HOMEWORK FOR LEARNING - ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING

THE HOMEWORK DEBATE

• Has been around for a long time and there is strong research on both sides
• Even 2 teachers in the same Faculty may have differing opinions
• Teachers use many strategies to encourage independent learning outside the classroom as they aim to foster a desire to learn their subject

HOMEWORK SHOULD NOT BE SEEN

AIM SHOULD BE TO STIMULATE CURIOSITY & IGNITE PASSION

RIGOROUS INDEPENDENT LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

DIFFERENTIATING & PERSONALISING

CREATING INDEPENDENT LEARNERS

CONSTRUCTING KNOWLEDGE: SOME IDEAS FOR ACTIVE LEARNER ENGAGEMENT

WRITING

• Around a visual stimulus
• Postcard/Letter/Blog entry/Tweet/News article/Global Headlines/Advert/Agony Aunt/CV
• Book/Brochure/Comic/Poster/Biography/Magazine
• Mind map/Word cloud
• Academic paper
• KWLH chart/Venn diagram/complete a graphic organizer as appropriate for topic
• Past exam papers

SPEAKING

• Mnemonics/Raps
• Podcast/Screencast/Broadcast
• Trailer/Movie
• Debate/Role play
• Interview - chat show/Hot Seating
• A 6 minute speech using Edward de Bono's 6 Thinking Hats (1 min per hat)
• Here's the answer, what's the question
• Talk for one minute (no repetition or hesitation)

MAKING

• A diamond 9
• Collage/Artefact
• Puzzle/Quiz/Boardgame/Card game
• Scrapbook
• A video of you teaching the learning concept to someone at home
• Treasure hunt
• A revision mat

READING

• Read and annotate
• Read for comprehension - create 6 questions to ask peer
• Read and summarize
• Read and fill in the gaps; put text back in the correct order (Task Magic is useful software for this)

FLIP IT

• Watch an interactive video (Made in Zaption or Ed Puzzle maybe) and answer the questions to show what you have understood
• Backchannel chat at a set time (maybe using Today's Meet)
• Collaborate on a Google doc, slides
• Quiz: Socrative, Google Form, Kahoot, PollDaddy
• Mark a peer's work and give feedback & feedforward

RESEARCHING

• Top 5 websites and why for topic in hand
• 2 websites offering different points of view
• Find 10 key facts and add in your own 5 myths for class to find
• Note taking
• Top 4 sources that sum up key facts for topic (video, article, infographic, presentation etc)
• Tidy up: organise your notes, Google folders etc; reflect, evaluate and plan your next learning goals

PRESENTATION

• 10 slides, 10 words per slide, timed 30 seconds per slide
• An elevator pitch
• A persuasive speech
• A Ted Talk

FOR ALL TASKS

PARTNERS IN MOVING LEARNING FORWARD

• Create an understanding, an application of the knowledge
• Develop real world skills
• Make the task as authentic as possible
• Content is important but so is the final product (consider what makes for a good comic/podcast/blog entry/persuasive speech etc)
• Teacher/Peer/Self assess; share with a wider & a real audience
• Consider the purpose of this task; how does it connect, support, challenge or extend learning

PARTNERS IN MOVING LEARNING FORWARD

• Build new knowledge on old
• Build in time for reflection & evaluation
• Construct clear homework for learning outcomes and share with learners
• Make time during the lesson to set it & to discuss issues; look at exemplars
• Importance of self-regulation in learning
• A memorable, enriching & positive experience

HOMEWORK FOR LEARNING: THINKING TO MAKE CONNECTIONS

BUILDING A POSITIVE INDEPENDENT LEARNING CULTURE