Would You Rather… Have Homework or Notes?

By Kaylee Reed

Introduction

Would you rather have homework or do notes in class? Notes and homework serve as valuable tools in the educational process, offering both benefits and potential drawbacks. On the positive side, taking notes helps students organize and retain information, reinforcing their understanding and aiding long-term memory. Homework extends learning beyond the classroom, allowing for practice and applying concepts, which can deepen comprehension and promote independent study habits. 

However, excessive homework and poorly managed note-taking can be detrimental, potentially leading to stress, burnout, and a negative attitude toward learning. When assignments are too numerous or challenging, they may overwhelm students and diminish the quality of their work. Similarly, disorganized or overly complex notes can hinder rather than help, making it difficult for students to review and integrate information effectively. Balancing the quantity and quality of notes and homework is essential to maximize their benefits while minimizing potential downsides.

Homework?

Some studies have revealed that the average high school student in a class doing homework outperformed 69% of the students in a no-homework class, as measured by standardized tests or grades. Homework can play a crucial role in classroom learning. 

Other studies have also proven that homework can be detrimental to a student’s mental and physical health. Excessive homework can lead to significant stress and burnout, overwhelming students and detracting from their overall well-being and enthusiasm for learning. Additionally, an overabundance of assignments can reduce the time available for extracurricular activities and social interactions, impacting a balanced and healthy lifestyle.

Notes?

Good note-taking will improve your active listening, comprehension of material, and retention. Effective note-taking also increases student engagement and autonomy within the classroom by encouraging focus and the development of personal preferences and styles.

While notes can be a valuable tool for learning, they can also become a source of stress if they need to be more organized and complete, making studying easier. Excessive focus on note-taking might lead to students spending more time writing than understanding the material, potentially reducing overall comprehension. Additionally, if notes are well-organized, they can become a clearer jumble that complicates rather than clarifies the learning process, leading to frustration and decreased academic performance. 

Interviews

I interviewed a teacher and a Lake Havasu High School student to get different perspectives on homework and notes. I interviewed Cathy Bagby, an Early Childhood teacher, who responded that she preferred giving notes because it builds memory on the topic. I interviewed Kira Barr, a 10th-grade student, and she preferred having notes in class because she feels like notes are more accessible to look back at and refer to. She said that homework can be too stressful to handle sometimes. Their answers and reasoning to the question were very similar, and both preferred notes.