The Self-evaluation and Revision Method for Homework: A Homework Method for Metacognition Improves Post-secondary Engineering Students’ Attitudes Toward Homework

Abstract

Traditional methods for grading and returning corrected homework to students do not require the student to determine how they erred, learn how to avoid repeat errors, or revise and improve their work. Educators know that multiple focused reviews of material are often required for learning analytically difficult material. Even when educators provide detailed feedback and corrections, many students look at the grade on a homework assignment without review and put it away until exam study time. The result is a missed opportunity for the student to more fully understand details they have yet to master, and the time the instructor spent making corrections is wasted.In the self-evaluation and revision method for student homework students complete their homework and submit an electronic copy. A solution is then given to students who mark and correct their work, give their original work a grade, and submit the self-evaluated and reviewed work. This system applies a direct principle for good undergraduate engineering practice: it provides prompt feedback and it also applies three indirect principles by developing cooperation among students, encouraging active learning, and communicating high expectations.The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the self-evaluation and revision homework system on student learning and attitude for three mechanical engineering courses at the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, NY. A fourth-year course on vibration engineering across five semesters that has implemented the system over several years (n=49, 34, 37, 43, 16 students), a fourth-year course on control systems across a single year (n=34) and a third-year course on rigid body dynamics across one semester (n=38) are included in the study. The students in the courses were surveyed multiple times during the semester to determine if there had been any changes in their attitude toward the method within a semester and between courses.

Latest Improvements in Metacognitive-Informed, Dual-Submission Homework Methods

“…Starting as early as 2013 at West Point, various educators have experimented with the selfgrading of homework assignments [7]. These methods functionally consist of students attempting homework problems, then receiving the solution, correcting their homework, assigning a grade to their work, and resubmitting their work.…”

“…The student-provided grade often resulted in weakened metacognitive development by taking attention off content mastery. Furthermore, instructors largely ignored the student assigned grade when providing a grade for the record [7]. To the extent that the overall homework grade was based on finding the right answer in the initial submission, students reported lower satisfaction with the methodology and only minimal reductions in stress or temptations toward copying other solutions [9], [11].…”

“…Typically, instructor grading times are lower as well, bested only by auto-graded homework [9], [16]. The need for excellent instructor solutions requires significant initial time investment, but with an emphasis on process rather than first time correctness, the need for combative anti-cheating efforts decreases, reducing the need to generate new problems every semester [7]. Almost universally, students responded positively to surveys about dual submission homework methods.…”

“…Assignment grading is out of a total of seven (7) points. Students earn one point per problem for submitting a complete answer demonstrating effort, regardless of if it is correct or not.…”

Metacognitive Strategies for Homework Grading: Improving Learning while Saving Time and Decreasing Cheating

“…The remaining two papers express their goals differently. Linford et al [4] are aiming to ensure that students look at their feedback in a timely manner. Lura et al [7] are trying to get students to appreciate the relevance and importance of homework.…”