Does Homework Work? Conference at RIT Will Explore the Pros and Cons

Homework—does it work or does it hinder? While school children generally find homework controversial, it may be surprising to learn that so do some educators. A leading expert on homework as a teaching strategy will speak at the conference, Using Research to Answer Practical Questions about Homework, on Friday, Nov. 9, at Rochester Institute of Technology. The conference, sponsored by RIT’s school psychology program, should be of special interest to parents, teachers, school administrators, school psychologists, counselors and social workers, and others.

Cooper, chair of the department of psychological sciences at the University of Missouri–Columbia, has received considerable media interest in his research about homework. Coverage of his work has appeared on ABC’s Nightly News and Good Morning America, NBC’s Dateline, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Time and other news outlets. He has also appeared on National Public Radio’s Talk of the Nation, The Larry King Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show and Nickelodeon’s Nick News.

Virginia Costenbader, director of RIT’s school psychology program, states: "In addition to Dr. Cooper’s expertise on this topic, three afternoon workshops will provide an opportunity for parents, educators and mental health professionals to share ideas and discuss controversies around homework. Workshop participants will explore technological innovations that are used locally to facilitate the homework process, discuss the impact of homework on family life or consider how urban settings are providing students with homework support."

Conference events will run from 7:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the RIT campus. For fee and registration information, contact the school psychology department at 475-6701.