Online Learning: Incorporate Technology into Your Homeschool
By Mimi Rothschild
Homeschooling and the Internet fit well together. Homeschool students with computers in the home seem to learn with little effort to combine technology with instruction, even without the help of the homeschool parent. They learn to use the Internet to find answers to important questions and solve problems quite easily.
When the homeschool student is given a problem to investigate, he or she typically integrates technology when seeking answers and the websites presenting them present them simply. Technology used in such problem solving may include the Internet and email, word-processing programs, spreadsheets, presentation software, and various other types of computer applications. Through using such technology, the student can not only learn about the technology itself, but also gain valuable information about a full range of subjects.
It is often said that today's children are much more computer savvy than their parents. This is especially true of homeschool students. Why? Perhaps it's because they have more time to explore technology. Their use of the Internet and various computer programs needn't be limited to a computer lab a couple of hours per week at school or an hour or two at home after school. Instead, they can log on and use the Internet and related technologies whenever the homeschool parent sees fit to allow computer time.
Many homeschool parents assign research projects to their older homeschool students. In the past, such a research project would probably require quite a few trips to the library to complete. Today, much, if not all, of the required research can be done by the homeschool student via the Internet.
In addition to research help, the Internet offers the homeschool family loads of quality resources. Homeschool families can find and use everything from lesson plans and worksheets to full-fledged study guides and free classes. The Internet really does offer a wealth of learning resources to the homeschool student.
Technology is important to the homeschool parent as well. First, he or she can use the Internet to research and plan lessons. The homeschool parent can think creatively to plan lessons that will truly stimulate students. Often, homeschool students are far more interested in learning subjects with technology incorporated than they are in learning from textbooks only. Many homeschool parents choose to take advantage of this fact.
No matter what type of homeschool method you choose, be sure to incorporate technology as much as possible. It will encourage your homeschool students to explore the world around them, gaining knowledge of an incredible number of topics. Best of all, for many students, it won't even seem to be school work.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mimi Rothschild is a homeschooling mother, writer, children's rights advocate, and Founder and C.E.O. of home education company Learning by Grace, Inc. She and her husband of 28 years reside with their 8 children right outside Philadelphia, PA.
Rothschild launched Learning By Grace, Inc. because she believed that our nation's public school system has failed parents and students. Learning By Grace, Inc. offers online education through a multimedia-rich curriculum to PreK-12 children across the country and throughout the world.
An accomplished author, Rothschild has written books regarding education published by McGraw Hill and others. Her Daily Education News Feed consists of articles and essays dealing with alternative learning methods.
