I believe that the current practice of giving after-class homework is outdated and counterproductive. Instead, I advocate for a shift towards pre-class homework, which I believe will encourage students to learn independently and use their time in the classroom to discuss and debate what they have learnt. In this article, I will try to make the case for why schools need to make this change.
The current model of after-class homework has been a staple of education for many years. It is typically assigned at the end of a class or a lesson, with the expectation that students will complete it on their own time. While the intention behind after-class homework is noble, the reality is that it has several negative consequences.
Firstly, after-class homework is often assigned in large quantities, leading to an overwhelming workload for students. Students often struggle to complete all their assignments, and the pressure to do so can have a detrimental impact on their mental health. Secondly, after-class homework is often rote work, which does not encourage critical thinking or independent learning. Students are given set tasks to complete, rather than being encouraged to explore the topic in their own way. Finally, after-class homework is not always an effective way of reinforcing learning. Students may forget what they have learnt in class by the time they sit down to complete the assignment.
Pre-class homework, on the other hand, addresses these issues. By assigning homework before the class, students are given time to read and research the topic at their own pace. This encourages independent learning and critical thinking, as students are free to explore the topic in their own way. Pre-class homework also ensures that students come to the classroom prepared, ready to engage in discussion and debate. This creates a more interactive and collaborative learning environment, which is beneficial for both students and teachers.
Pre-class homework also has the added benefit of being a more effective way of reinforcing learning. Students are given the opportunity to engage with the topic before the class, which means that they are more likely to remember what they have learnt. This also allows teachers to tailor their lesson plans to the specific needs of the class, as they can use the pre-class homework to gauge students’ understanding of the topic.
In summary, the current model of after-class homework is outdated and counterproductive. Pre-class homework offers a more effective and engaging way of learning, which encourages independent thinking and collaboration in the classroom. It also ensures that students come to class prepared and ready to engage in discussion and debate, creating a more dynamic and interactive learning environment. It is time for schools to make the switch to pre-class homework and embrace a more innovative and effective approach to education.
‘The pre-reading approach is a variant on “Just-In-Time-Teaching” (JITTi), in which every class is preceded by a pre-reading assignment and a quiz with open-ended questions about the difficulties encountered. The instructor reacts to these postings by adjusting the lecture to discuss the difficulties “just in time” for the next class.‘
Preclass-Reading Assignments: Why they may be the most important homework for your students
By Cynthia Heiner and Georg Rieger
I am not an expert in the field of education, but rather a thinker with an interest in the topic.
I enjoyed reading Pre-Class Activities and In-Class Peer Instruction Strategies.