The Trouble With Homework

By ANNIE MURPHY PAUL
NYTimes
September 10, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/11/opinion/sunday/quality-homework-a-smart-idea.html?pagewanted=1

Quality Homework: A Smart Idea

This is an interesting article that provides some good strategies for giving HMK that are reminiscent of things we cover in Educational Psychology..

Spaced Repetition - instead of concentrating study of information in single blocks, have students work with the same material in briefer sessions [even along with other information] spread over a longer period of time.

Retrieval Practice - using tests to reinforce vs. assess what students know.

Making students work a little harder to understand information [so they recall it better] through:

Cognitive Disfluency - e.g., leaving blanks or missing letters; or

Interleaving - mixing things up vs. grouping similar things by type.

[Sean I thought of you as I know you're interested in the role of HMK]