Education specialist questions the effectiveness of school tasks on student performance

School life has always involved doing homework. We all need to deal with them, as children and later as adults, in the case of those who have children and need to insist that they stop playing and carry out the tasks assigned by the teachers. Given all this, it is common for people to think that homework is an irreplaceable part of learning. But, is this true?

In this post, the awesome.club wants to share with you the conclusions obtained by a study carried out by a specialist in Education, which calls into question the importance of school tasks in children’s school performance.

During our school term, each of us had our own experience with homework. Maybe you had a teacher or a professor who filled their notebooks with math problems to solve, demanding hours of dedication. Not to mention Portuguese, Science, History, Geography lessons… what you certainly didn’t have was a teacher who failed to send homework. After all, we are talking about a widespread practice in practically all schools, forcing students to take their lessons ready the next day if they don’t want to get a low grade.

Common sense is that homework is essential when it comes to reinforcing the knowledge acquired in class and serving to clear up possible doubts. Therefore, its pedagogical value is not usually questioned. You have to do your homework and that’s that. However, research carried out by professor at Duke University, in the USA, and education specialist Harris Cooper calls into question the importance of duties in the learning process.

Cooper’s proposed mission was an arduous one. Determined to assess the impact of schoolwork on children’s learning, he carried out extensive research that began in 1989 and, as a result, published an extensive work. In his conclusions, Cooper found no evidence that homework contributed to school performance in elementary school students.

For the teacher, the effect of the tasks is even negative, since it produces in students a mistaken predisposition for learning, in addition to taking time away from moments of fun and the development of other spheres of life. On the other hand, according to the observations made by the professional, students better internalize the subjects in the classroom during the explanations given by the teachers.

Harris classifies the conclusions of the research as worrying, since the school should stimulate in children the passion for learning and the tasks tend to have the opposite effect: they cause counterproductive pressure on the young student, which can generate conflicts. When the child does not want to do the chores, he is criticized by the parents or helped by them. And neither option contributes to children’s interest in studies.

Thus, with the end of the tasks, according to Harris’ position, the student would have time to dedicate himself to games and fun and his bond with school learning would be safe from the negative aspects mentioned above. It is also worth mentioning that Harris’ position is currently a matter of debate in the educational community. Therefore, we cannot yet categorically state whether homework will continue to be part of children’s learning or if, on the contrary, they will become part of the past.

In your opinion, does homework interfere with children’s interest in studies? How is it with your children? Do you encourage them to do their homework, offer help, or do you let them do it all on their own? Comment!