Raising Self-Efficacy in Year 6 Students to Help Ease Apprehension about Homework in Secondary School

Minton, Daniel (2013) Raising Self-Efficacy in Year 6 Students to Help Ease Apprehension about Homework in Secondary School. [Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)] (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Going through the transition phase from Primary and Secondary school can be a daunting and worrying experience for students. This practice based inquiry intended to find how the worry over homework, held by the current year 6 students at my school, could be eased prior to starting secondary school. This was done by providing training, advice and a mock secondary day which aimed to give students the self-efficacy skills needed to promote independence in approaching homework tasks, and to help alleviate the fears they had in regards to homework found in secondary schools.

The training programme consisted of workshops on time management to make the most effective use of their time in the evening; daily planning to help students understand, assess and prioritise their assignments; homework stations to ensure that their home working environment allowed for maximum efficiency; and common problems, where issues raised by students connected to homework were addressed and advice given. Additionally, an advice session was given by year 7 students in order to pass on their own ideas and knowledge in regards to completing homework and coping in secondary school. These sessions were finalised with a mock study day where the students attended a day in the secondary school which simulated the standards, teachers and homework that they would face in the future.

Overall, it was found that by providing information and training on how to prepare and what to expect is effective in alleviating anxieties connected to homework given in secondary school. However, it was also noted that to make this and future programmes more effective, a detailed analyses of the students’ needs is required to ensure that the main areas in need of attention are dealt with. On top of this it was found better to start a programme such as this early on in the academic year so that enough training and practice can be given, allowing the issues and worries held by the students to be addressed more effectively.

Item Type: Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)
Keywords: secondary school; year 6; homework; apprehension; self-efficacy; training programme;
Depositing User: EP, Services
Date Deposited: 29 Oct 2013 15:24
Last Modified: 19 Oct 2017 13:49
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/26999

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