In this study, we meta-analyzed empirical research of the effectiveness of intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) on K-12 students' mathematical learning. A total of 26 reports containing 34 independent samples met study inclusion criteria. The reports appeared between 1997 and 2010. The majority of included studies compared the effectiveness of ITS…

This investigation examined the effects of providing choices among homework assignments on motivation and subsequent academic performance. Students were randomly assigned within classrooms either to receive a choice of homework options or to be assigned an option for all homework in one instructional unit. Conditions were reversed for a second…

Homework has been a controversial teaching strategy throughout the twentieth century and continuing into the twenty-first. This brief presents a history of homework, in which media-fueled outcries for more or less homework occur cyclically, about fifteen to twenty years apart. It describes homework practices today and the beneficial and negative…

Perhaps more than any question other than "How much time should students spend doing homework?" parents and educators want to know, "What kinds of homework assignments are most effective?" Clearly, the answers to this question vary according to many factors, especially the developmental level of students and the topic area. Generally, answers are…

New emphasis is being placed on the importance of parent involvement in children's education. In a synthesis of research on the effects of parent involvement in homework, a meta-analysis of 14 studies that manipulated parent training for homework involvement reveals that training parents to be involved in their child's homework results in (a)…

Opinions vary on whether or not homework has positive effects on achievement. In the literature, the author found six studies conducted between 1987 and 2003 that compared homeworkers with no-homeworkers, and equated students by using either: (1) random assignments of students to conditions; or (2) statistical controls or by matching a student in…

It is common for students to have difficulty completing homework in a timely and accurate manner. Many school districts and organizations offer homework hotlines to help students complete assignments. However, educators lack a clear description of what is necessary to establish and maintain an effective hotline. This article addresses four issues…

For many years, homework has been a topic of heated public discussion and concern of students, parents, teachers, and administrators. Perhaps the most crucial question regards its efficacy for improving academic achievement. This book combines the results of research studies and exemplary practices to provide guidance about homework to…

Homework probably involves the complex interaction of more influences than any other instructional device. Because of differing home environments, homework fails as the great equalizer. Homework's value is also influenced by student characteristics, subject matter, and especially grade level. Guidelines and recommendations are provided. Includes…

In this article, research conducted in the United States since 1987 on the effects of homework is summarized. Studies are grouped into four research designs. The authors found that all studies, regardless of type, had design flaws. However, both within and across design types, there was generally consistent evidence for a positive influence of…

Tested a model of the influence of homework on classroom performance using a sample of 429 students in grades 2 and 4, their parents, and their 28 teachers. Data reveal the critical role of parents in both the homework process and the success of elementary school students. Positive parent involvement in homework was the strongest predictor of…

Homework substantially affects high-school students' achievement, benefits junior-high kids only half as much, and elementary kids negligibly. Homework can be an effective teaching tool when districts, schools, and teachers flex and coordinate their policies, stress developmentally appropriate assignments, and try alternatives to homework.…

A review of the literature on effects of homework for students with and without disabilities offers a homework process model, and suggests that homework policies and practices for students with learning disabilities should emphasize: simple, short assignments; careful monitoring by and prominent rewards from teachers; and parental involvement to…

The amount of homework assigned and completed, and attitudes about homework, were studied through questionnaires completed by 709 students, their parents, and 82 teachers. Differences in student, parent, and teacher perceptions of the amount of homework assigned and completed are discussed. In the lower grades, amount of homework completed helped…

This book has been written to provide readers with the terms, definitions, and research evidence needed to hold conversations about homework in a constructive manner. It attempts to help readers set effective homework policies, rules, or guidelines, whether for a school district, a school, a classroom, or a family. Its premise is that the key to…