Technology For Homeschooling Families

Families who choose to homeschool their families are often ridiculed by others who can’t quite seem to understand how or why they would make such a decision. Some may think that parents should allow other so-called, “experts,” to focus on the work of educating their children. They may believe that there is no possible way a parent, who does not have a background in the study of education, can possibly give their own child an education comparable to what they would receive in public or private school settings. What these opposing families may not know is that technology for at-home educators has the potential to support children in achieving their learning goals. Online communities of homeschoolers and even options to receive a high school diploma online are just two resources that provide support for families that have decided to take the road less traveled when it comes to educating their children.

DIY Media Learning Solutions

Many Americans may remember the media department at their school as a child. The department provided the teacher with a huge television strapped to a rolling cart with a matching VCR when they needed to watch an educational movie, or a projector and white screen when viewing slides. These were usually educational items that were produced by someone else. It was the teacher’s job to decide why to use the piece and how to implement it to make it relevant to the lesson.

While these items still have a place in the classroom (albeit using more modern tools), the changes in technology that has allowed people to move from being consumers of media to creators of media is amazing. Tools like Photoshop allow people to take photos, chop them up, add colors, etc. to tell a story. Final Edit Pro does something similar for people using video. Some may object to these tools citing that they are too expensive for some budget conscious families to afford. However a little internet research will unveil free tools that provide the same basic service. So even those families on a shoestring budget can create their own media, just without all the bells and whistles.

These DIY media creation tools allow families to allow their child to unleash their creativity and individualism through the development of critical thinking skills. What better way is there to allow a child to practice their newly acquired intermediate French language skills by creating a 2 minute commercial convincing others to buy their favorite cereal. How about creating a blog comparing Jazz musicians from the US and Brazil. Doing these types of activity requires lots of research which, in turn, improves their reading and critical thinking ability. It also gives them a chance to develop the artistic side of their brain learning how to properly layout information for the web so that it is reader friendly, choosing colors that best convey their message, and perhaps practicing a bit of creative writing. There are even options for completing a high school diploma online to get access to more advanced courses that will prepare them for college.

There are loads of social opportunities that can happen through the use of technology within homeschooling families. There are online communities of children that include people from all over the world, or home schooled children from right in your state or town. There are even more groups and forums for parents who are looking for fresh learning materials, advice on how to teach an old subject in an engaging method, or just camaraderie with other parents who understand and support their chosen lifestyle. All it takes is a bit of research and ingenuity to find the resources you need to put it together in a way that fits your family’s lifestyle.

James Cash is a teacher and a part-time writer.

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