Homework, Performance Link Queried: Thailand

[webfact]

Homework, performance link queried

Supinda na Mahachai

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A large amount of homework does not always translate into better academic performance among children, according to several foreign surveys.

"This study has shown there is no relationship between children's academic performance and the amount of time devoted to homework," Ramajitti Institute director Julaporn Masa-thienwong said yesterday at a seminar.

In collaboration with the Thailand Research Fund, her institute has studied the findings of various studies to determine homework levels across the world. Julaporn said her study found that too much homework did more harm than good.

She said some foreign research suggested the amount of homework would begin to have an impact on the performance of students after they had entered the secondary level.

"But the key thing is the quality of the homework," she pointed out.

Julaporn said several countries, including France and Singapore, had already taken steps to ban homework because such assignments did not really deliver intended results.

"Over the past two decades, American students' volume of homework has risen significantly. But today, their academic performance is still lower than their Finnish peers, who have little homework," she said.

Prof Dr Utumporn Jamornmann, an adviser to the Ombudsman, believes the homework problem would ease if teachers followed the national curriculum. "Today most teachers simply follow textbooks from private publishers," she said.

Homework has become a hot topic after the Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec) suggested it is going to tackle homework overload.

"No one will object to the Obec plan. But we just hope Obec will draw up clear guidelines ," Ramajitti Institute adviser Amornwich Nakornthap said.

He said that when the guideline was adjusted, schools might need to adjust their evaluation method too.

-- The Nation 2013-02-20

[arthurboy]

Mmmm...here we go again.

In collaboration with the Thailand Research Fund, her institute has studied the findings of various studies to determine homework levels across the world. Julaporn said her study found that too much homework did more harm than good.

• You didn't think to do your own research, but simply did a copy and paste job from elsewhere? Why am I not surprised?
  

Ramajitti Institute director Julaporn Masa-thienwong said, 'But the key thing is the quality of the homework'.

• She might like to have commented on the quality of the curriculum, teachers and their teaching skills while she was at it. However, she did not because - I guess - the homework issue is the current flavour of the month.
  

Prof Dr Utumporn Jamornmann, an adviser to the Ombudsman, believes the homework problem would ease if teachers followed the national curriculum. "Today most teachers simply follow textbooks from private publishers," she said.

• What does that mean? Does it mean that schools don't follow the curriculum but instead use non standard text books bought from a close (family or friend) business associate and then pass on a no doubt grossly inflated cost to the parents?
  

All in all this article is up to the usual standards from Thailand's education experts.

[theajarn]

Not only are there SURVEYS done on it, but I'm sure if the Thais had enough brains they'd realise there has been full f---ing RESEARCH on it and several academic journals that will no doubt classify as 'breaking news' to them.

But I suppose Thailand is only interested in SURVEYS. It's easier to read them highlighted figures than all that nasty silly English-stuff.

I tell my students this all the time: "Here in Thailand, all you do is study, study study... but there's no learn, learn, learn."

[culicine]

Mmmm...here we go again.

In collaboration with the Thailand Research Fund, her institute has studied the findings of various studies to determine homework levels across the world. Julaporn said her study found that too much homework did more harm than good.

• You didn't think to do your own research, but simply did a copy and paste job from elsewhere? Why am I not surprised?
  

Ramajitti Institute director Julaporn Masa-thienwong said, 'But the key thing is the quality of the homework'.

• She might like to have commented on the quality of the curriculum, teachers and their teaching skills while she was at it. However, she did not because - I guess - the homework issue is the current flavour of the month.
  

Prof Dr Utumporn Jamornmann, an adviser to the Ombudsman, believes the homework problem would ease if teachers followed the national curriculum. "Today most teachers simply follow textbooks from private publishers," she said.

• What does that mean? Does it mean that schools don't follow the curriculum but instead use non standard text books bought from a close (family or friend) business associate and then pass on a no doubt grossly inflated cost to the parents?
  

All in all this article is up to the usual standards from Thailand's education experts.

It's interesting re: the textbooks. Our 'supplier' sells us the books (for an EP), and we just teach the relevant topics from the curriculum. In the Thai program section, they don't use textbooks at all in the upper grades - they 'make' all the material themselves. Who knows whether they are following the curriculum or not.

Either way, the curriculum is sub par and the government books that cover it are woeful. No wonder they turn to other publishers who might have better presented the learning material.

[arthurboy]

Not only are there SURVEYS done on it, but I'm sure if the Thais had enough brains they'd realise there has been full f---ing RESEARCH on it and several academic journals that will no doubt classify as 'breaking news' to them.

But I suppose Thailand is only interested in SURVEYS. It's easier to read them highlighted figures than all that nasty silly English-stuff.

I tell my students this all the time: "Here in Thailand, all you do is study, study study... but there's no learn, learn, learn."

Over the last 10 or so years, I have been asked to 'review' numerous Masters' theses and two PhD dissertations. You should substitute 'review' with a 'full rewrite', often with the deadline a week or less away.

They were all - to use culicine's word - woeful. Each of these 'academic' tomes were simply packed out with copy and pastes of other - mostly European or American - researcher's work - often woefully irrelevant and out of date.

Needless to say, there was also little or no evidence of independent, original thought or critiquing.

You'll be very happy to know that on every occasion, I have absolutely refused to rewrite any of the content and only offered a general critique and advice on academic validity and style.

But of course, when something is simply a copy and paste, there is little you can constructively comment on.

Other than, 'This looks like copying and pasting to me. Have you ever heard of academic rigourousness and ethics and - of course - plagiarism?'

Blank or feigned looks of surprise and nervous giggles about sums up the whole response and my experience of this ongoing debacle.

[wilgoster]

"... according to several foreign surveys." Hello, Google.

[khaowong1]

Of course they are not going to mention the inadequcies of the teachers or class room material. That's too simple.. The problem has to be somewhere else. Ahhh... too much homework.. cut out the homework, and Thailand will be the HUB of education in Southeast Asia.. that's it... that's the ticket..

[Scott]

I virtually never give students homework, and never have. First, unlike the Thai teachers, there is nothing I can do if they don't do it. Second, I have never agreed with homework. Homework can help to reinforce skills/knowledge that is already learned but that's about it.

In addition to reinforcing what is known, it can also help to develop a sense of responsibility.

[Phatcharanan]

I tell my students this all the time: "Here in Thailand, all you do is study, study study... but there's no learn, learn, learn."

Highly motivational.................jeeeeez