OTAN News
Rethinking Homework
One of the areas in which technology can enhance the learning process is in the realm of homework. A lot of homework is of the worksheet variety, not very inspiring and sometimes seen as busywork or assigned for the sake of giving homework.
With technology, we can step up the level of homework, and, more importantly, add a feedback component to homework so that students are able to gain insight into what they understand and what they need more practice with, outside of the classroom and away from the teacher. Some people feel that building a feedback loop into homework is akin to one-on-one tutoring that can personalize the learning for a student.
In his opinion piece Online homework tools trade ‘busy work’ for feedback to help end inequities in schools, Neil Heffernan believes that creating homework assignments with this feedback component could help narrow the gaps between white students and students of color, and between students from middle and upper-class families and students from low-income families. The issue that teachers and schools run up against is digital access. Students of color and low-income students still face access issues – the lack of computers and devices at home, limited or no Internet access, and gaps in digital literacy skills, among others – that widen the gap between these students and others who are better off.
It is always important to know the technology capacity of your adult ed students, and one way to get this information is to administer a survey similar to the student survey included in the annual Technology and Distance Learning Plan that California WIOA-funded agencies are required to complete. If you are not familiar with the survey, you can get a copy of the survey questions in English and Spanish from the California Adult Education Online Application and Reporting website. (You can also view the statewide student survey results for the last few years at the bottom of this page.) In terms of homework, a couple of takeaways from the survey suggest that:
-
The overwhelming majority of adult education students have cellphones and mobile devices that could be used for homework.
-
Teachers should design homework assignments that are accessible on all devices, including phones and mobile devices (a principle known as responsive design).
-
Educate students on community resources (like libraries, for example) that students can use to help with technology access.
As you get ready for the upcoming school year, take some time to rethink your homework strategy so we can help narrow the education gaps some of our students face and empower our students to be more in charge of their learning. If you need help taking your homework to the next level, contact us at OTAN at support@otan.us or call us at 916-228-2580!
Article: OPINION: Online homework tools trade ‘busy work’ for feedback to help end inequities in schools from The Hechinger Report