U of A education expert suggests students might not be getting the most out of homework

As the school year is getting to a point where students are getting more homework, some are asking: how much is too much?

However, according to an education expert at the University of Alberta (U of A), the question that should be asked is what are students getting out of their assignments.

Greg Thomas explains that homework is more beneficial to students if it serves a clear purpose and allows them to think independently by using metacognition – the process of thinking about one’s own thinking and learning.

Handing students assignments a few days later will allow them to learn how to plan and manage time, according to Thomas.

“Assigned homework should be either a consolidation of material studied in class or preparation for an upcoming lesson,” according to a statement from the U of A.

The university says after-school study spaces should be available for students who may not have a good study area at home.

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The university and Thomas add teachers should also stress the consequences of failing to complete homework assignments.

“We want them to have a balanced education because you learn a lot of things outside of school,” said Thomas in a statement.

According to a decade-long survey by Challenge Success from before the pandemic, homework was one of the main stress factors for students in middle and high schools. The survey added homework for elementary students can not be proven to be beneficial for learning in most subjects.