3. Focus
Primary: What is the relationship
between homework and student
achievement?
Secondary: Is there a greater
impact on student achievement
when completing homework
online vs. traditional pen and
paper assignments
4. Background
Homework policies have changed over the past 12 years
Some teachers continue to insist that homework be given
nightly while others have begun to soften on this stance
Many students have proven to be high achievers without
ever completing their homework
As the method of completing homework has changed, has
this also changed the impact that homework has on
achievement
5. Background
Research conducted at Abby Kelley
Foster Charter Public School
K-12 School
Worcester, MA
Research conducted in three different
Freshman US History I courses:
• College Fundamentals
• College Prep
• Honors
6. Methods
Groupings
Each class was divided into three equal groups:
1. No Homework
2. Traditional Pen and Paper Homework
3. Online Homework
7. Methods
Research would be broken into three weekly units
Each Friday - Weekly Assessment
Homework groups would receive homework on two of the
other nights during the week
Data would be collected on individual scores and averages for
each group
8. Methods
Pre-Assessment Questionnaires
Prior to each weekly assessment, students would complete a short questionnaire to gauge
students preparedness
Pretest Questions: Circle the best answer for each statement
1.I feel confident that I am prepared for this assessment.
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
2.There were enough activities during the week to allow me to do well.
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
12. Data - Class A - College Prep
100.00
87.50
75.00
62.50
50.00
Class A - College Prep - Level 2
NONE ONLINE PEN OVERALL
Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3
14. Data - Class C - College
Fundamentals
100.
87.5
75.
62.5
50.
Class C - College Fundamentals - Level 3
NONE ONLINE PEN Overall
Assessment 1 Assessment 2
15. Data - Pretest Questionnaires
Pretest Question Responses
Question 1 – I feel confident that I am prepared for this assessment
Group No Homework Online Homework Pen and Paper Homework
strongly
agree agree disagree
strongly
disagree
strongly
agree agree disagree
strongly
disagree
strongly
agree agree disagree
strongly
disagree
Assessment 1
- Question 1 2 2 18 0 2 18 1 1 6 13 1 0
Assessment 2
- Question 1 1 2 16 2 4 18 0 0 5 13 2 0
Assessment 3
- Question 1 1 2 14 4 3 17 2 0 8 10 2 0
Average 1.33 2.00 16.00 2.00 3.00 17.67 1.00 0.33 6.33 12.00 1.67 0.00
16. Data - Pretest Questionnaires
Pretest Question Responses
Question 1 – I feel confident that I am prepared for this assessment
Group No Homework Online Homework Pen and Paper Homework
strongly
agree agree disagree
strongly
disagree
strongly
agree agree disagree
strongly
disagree
strongly
agree agree disagree
strongly
disagree
Assessment 1
- Question 1 2 2 18 0 2 18 1 1 6 13 1 0
Assessment 2
- Question 1 1 2 16 2 4 18 0 0 5 13 2 0
Assessment 3
- Question 1 1 2 14 4 3 17 2 0 8 10 2 0
Average 1.33 2.00 16.00 2.00 3.00 17.67 1.00 0.33 6.33 12.00 1.67 0.00
17. Data - Pretest Questionnaires
Pretest Question Responses
Question 1 – I feel confident that I am prepared for this assessment
Group No Homework Online Homework Pen and Paper Homework
strongly
agree agree disagree
strongly
disagree
strongly
agree agree disagree
strongly
disagree
strongly
agree agree disagree
strongly
disagree
Assessment 1
- Question 1 2 2 18 0 2 18 1 1 6 13 1 0
Assessment 2
- Question 1 1 2 16 2 4 18 0 0 5 13 2 0
Assessment 3
- Question 1 1 2 14 4 3 17 2 0 8 10 2 0
Average 1.33 2.00 16.00 2.00 3.00 17.67 1.00 0.33 6.33 12.00 1.67 0.00
18. Data - Pretest Questionnaires
Question 2 – There were enough activities during the week to allow me to do well.
Group No Homework Online Homework Pen and Paper Homework
strongly
agree agree disagree
strongly
disagree
strongly
agree agree disagree
strongly
disagree
strongly
agree agree disagree
strongly
disagree
Assessment 1
- Question 2 0 4 8 10 3 19 0 0 5 14 1 0
Assessment 2
- Question 2 0 2 2 18 4 18 0 0 8 12 0 0
Assessment 3
- Question 2 0 2 2 18 4 18 2 0 8 12 0 0
Average 0.00 2.67 4.00 15.33 3.67 18.33 0.67 0.00 7.00 12.67 0.33 0.00
19. Data - Pretest Questionnaires
Question 2 – There were enough activities during the week to allow me to do well.
Group No Homework Online Homework Pen and Paper Homework
strongly
agree agree disagree
strongly
disagree
strongly
agree agree disagree
strongly
disagree
strongly
agree agree disagree
strongly
disagree
Assessment 1
- Question 2 0 4 8 10 3 19 0 0 5 14 1 0
Assessment 2
- Question 2 0 2 2 18 4 18 0 0 8 12 0 0
Assessment 3
- Question 2 0 2 2 18 4 18 2 0 8 12 0 0
Average 0.00 2.67 4.00 15.33 3.67 18.33 0.67 0.00 7.00 12.67 0.33 0.00
20. Data - Pretest Questionnaires
Question 2 – There were enough activities during the week to allow me to do well.
Group No Homework Online Homework Pen and Paper Homework
strongly
agree agree disagree
strongly
disagree
strongly
agree agree disagree
strongly
disagree
strongly
agree agree disagree
strongly
disagree
Assessment 1
- Question 2 0 4 8 10 3 19 0 0 5 14 1 0
Assessment 2
- Question 2 0 2 2 18 4 18 0 0 8 12 0 0
Assessment 3
- Question 2 0 2 2 18 4 18 2 0 8 12 0 0
Average 0.00 2.67 4.00 15.33 3.67 18.33 0.67 0.00 7.00 12.67 0.33 0.00
21. Conclusions
Homework can have an impact on student achievement
The impact differs based on the level of student
The higher the level, the less the impact
Little difference between the means by which homework is
completed