Homework in the Pandemic

Hannah Conway

Learning Target #1:

At the end of this lesson, readers will be able to understand what homework is and its effect during a pandemic.

Learning Target #2:

At the end of this lesson, readers will be able to determine three different ways a pandemic has affected the way teachers promote homework.

2.1: How much homework is given online during a pandemic for a fifth grade class.

2.2: How many students efficiently turn in their homework on time during a pandemic in fifth grade.

2.3: Grading easier online versus in person

What is Homework?

Homework is an assignment, project, a paper, etc; anything that is taken home from class, designed to help further an individuals learn capability. Assigning homework serves various educational needs (MDSCHOOL 2017). There are three different types of homework that can be assigned to take home; practice assignments, preparation assignments, and extension assignments (MDSCHOOL 2017). Practice assignments are assignments given to students to study new material that they have just learned. Next, preparation assignments are assignments given before the students begin the real assignments so they have some sort of background knowledge. Lastly, extension assignments are assignments that consist of long term assignments like projects. Homework teaches students responsibility (ASCD 2017). Homework is important for students to keep up with what they are learning in class including future assignments.

Meet the Teacher

Tammy McDannell

Tammy McDannell was my interviewee, a fifth grade teacher, teaching in northern Virginia at a public k-8 school. I picked her because of the connection she had with my topic. Mrs. McDannell has been teaching for 32 years. As she is teaching virtual it was simple to get information from a teacher that has been doing online teaching the entire school year. Therefore, McDannell had a lot to say about the topic and felt strongly about some of the points asked during the interview.

T. McDanell, personal communication, February 16, 2021

Takeaway One

Is more homework given online than in an in person classroom?

While speaking with Mrs McDannell, it was discovered that less homework is given online than in an in person classroom (T. McDanell, personal communication, February 16, 2021). Less homework is given because many students have difficulty accessing their homework online, making it difficult for them to do their homework. Especially in elementary school, the students are so young and inexperienced that they don’t know their way around a computer to access their materials. The students are reminded regularly on how to open a pdf and still have problems with submitting assignments once they have completed an assignment. There are multiple steps that have to be taken before submitting the assignment or even writing on the assignment given. However, teachers are being very lenient with how assignments are turned in due to the difficulty; teachers will accept email with the assignment attached as a completed assignment. Students are being given a week to complete their homework, while as in person homework assignments would be due the next day.

Takeaway Two

Approximately how many homework assignments are given a week?

McDannell teaches two classes throughout the week, math and language arts are her main focuses. Since the students are in fifth grade they are getting reading for middle school, therefore, the teachers switch students like they would in middle school and teach only those subjects. Math and language arts are what my interviewee teaches throughout the week, giving out five assignments a week and same with the other teacher that teaches science and social studies. The students have until the end of the week to complete all ten assignments. However, the students don’t attend school on Mondays, giving the students a whole day to complete all of the assignments at the beginning of the week.

Takeaway Three

Should homework be given online why or why not?

McDannell believes that homework should still be given to students online because she thinks students should be held “accountable” (T. McDanell, personal communication, February 16, 2021). Without homework being given whether it is online or in person, Mcdanell believes students wouldn’t come to class at all. As well as there wouldn’t be much to be put in the grade book. Teachers wouldn’t be able to tell if a student was actually learning the material if it wasn’t for homework. McDannell also mentioned that it was easier to grade the homework online because once submitted it was right there in front of her. Therefore, students should still be given homework online so the material is still being learned.

Conclusion

Assignment homework serves various educational needs (MDSCHOOL 2017). Homework during a pandemic can be more difficult for students because of access to the internet. I believe that some or most students are hands-on learners as well making it harder for students to focus while doing homework online. I also believe that staring at a computer all day especially for younger students can be draining and they can get distracted a lot easier because they don’t want to do it. However, after having the interview, I agree with McDannell that homework should still be given because without home, no students would attend class. Homework during online learning has its challenges but it is manageable, however if there is a zoom class with a teacher to teach the students the material.

Questions

What is not considered homework?

a. Take-home assignment

b. Take-home paper

c. In-class quiz

d. Take-home project

Which of the following is the definition of a preparation assignment?

a. Assignments given before the students begin the real assignments so they have some sort of background knowledge.

b. All of the above

c. Assignments given to students to study new material that they have just learned.

d. Assignments that consist of long term assignments like projects.

Answers

References

A., By, -, & Blogger, A. (2017, September 08). What's the purpose of homework? Retrieved February 17, 2021, from https://inservice.ascd.org/whats-the-purpose-of-homework/

MDSCHOOL. (n.d.). What is homework? Retrieved February 17, 2021, from http://md-school.net/2017/09/20/what-is-homework/

Pretty true tho... (n.d.). Retrieved March 01, 2021, from https://imgflip.com/i/4iie9b

(T. McDanell, personal communication, February 16, 2021)