[Maths-Education] Homework

[Robyn Zevenbergen]

I read with interest the comments on homework.  While we (in Oz) are not
governed by such top-down approaches as the UK, homework has this mythology
here that seems to permeate so many schools so that it is has almost the
same effect of the heavy intervention by Govt in the UK.

I had thought that there had been a substantial research project
commissioned in the UK before all of this policy was enacted.  Did this
happen? What were the outcomes - that homework was a good thing? (I'd
imagine that this was not possible) or was it shelved/ignored (thinking of
the Brown et al paper on the role of research in this whole process of
reform in the UK context)

It would be nice to know of some project/s that have explicitly examined the
effect of homework on student learning - is it just adding more capital to
those already blessed with signifcant cultural capital anyway and hence
furthering the divide between the classes? Or is it really of some value? I
lean to the former of these but would like to know of any research in this
area other than our hunches.

RObyn

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Robyn Zevenbergen
Faculty of Education
Griffith University
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Bundall, QLD 9726, Australia
Ph: + 61 7 5552 8632
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