Math Homework: Love it or Hate it?

With the implementation of a new mathematics curriculum, I was uncertain how I would incorporate homework as a meaningful review and practice for my students.  So much of the new expected manner of teaching involves developing a conceptual understanding of a concept using hands-on activities and discussions with peers.  How does one create the traditional homework worksheet for that?  Not only is a traditional worksheet inappropriate, but it is time consuming to create and this method uses a lot of paper and copying, scarce commodities in the public school world.  In addition, I would have to check student work in a timely fashion in order to provide immediate constructive feedback for efficient retention as noted by Phye & Andre (Shute, 2008) and to plan for differentiated instruction.  I turned to technology to find a solution.

As I continued my search, I found Moby Max, an online program that was inexpensive enough for me to pay personally and that made claims to great gains in learning growth.  It is also research based.  I tried the program for the free trial period and knew that this was the answer for which I was searching.  I paid for my classroom level subscription and set up my class data.  Now I hoped to find answers to some burning questions:

1.  Would this program be a feasible, efficient, and effective way to assign and complete homework?

2.  Would my class show expected growth on the standardized test?

3.  Would my students realize the learning growth claimed by the company?

I predicted that using this program would prove to be efficient.  I wouldn’t have to deal with mounds of paper and manually checking work.  Would it be effective?  I predicted that the students would enjoy doing homework on the computer, thus increasing their desire to do it which in turn would increase their learning (Damonense, 2003).   I also predicted that this method would be feasible as most families this day have some type of device with internet access.  To accommodate students who did not have internet access outside of school, I provided time during the school day for them to complete their daily assignment of fifteen minutes of math homework.  

Click here to go to Moby Max

Next time:  The results!