary school students; primary schoolers are typically too young to gain any benefit from academically-heavy homework.
Here are a few of the main reasons why homework is a valuable activity for students.
Homework has been a staple in education for centuries. The reason it has stuck around is that educators can clearly see the benefit. Even if it needs an upgrade, homework is a concept that will stick around for many years to come.
Homework Helps Reinforce Classroom Learning
One of the ways the human brain integrates new information is with spaced repetition. Having students re-engage with ideas from class again at a later time (preferably the next day or the next few days) helps the information get retained. Homework also allows students to engage with the material in a different way through hands-on projects, essay-writing, etc.
This is the top reason among the benefits of homework academic performance.
Homework Correlates with Student Achievement
While it’s not yet possible to prove a definitive link between homework and grades and test scores, data suggest that students who complete a reasonable amount of homework (usually less than an hour) per night tend to score higher on exams. This benefit allows students to climb higher academically. It can also translate into a student’s higher morale for academics in general, leading to more engagement in the classroom.
Homework Can Develop Good Study Habits and Life Skills
Taking stock of what needs to be done, planning when it will be completed and how to complete it, and executing the plan are extremely valuable life skills. Homework allows students to practise time management, organisation, self-motivation, and independent learning and problem-solving. These skills will help them succeed in university and in their professional (and personal) lives.
Fosters a Love of Learning
Done right, homework can spark students’ interest in learning on their own for fun. An interesting homework assignment can easily inspire a child to repeat the assignment again for a different topic.
Having a practice of active learning at home can translate into continued learning and self-study after high school or university graduation.
Homework Gives Parents the Opportunity to Be Involved
Many parents, especially hands-on parents, value understanding what their child is learning at school. Sending assignments home helps parents feel more involved and knowledgeable about their child’s school experiences. Furthermore, it can help them understand their child’s strengths and weaknesses so they can be better prepared to help their child as school gets harder.
It’s also a valuable opportunity for parents to observe their child’s academic abilities, and may even clue parents into any learning disabilities.
Why Do Some People Want to Ban Homework?
In recent years, many countries, school systems, and individual classrooms have opted to move away from assigning homework. Some people are even calling for an outright ban on homework, claiming the negatives vastly outweigh any positives.
Too much homework is associated with consequential problems for students, including
- Academic burnout
- Depression and anxiety
- Family conflict
- Not having enough time for important things in life
The biggest complaint about homework, from students, parents, and teachers, is when there is simply too much of it. Especially in secondary school, students may have several in-depth assignments for their advanced classes.
If schools adhere to the recommended “10-minute rule,” Year 12 students will have 2 hours of homework per night to complete. This is obviously far too much work to regularly expect a student to do, all while balancing other important things in life.
Low-quality, time-consuming assignments are the heart of the issue in the homework debate.
If teachers assign a reasonable amount of effective homework, the effect on students and parents, as well as teachers who have to grade homework, can be vastly improved.
Homework itself is not what those in favour of banning homework have a problem with. The issue lies in harmful homework practices that are causing too much stress on students, leading to lasting negative outcomes. The homework issue is part of the larger debate about education and how it needs to be changed to better serve students and society.
How Homework Can Be Most Effective
In the arguments against homework, the biggest problems appear to be in reference to the amount of homework given and the quality.
There’s no doubt that too much homework or assignments with no value are not helpful to students. However, if students are only given high-value assignments when they are necessary or prudent, the real benefits of homework will shine.
The type of homework suitable for different years and ages, subjects, specific classrooms, and students should be at the discretion of the teacher.
Here are some of the ways the current homework system can be upgraded to be more efficient, effective, and beneficial for today’s students.
Alternative Homework Options
Especially for primary school students, research shows that homework like essay writing and long lists of math problems does more harm than good. Childhood development researchers recommend that children in primary school not get any homework assignments at all.
Instead, students should be encouraged to do activities that prepare them for planning homework in high school.
Popular alternative homework options for young students include
- Read a book with a family member
- Play outside
- Learn a new skill, like cooking
- Visit a new place in town
This way, students can practice communicating “homework” assignments with their parents, scheduling them, and get used to taking time for additional school-related activities at home.
High-Value Assignments
To improve homework effectiveness, teachers must understand exactly why they are giving an assignment, and they must be able to properly judge how long it will take students to complete. A “less is more” attitude is valuable here. Teachers should focus on giving a handful of questions that specifically target the topic and prepare students for the next lesson. If 5 maths problems will help reiterate what students learned in class that day, there’s no need to assign 25 problems.
The other principle for high-quality assignments is “increased frequency, decreased duration.” Teachers should focus on assigning short tasks more often, rather than longer assignments. Spaced repetition is more effective than long, frustrating sessions. Plus, the short time it takes to complete the assignment creates positive momentum and an interest in learning.
Another helpful tip for teachers? Explain to students why they’re receiving an assignment. Is it meant to give them practice for what they learned that day? Is it to prepare them for the next lesson, or allow them to study for a test? When students are kept in the loop about why what they’re doing is important, it gives them more incentive to complete the work and helps them understand what kinds of things they should value in their own education.
Building trust between teachers and students is an effective way to improve academics, as evidenced by Finland's approach to education.
The consensus is clear: quality matters more than quantity. Short, well-designed assignments are far more effective than lengthy, poorly constructed ones, which risk undermining learning altogether. Assigning homework that spark a student’s interest and creativity tend to engage them more effectively.
The Centre for Educational Neuroscience
Connect Homework to Long-Term Projects
Secondary school students will likely always have some homework as part of their learning, since they need to learn a lot more intricate subjects than primary schoolers, as well as prepare for independent learning in university.
Instead of stressful short-term projects, like essays, that regularly change focus or can be repetitive, try creating a capstone-like homework series. For subjects that are compatible with this type of approach, give students assignments that connect each week. For example, in the first week, they might be given a list of topics relating to the subject to choose from. In the second week, they might create an idea web about the topics relating to their choice. By the end of the semester, term, or year, the students can have a fleshed-out essay or project.
Allow Students to Experiment
Give students an open-ended prompt for their homework and allow them to complete it in their own way. For example, they could make a drawing, diagram, or even a short film about the parts of a cell. Since every student learns best in a different way (visual, auditory, reading and writing, kinaesthetic), allowing them to engage with material in the way that works best for their brain allows them to absorb information better and discover more about their own learning style.
Teach Students and Parents About Homework and Study Skills
An often overlooked problem in schools is that students and parents are expected to have the skills, mindset, and understanding required for academic success. Yet, many students and parents are simply treading water.
Having an explainer at the beginning of the year, or during a parent-teacher conference, about how to stay organised with a diary, planner, or calendar, how to create an environment at home that helps students study, and how to develop effective learning skills can go a long way.
Keep Equity In Mind
Some students may not have access to things like a computer or a stable internet connection, a phenomenon known as the digital divide. Others may not have attentive parents or a quiet place to work. Some students may have a part-time job or are expected to help out around the house for many hours each day.
Additionally, many students also have illnesses, injuries, or cognitive or learning disabilities that may affect their ability to complete homework.
Teachers who keep all this in mind when creating assignments can help prevent academic inequities, since students who struggle with these things might get more demoralised rather than feel success, leading to even worse outcomes at school.
Overall, it is not homework itself that is the root of the complaints against homework; it’s too much homework, and assignments that are too low-quality.
The simple solution is to revamp the approach to homework, making sure that it acts as a valuable addition to a student’s workload. Paired with effective teaching in class, reasonable amounts of effective assignments are a boon to students, not a bane.
References
- Boryga, A. (2024). 5 Ways to Make Homework More Meaningful. In Edutopia. George Lucas Educational Foundation. https://www.edutopia.org/article/5-ways-to-make-homework-more-meaningful
- Good Schools Guide. (2018). Pros and cons of homework. In Good Schools Guide. Good Schools Guide. https://www.goodschools.com.au/insights/parental-advice/pros-and-cons-of-homework
- Homework. (n.d.). In Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/procon/homework-debate
- PhD, J. L. (2017). Is Homework Necessary? Education Inequity and Its Impact on Students. In University of San Diego Online Degrees. https://onlinedegrees.sandiego.edu/education-inequity-and-homework
- Why homework matters. (n.d.). In The Thomas B. Fordham Institute. https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/commentary/why-homework-matters
- Williams, C. (2019). High-Quality Homework: How to Assign the Right Amount, and the Most Effective Formats of Homework. In Center for Student Achievement Solutions. https://www.studentachievementsolutions.com/high-quality-homework-how-to-assign-the-right-amount-and-the-most-effective-formats-of-homework-for-the-2019-2020-school-year
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
