Inquiry into the approaches to homework in Victorian schools

Received from the Legislative Assembly on 26 November 2013

To the Education and Training Committee — for inquiry, consideration and report no later than 4 September 2014 on the approaches to homework in Victorian schools, focusing on the impact on student learning, including:

(a)     evidence supporting the value of homework:

          (i)      benefits to individual students’ learning;

          (ii)      contribution to discipline and other life skills; and

          (iii)     engagement of parents in student learning;

(b)     current approaches to homework, including application of, and access to, technology outside of the classroom/school:

          (i)      as a tool to reinforce learning;

          (ii)      differences across primary and secondary school and the sectors;

          (iii)     approaches in Indigenous and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse background communities;

          (iv)    individual versus team homework;

          (v)     conceptual versus applied;

          (vi)    relevance to curriculum;

          (vii)    integration into how teachers help students learn;

          (viii)   assessment;

          (ix)    reporting and feedback methods; and

          (x)     best practice models;

(c)     future of homework in Victorian schools:

          (i)      balance between reinforcing and extending what has been learnt in the classroom with time to undertake
                   extracurricular activities and to spend time with family;    

          (ii)      differentiated approaches for primary and secondary schools;

          (iii)     the nature, and time dedicated to, homework to facilitate best student learning in different communities; and

          (iv)    application of, and access to, technology to assist learning.