Research on the Effectiveness of English Unit Homework Design Based on Big Idea in Junior High School

Abstract

Homework is a crucial aspect of curriculum that reinforce and expand upon classroom teaching and guide teachers in improving their instruction. After many years of reform, China’s curriculum has entered the era of core competence which should be taken by homework as its ultimate goal. Traditional homework often focuses too much on repetition and quantity over quality, potentially reducing students’ enthusiasm for learning. With the “Double Reduction” policy, homework must now focus on educational value with reduced quantity and higher quality. In this study, the integrated unit design of English homework based on big idea is introduced to the English course of junior high school, trying to verify its effectiveness in helping achieve the core competence of English subject from the perspective of homework. The research involved eighth graders from a Chengdu middle school and used core competency tests from the Jinjiang District for pre- and post-experiment data. Interviews with students and teachers showed a positive reception to this new approach. Despite some limitations, the study suggests that homework based on big idea can effectively boost English core competencies in middle schoolers.