The classroom is the place where much of the learning takes place. However, real understanding (and transferring knowledge for short to long term memory) is achieved when, outside the classroom, students:
- Revise the work introduced in class.
- Revise work covered in class or on any one day – revision involves more than just reading the material – it involved note taking i.e. Looking for main ideas of the speaker / writer and then writing them out in your own words – be concise which does not mean just writing down main headings but includes the explanation and / or information – notes should be neat, orderly and legible and should be a summary of the main facts.
- Test their understanding.
- Apply their newly acquired knowledge / skills.
- Extend their reading; and summarise the information obtained in class or from the textbook.
This additional work comes under the heading home learning.
- Set homework – this is negotiable and will be checked by the teacher.
- Assignment work and / or test / exam preparation.
Home learning provides students with an opportunity to work independently and develop greater responsibility for their own learning.
For home learning to be effective students should:
- Have a regular routine and time
- Develop a weekly home learning planner (modify it after two weeks if there are problems)
- Have an area where they can learn without unnecessary distractions
- Have a short break every 45 – 60 minutes
- Focus on what they are doing
- Ask for teacher assistance if, after reading and thinking about a section of work, they still have difficulty understanding it
Recommended times for home learning:
- The general expectation for students in Years 7 to 9 is in the order of 5 hours a week depending on the individual.
- The amount of time devoted to home learning will vary for students in the Senior Phase, dependent on their learning needs, abilities, individual strengths, course of study, assessment load and other commitments.
- Year 10 is a transition year so students should be increasing the amount of time spent on home learning. Generally, students in Year 10 should be spending between 1 ½ to 2 hours a night.
- To achieve solid results in Year 11 and 12, students should be spending an average 10 to 12 hours on home learning. We recommend spending at least two hours per week on each General subject. Students studying Applied subjects and VET Competencies also need to make a substantial commitment of time to ensure all work is complete.