What type of homework is appropriate with educational needs of medical students in third millennium?

Introduction and Objective: Homework assignment refers to tasks assigned to students by their teachers to be completed outside of class. This article was aimed to determine criteria and characteristics of best homework which is appropriate with educational needs of medical students in third millennium. Methods: Based on self-experiences, literature review and critique of them, this article shares with the reader the foundations and principles regarding appropriate homework for medical students. Results: Common homework assignments may include a quantity or period of reading to be performed, writing or typing to be completed, problems to be solved, a school project to be built or other skills to be practiced. The basic objectives of assigning homework to students consist of increase the knowledge and improve the abilities and skills of the students. Homework may be designed to reinforce what students have already learned, prepare them for future lessons and apply new learned objective to new situations. Meta-analysis results regarding homework quantity showed that there is a positive correlation between the amount of homework which is done and student achievement. Although, the research result suggested that duration of good homework is 10 minutes per day per grade-level in primary and secondary schools, but this suggestion isn’t compatible with academic lessons regarding the philosophy and nature of University. Medical students exposed to various lesson and they have not enough time for traditional homework. According to above and based on Vatterott opinion (2009), the best homework for medical students should be included following characteristics: First, the task has a clear academic aim, second, the task professionally demonstrates student learning. Third, the task is aesthetically pleasing it appears enjoyable and motivating. Conclusions: With respect to above, investigators suggest that Medical Teachers should attend to these principles through teaching design in the future.

homework, medical student .educational need