Should Schools Allow Students To Have Homework? Pros and Cons of Homework

The question of whether students should have homework is not new. With more and more kids and their parents stating that they have almost no time to live because of the homework children get at school, educators started wondering whether giving them homework is really such a good idea.

To give you a better idea of both sides of a discussion around homework and tons of work children (and often their parents) deal with at home, I have prepared a list of arguments supporters of both sides to provide these days.

So, arm yourself with patience and be ready to read them all before you decide on the side to support - children who want to unload some homework assigned, or teachers willing to offer them the highest level of education possible with home learning and parents’ support.

5 Reasons Why Homework is Good

We know at least five reasons why homework assigned to be kids at home is actually a good thing. Try to be impartial when reading them to really understand why working at home makes sense, what an incredible opportunity to obtain a proper education, other numerous benefits such assignments bring.

• Homework helps kids and teachers collaborate. Once assignments and tests from schools are completed at home, kids and their educators can discuss the results, search for solutions to problems they have along the way. Schools offering homework have a chance for better communication inside the classroom.

• Tasks assigned to kids make families closer. Whenever a child feels lost or insecure about a homework task he completed, he or she goes to his/her parents or older siblings for a piece of advice. As a result, families might end up spending hours solving problems, looking for creative math solutions while having fun together.

• Practicing assignments makes success. Writing or any other homework tasks assigned to students really help students prepare for obtaining a higher education degree at university. In fact, the more time a kid spends polishing at their skills, the higher the chances are to enter a university of their dreams or land the work they always wanted to.

• Homework makes students more responsible. Knowing that each homework assignment has a deadline this makes students more responsible; it trains their willpower, an ability to plan their time for academic activities. Families, friends, schools can all contribute to children’s development in this area; with such an amount of support, growing is much easier.

• It helps parents keep track of their kids’ performance. Seeing what kids are assigned to do at home, gives families a sense of the education level of their kids; in fact, spend a couple of minutes looking at your child’s homework to find out weak areas. Identify problems, see their achievements, or offer help - it’s all possible after you check your child’s homework.

Negative Effects of Having Homework.

Not all agree that homework after seven hours at school is such a good idea after all. If you’re on the fence regarding this fact, read our full list of reasons that support the idea that kids should rest at home, have some free time, instead of working long hours of struggling with the homework academic tasks.

• It is stressful. Extra loads of work that students are assigned to do at home have a negative effect on the younger generation that has to spend hours dealing with math problems instead of resting. This extra stress level can harm their health, lead to a lack of enthusiasm for education, rise a huge debate among teachers, parents over the usefulness of such an approach.

• It deprives them of social life. Having to work a lot (even at nights!) at home means that a student has fewer opportunities to socialize which can lead to poor communication skills in the future and children becoming reserved. No wonder young people don’t want to do homework but use any chance to get out for a walk with friends.

• Children lose interest. Lots of homework put much pressure on young minds; this pressure only makes them lose interest and become less effective in their work. They need time to switch focus, explore the world, engage in other activities or else they’ll be ineffective at school/university.

• It’ll lead to academic burnout. Homework takes long hours, not minutes which after a day at school feels like a heavy burden. Students already are tired, sleepy, homework tasks will only wearier each day and cause complete burnout.

• They’re not effective. Homework is less effective because most kids ask their siblings, parents, to do them instead. In classroom explained by a teacher, tasks make way more sense than at home where they are often done just to be done and forgotten right after submission. A student may stay receiving higher grades for assignments done at school with a teacher.

As you see there are two sides to this issue. Supporters of the first emphasize the necessity of self-education while others believe too much homework can harm one’s health.

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Should social media be used in the classroom?

For years now there has been a continuous debate about the role social media should play in teens' lives and also in the classroom. Supporters point out the benefits that social media provides for today's digital learners while critics call for a law to remove social media from classrooms.

As an educational tool, social media enriches the learning experience by allowing students and teachers to connect and interact in new, exciting ways. Web sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn provide a platform where users can dialog, exchange ideas, and find answers to questions. These sites are designed to foster collaboration and discussion.

Despite these benefits, critics argue that there are serious risks to using social media in the classroom. What are these risks—and do they outweigh the potential for opportunity?

Below are the Pros and Cons of Social Media

PROS
Educational Tool- This generation of students arrive at school coherent in Web and social networking technologies. Teachers can extend this knowledge to enrich the learning experience of students. With social media, instructors can foster collaboration and discussion, create meaningful dialogue, exchange ideas, and boost student interaction.



Enhance Student Engagement- Social media is an effective way to increase student engagement and build better communication skills. Students who rarely raise a hand in class may feel more comfortable expressing themselves on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube. Social networking platforms enable teachers to establish “back channels” that foster discussion and surface ideas to students who are too shy or intimidated to voice out loud.

Improve Communication/Relationships Among Students and Teachers- Facebook and Twitter can enhance communication among students and teachers. Educators can answer students’ questions via a Facebook page or Twitter feed, post homework assignments and lesson plans, send messages and updates, schedule or announce upcoming events, and share interesting Web sites and multimedia content. Students can use Twitter to get help from instructors or other students.

Preparing Students for Successful Employment- Students entering the workforce can use social networking sites to network and find employment. With LinkedIn, students can establish a professional web presence, post a resume, research a target company or school, and connect with other job seekers and employers. College career centers and alumni associations are using Twitter to broadcast job openings and internships. Students should follow businesses or professional organizations on Facebook and Twitter to stay updated on new opportunities and important developments in their field.

CONS

Social Media can be a Distraction- A common complaint among educators is that social media is distracting in the classroom. These instructors maintain that tools like Facebook and Twitter divert students' attention away from what's happening in class and are ultimately disruptive to the learning process. With the possibility that the use of social media tools can be an invitation for students to goof off, instructors should make sure they won't be abused.

Cyberbullying- While social networking sites provide a way for students and teachers to connect, they can be a weapon of malicious behavior. Instructors who use social media as part of their course activities should be aware of potential dangers and plan to intervene on minor incidents before they become more serious.

Discouraging Face-to-Face Communication- Some educators are concerned that while real-time digital stream may create a safe harbor for students who are uncomfortable expressing themselves, students are missing valuable lessons in real-life social skills. Students may find themselves at a disadvantage during college admission or job interviews when they need to command attention and deliver a coherent message. At social gatherings and in personal relationships, they need to be able to effectively express themselves and connect with others.

Ultimately, while the debate continues over what role social media should play in the classroom, no one can argue the influence that social networking has on today's students. This tech-savvy generation conducts much of their lives through social media channels. Not surprisingly, they're already using YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter as tools for learning and collaboration. They expect that their campuses will follow suit. With this in mind, it seems prudent for today's institutions to get on the social media train and find ways to successfully integrate these tools into the classroom.

I would love to hear your comments on this subject. Do you agree that social media should be used in the classroom or disagree and why?

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