How Do I Start?: A Tiered Approach to Homework.

Homework is a foundational element of education. Although, educators have long recognized the positive benefits associated with out-of-class learning activities, form-factor and delivery methods remain an active area of research. Access to digital and AI-based support opportunities have reshaped student attitudes and have created an evolving landscape with respect to the role of homework. While current digital offerings influence student motivation and engagement, at its core, the instructional objectives of homework remain an essential to the formation of critical thinking skills. As noted by Feldman, the instructional goals of homework can be categorized into four common areas: practice, preparation, extension and integration. While access to online material enhances learning, students who see homework as an obstacle rather than an opportunity can circumvent these goals. Structured guidance within homework itself can lead to students to experience the cognitive growth as designed. This work-in-progress study examines a homework delivery approach that seeks to guide in a tiered manner. Perhaps the most common question voiced by students is: How do I start? Students often need a mathematical first step when confronted with a prompt - an approach reinforced by the presentation of available solutions. Our approach aims to shift this practice towards the application of concepts by engaging students in a framework requiring an escalation of engagement. The tiered strategy used is rooted in an annotation technique as a differentiating scaffolding technique. Using this tiered approach, which increases complexity and metacognitive engagement, students cite an increased sense confidence while building upon their achievements. Through annotation of workflow, students enhance metacognitive knowledge. The educational goal is to provide a platform for critical thinking - focusing the student towards the why rather than how. Early student responses have been positive. Student comments include “Helps me navigate the spaces between the steps.“