Practice assignments reinforce newly acquired skills or knowledge. Students who have learned about a particular chemical reaction, for instance, may be asked to find examples of the reaction in their own environment. These assignments are most effective when carefully evaluated by the teacher, when matched to the ability and background of the individual student, and when students are asked to apply recent learning directly and personally.
Intended to provide background information, these assignments can include readings in the class text, library research, collecting materials for a class demonstration, and other activities requiring the gathering or organizing of information before a class discussion or demonstration.
Effective preparation includes guidelines on why and how the assignment should be completed. In addition, accurately estimating a task's level of difficulty, and coordinating the assignment of difficult homework between various courses, may help teachers avoid overburdening students.
These assignments encourage individualized and creative learning by emphasizing student initiative and research. Extension assignments are frequently long-term, continuing projects that parallel class work and require students to apply prior knowledge.