Homework as a motivator for learning
Written by: Jovita Castelino
4 min read
Jovita Castelino, Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School, UK
Homework is a high-impact, low-cost strategy that can have significant implications for academic success, particularly at the secondary level (EEF, 2018). This is dependent on whether the homework set is of a high quality, it is inherently linked to classroom learning and all barriers to successful completion are taken into account (EEF, 2018; Bempechat, 2019).
It has been argued that homework can widen the disadvantage gap, as students from lower socio-economic backgrounds may not have access to resources that can help them to succeed (Hancock, 2001). It is also important to acknowledge that a student’s motivation to do homework effectively can be influenced by their habitus, a combination of past experiences, dispositions and beliefs (Bourdieu, 2002), as well as their family capital or the resources that are available to them to succeed (Fitzmaurice et al., 2021).
However, students who cannot access homework co
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