GRADING HOMEWORK AS FORMATIVE ASSIGNMENTS – THE SOLUTION TO CHEATING?

Homework assignments are common assessment tools used to assist learning in Engineering. Since they are meant to assist students in acquiring the material presented, they should be considered formative assessments with no grade given. Student’s engagement in homework assignments is time consuming (as real learning is) so students want to be rewarded for their effort i.e., they want their homework assignments to count towards their final grade in the course. This, however, increases the stakes for students making it more tempting to cheat if the problems turn out to be too difficult or if students run out of time. If students split tasks and mindlessly copy one others’ solution, copy some solution manual, or buy a solved solution form such service e.g., Chegg, the learning goal of the homework is however not met. A perfect solution that does not originate from the student contributes to much less learning than a not completely perfect solution from the student’s own effort. The learning process comes from the effort and being given timely feedback to correct all misconceptions. The author of this paper therefore in 2016 stopped giving a grade for homework in two bachelor’s degree courses and gave only a feedback. Just by turning in the homework students get a full score for their effort. By doing so the incentive to cheat has been eliminated and students are rewarded for their effort. To evaluate the effects of this change three sources of information are used: student teaching evaluation surveys, students’ final grades and instructor’s reflections. Students repeatedly state they like this approach and say it is often a breaking point in them deciding to work on the homework in those courses instead of other courses where the homework is harshly graded. Homework assignment solutions suspicious of cheating have also reduced significantly.