Homework—just the word conjures different reactions from different people on the bark of a tree. For learners, it is likely to earn more groans or even sighs, while for teachers and parents it may be considered to form a sought aspect in the process of learning. But has it ever occurred to you, who proposed the very first concept of homework? According to lore, Education was built by a person known as Roberto Nevilis. In this blog, we will look at the facts regarding such a statement, the evolution of homework, and the effects it has had in the field of education.
Who Was Roberto Nevilis?
Roberto Nevilis is mostly regarded as the man who invented homework, but really who was this mystery man? According to the common people’s perception of Nevilis he was a teacher based in Venice Italy in the early twentieth century. Distressed by the apathy and disinterest countless of his students showed toward the lessons, Nevilis was quoted to have used homework as a form of punishment to make sure that some information were etched on their minds. Nevertheless, this narrative is a little bit different from the actuality that must be. In reality, many historians dispute the existence of Nevilis.
A historical analysis reveals that there are no reliable records or official documents to support the claim of Roberto Nevilis being a true author of the homework concept. Some people believe that the story of Nevilis is more fictional than real; it is known and told as a fact, but without any basis for many years. Within such a context, such lack of evidence is the key to recovering other events that facilitated the spread of homework.
The Creation of Homework
As with any other mainstay around the world, the creation of homework can not be traced with the aim of finding the first time it was known to man. For this reason, self-directed learning, practice and self-study were common among students in ancient kingdoms of greece or rome. These early types of homework were not considered a legitimate form of an assignment, although they had an equivalent goal.
In the nineteenth century, a systematic approach was adopted in the Prussian education system whereby homework was emphasized. This structure was copied by other countries including the USA where homework intergrated into the education system. By the early 20th century, the importance of homework in a student’s progression had long ceased to be a matter of debate.
Over the decades, the concepts and techniques of homework kept on changing as the education systems and the societies changed. Though in the beginning considered as a disciplinary tool meant for balancing the classroom lessons, homework steadily transformed into a means of promoting self-directed learning along with the effective development of logic.
The Nevilis Controversy
The controversy surrounding Roberto Nevilis’ assertion on the invention of the homework remains unstated. This has been an issue among educated scholars and educators with majority dismissing it as a myth. There are no reliable historical documents or scholarly publications that support this claim about Nevilis as the creator of homework.
There are several categories of reasons that make one have doubts over Nevilis’s claim. First of all, there are no any primary sources of evidence as well as other credible literature that would support his ‘existence’. Secondly, of all this evidence, the history of homework has even been mentioned and practiced far more before the era Nevilis is said to have lived in. Lastly, educational historians contend that the phenomenon of homework is too sophisticated to be connected to one person as it has evolved over time.
Regardless of the disagreements, the legends regarding Robert Nevilis act as a trigger concerning the interest in how certain educational techniques originated. Although Nevilis’s involvement still remains a mystery, it is unquestionable that its origins run deep and cut across a wide range of traditionally defined activities.
Effects of Homework in Education
Concerns over homework as a component of education have been engaging the education stakeholders for a while now. The influence of homework, whether favorable or otherwise, has been the subject of numerous investigations. One such study was by the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) which interestingly, concluded that homework time was positively associated with the academic performance of 15-year- old students across the world.
Educational Benefits:
- Reinforcement of Learning: Assignments enable students to go back in class, and work on what they have learnt thus retaining and comprehension of the principles in what was taught.
- Development of Study Skills: Routine assignments can also assist the school-going children as they enable form constructive study habits like self-control, and neatness.
- Parental Involvement: Homework aims at making the parents more active in the young ones’ learning, encouraging a good atmosphere for learning.
Psychological and social effects:
- Stress and Burnout: Increased and unreasonable homework causes situations like stress and anxiety in children that eventually lead to burnout and concerns in the wellbeing of the child.
- Inequity in Resources: Resources or supportive setting are not readily available for all other students thereby students’ completion of homework, as well as general performance varies from one student to another.
- Time for Extracurricular Activities: The volume of work assigned to students in invasive homework negatively affects students’ participation in games and leisure activities as well as socialization.
Contemporary Approaches to Homework
Lately, several critiques have focused on the value of homework. As a result, educators have been searching for other options. So they have introduced ‘no homework’ policies in which children are able to do their activities in the classroom and participate in practical lessons instead. The goals of these approaches are to decrease anxiety levels and help students lead healthier lifestyles.
Innovative Methods of Providing Education:
- Flipping the classroom: In this model, students are assigned new materials such as videos or readings that they study at home, while class time is reserved for practice exercises. This type of instruction helps to teach students in a more productive and interactive way.
- Portfolio instead of homework: In place of teacher-assigned homework, students are expected to research and develop projects over long periods of time involving interdisciplinary skills. This encourages the development of artistic skills, high-level thinking, and problem solving.
- Differentiated Homework: Modifying the nature of homework to target specific strengths and limitations of students can make it more appropriate and useful in achieving the intended educational objectives.
To sum up
There is a huge interest and debate on Roberto Nevilis’s story and the discovery or invention of homework. However, very little evidence exists to support this claim. All the same, it is true that his version of history of homework is so educational further aggravating the evolution of tasks in question. Just as Dunne describes it, it focuses on changing from the processes of the ancient forms to the form of the present-day whereby it exhorts every student in one way or the other.
Homework has been a contentious issue, and educators and researchers have tried to find out its benefits as well as its disadvantages. It is also useful to know its history and effects in making appropriate choices on how to incorporate homework into learning. Be it a student, an educator or a parent here, think about the relevance of assignments in your education philosophy and aim at striking a healthy balance addressing the needs of pupils in as far as learning is concerned and their academic achievement.
It is nice for the readers to listen to and hear about your thoughts regarding homework and education by jotting down some words in the space set aside for the comments or posting them in the social media platforms. I believe regardless of our occupational barriers, it is high time we helped each other to engage in a more active and educated discussion on the aspects of homework in our daily lives.
