“Social Homeworking”

The following article underscores two elements of concern with students in College.
http://phibetacons.nationalreview.com/post/?q=OTg4M2M0YTUwMzAzN2E4MjcyMzEyOThjOGI2Njc1N2U=

They have learned these habits in high school:
One problem is that they don’t spend enough time preparing for class.

• The 2006 High School Survey of Student Engagement found that
  55 percent of high school students spent less than one hour per week
  “Reading/studying for class.” Only 10 percent exceeded ten hours per
  week.
• The 2006 National Survey of Student Engagement found that
  18 percent of seniors in college logged only one to five hours per week
  “Preparing for class.” Twenty-six percent stood at six to ten hours per
  week. Professors estimate that 25 hours per week is the minimum for
  success.
• The University of Michigan reported in 2004 that
  homework time for 15-17-year-olds reached only 24 minutes on weekend
  days and 50 minutes on weekends. Weekday TV time was one hour, 55
  minutes.
• In 2004, the Horatio Alger Association found that 60 percent of teenagers logged five hours of homework per week or less.

The other concern is that they spend an abundant amount of time in “social networking.” (9 hours)

Is there a way to change these habits when they get to College? How about through “social homeworking”? Most of us teachers have grown up in a time when homework was a very individualistic thing. Perhaps our parents helped us, or we wouldn’t have gotten through high school with our assignments and projects all done.

At College, students are looking for social bonds and need accountability. Much of the homework students do for class could be done in groups without losing any of its power. It might actually help them focus on the task instead of being distracted by the socializing alternatives. Here are a couple of ideas:

1. Reading groups: Urge students to meet together to read the material for the next class period. By reading in groups (silently or out loud), it gives them a chance to ask each other questions and keep each other on task.
2. Research projects: Create one complex assignment instead of several simple ones, and have them meet together several times to divide responsibilities, report on progress, and formulate the final submission of the project.

I realize that group projects have always had their own challenges and don’t suggest this will be easy. But might it encourage them to actually spend more time preparing if they are actually spending more time socializing with others in the class?

As always, I look forward to your comments.