Great teaching techniques: Homework

Homework can be a powerful means of supporting student learning and study habits, provided it is designed appropriately. What does it mean? Studies into the effectiveness of homework are very mixed. Typically, as Hattie’s (2008) research shows, it makes a much bigger impact for older, higher-attaining students in secondary, rather than primary, settings. This is because they are more likely to understand the task, persevere if the work is difficult and avoid reinforcing negative attitudes or misconceptions when studying without teacher guidance. Homework that is typically higher impact tends to be highly structured and focused on practising using knowledge and skills that have been secured already. More open-ended, high challenge tasks are typically less successful, especially with less confident learners or those with no support outside school. What are the implications for teachers? Instead of talking about homework being either effective or not, teachers should consider wh