Forgotten Homework

Homework?

Anytime, anywhere learning?

Which one will win out moving forward?

EdWeek posted an article recently that suggests homework might be a thing of the past:

“A new survey conducted by the EdWeek Research Center suggests that the amount of out-of-school coursework assigned to students ahs fallen, in many cases because students refuse to do it, or because technologies such as AI are reducing its value.”

“The nationally representative, online survey, conducted in December and January of 279 teachers, asked them whether the amount of homework they’ve assigned over the past two years has risen, fallen, or stayed the same.”

“It found that 40% of respondents said homework has decreased during that time, 33% said it’s remained the same, and just 3% said the rate of homework assignments has increased.”

“Nearly 1 in 4, 24%, said they don’t assign homework at all.”

“When those who said the amount of homework had fallen were asked why, the largest portion, 47%, said it was because students refused to do it. The next-highest portion, 29%, said that students’ use of tech such as AI to complete homework lessens its value, and 28% said equity concerns – that some students have more access to homework help than others – is a factor.”

I worked in and around our K-12 public school system for 35 years and most of the homework quality I experienced as a teacher, principal, and superintendent was lacking and unimpressive. No wonder students continue to rebel at feeling insulted about the type of homework they are asked to complete.

But a bigger reason homework is on its way out is that the timing around learning is changing. No longer should students be rewarded with learning something from 8 A.M. to 3 P.M. daily, August to May. We now can assign learning tasks, assess those learning assignments, and reward that learning anytime and anywhere.

The challenge right now is that most traditional school districts still embrace awarding learning during a “school day” and a “school year.” That has to change if traditional school districts have any hope at surviving moving forward.

Young learners today desire the freedom to learn anytime, anywhere. Placing restraints that inhibit that desire will only frustrate those young learners and slow their development.

No Friday News Roundup this week. Enjoy your weekend. Til Monday. SVB