Performance Problems and Non Instructional Solution

As an English III teacher, one performance problem in my line of work is poor student homework completion. If I assign any type of homework (essay, worksheet, etc.), my turn in rates are often lower than 50%.

Using the HPT model for the International Society for Performance Improvement (Figure 14.2), I started with the performance analysis. Basically, the desired workforce performance would be homework completion rates of 85% or higher; however, the actual state of workforce performance is often homework completion rates of under 50%. This indicated a definite gap.

A cause analysis leads me to believe that there is a lack of incentives and rewards, feedback, and support for my students to feel motivated to complete homework.

For intervention selection and design, I’ve come up with a few non instructional solutions. First, I want to create homework support groups for each class period by adding chat rooms to our class website using ShoutMix. There would be bonus point incentives for students who access the support groups, either for help or to help others. I would also like to try a flexible turn in schedule. For example, students would have a “window” of two or three days to turn in and complete work. This extended time should help increase the completion rate. Lastly, I will grade and return homework at a faster rate and print out updated weekly progress reports. This will allow students to see how their not completing homework is directly affecting their average on a weekly basis, instead of just at progress report and final grade time (twice a six weeks).

I really plan on implementing these non instructional solutions starting the beginning of next semester. I am hopeful they will help my students be more successful in completing their homework.