Using Cumulative Homework in Calculus Classes

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-29-2019

Journal Title

PRIMUS

Abstract

Homework is prevalent in mathematics courses, as are cumulative final exams. This study incorporated the memory science concepts of the testing effect and spacing effect in the homework and final exam of college mathematics courses. By replacing some new homework problems with review problems, students had additional opportunities to recall old material. Effects were analyzed by comparing the final exam scores of randomized groups of students, which showed small positive gains for students who had the experimental homework design. Additionally, students were split into the categories of low-scorers and high-scorers based on their first test score, prior to the intervention. Low-scoring students saw more benefits than the high-scoring students.

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