Homework Post #2

I’m still stuck on the issue regarding homework. And I suppose my main issue is just the fact that I’m lazy. I hate to admit it, but I’ve been lazy since I was kid. On the other hand, I’ve learned to adapt to my laziness, and use the tools and resources I have to become not just lazy, but efficient too.

Anyway, I digress.

Homework. Let’s focus on that. So because of my laziness, I absolutely HATE to grade homework. However, I know that being able to give feedback is essential to making homework effective. So the question is now… how can I give students quality feedback, while doing the least amount of work? I’m sorry that sounds bad.

Well, I’ve thought of this idea, and I’m sure other teachers have done this before, but I’m curious to know how it has worked out for others. Why not have the STUDENTS grade homework for me? I know I’ve done this with revising essays in English class, or even grading quizzes in math class, but why haven’t I ever done this with homework?

I’ve thought this out a little, so let me explain the details in my head first.

Old Way of Giving “Feedback”

What I normally do is post the answers up, or provide them at the end of the assignments for them to check if they arrived at the correct solution. I then take questions on problems, and work them out fully, or partially on the board. I rely on them to assess their own learning, then I just look over their assignment for completion.

The problem with this? There was no motivation to actually check their work or answers, except for me telling them to make sure they check their own understanding. Their feedback was just, “Did I get it right or wrong?” and the teacher showing the correct way and answering questions, if they had the motivation to learn. But we all know students will not take it upon themselves to ask questions and check their own understanding.

My New Thoughts

1. Make it anonymous. Students receive homework assignments belonging to other students with only their ID numbers filled into the grade cam bubbles. No names, no class periods.
2. The teacher provides the complete solutions to 2 or 3 problems from the homework assignments. The student checks the work and solution to the problems on the paper given to them to grade. If everything is there and complete, they give the owner 100%. If there are errors, the student marks the problem wrong, then gives the students 75% credit.
3. Each student is then required to write constructive feedback to the owner of the homework. (I was thinking of doing this on post-its, but that would get expensive.) There are several things the student could mention in the feedback: a specific error, a misunderstanding of what the question was asking, definitions of key terms mentioned in the problem.
4. I’m expecting (or hoping for) more specific and different questions to be asked while the students are grading these problems. It will no longer be questions like “How do you do #7?”, but rather, “Student 12345 did _________, but got the same answer. Is it correct still?” or “What can I tell a student who did ________?” I would hope that these would lead to better class discussions, and more thinking about the actual problem, rather than just copying the solution to their own paper.
5. Students will actually get their assignments back with useful feedback from which they can learn and correct.

I haven’t really thought out everything. But it seems like something I may try. Since the only work required of me is to press the F8 button, and have my grade cam fill the gradebook.

Any thoughts? Any potential problems I should anticipate?

Potential Problems

1. Passing back assignments using ID numbers.
2. Taking too much class time.
3. Students not writing useful feedback.