ABSTRACT

This chapter provides an overview of a Participatory Action Research project, developed by primary school educators in an international school in London, designed to offer an alternative to traditional homework that is based on children’s interests rather than classic review-focussed work. A small group of teachers and an administrator carried out the initial research and then included parent representatives and student voices. Together we recognised the need for change and created a plan for its execution. The shift in policy has been well received by the community, and the opportunities to share passions are very popular and still being reviewed and revised to maximise student motivation and involvement. The chapter suggests that a move from homework to home learning creates a Constructivist dynamic in which students are encouraged to follow their own interests outside of school hours. This allows children of all skill levels to engage in something that they choose, they are passionate about and that they can be successful in.