Homeschooling and the Involvement of Technology

Technology is everywhere and anywhere, even the unexpected know how to use some sort of technological device, even kindergarteners know how to use advanced technology. Homeschooling and technology haven’t gone hand and hand until now. It’s no surprise that there are so many homeschooled children with a high capacity of the use of technology and for that reason homeschooling has become a more viable choice for many families due to the extensive range of the curriculum that can be found online.

There is nothing wrong with public schools, but in the eyes of some parents public schooling doesn’t offer the best learning experience for their children. Many parents believe that homeschooling their child allows to create a better learning environment than the traditional classroom. Even though public schools are advancing in the use of technological teaching devices there is a ratio of four students to one computer. Public schools are beginning to use whiteboards, the availability and access to computer labs are starting to increase and now some schools are even offering online subscriptions to resources and databases (Jones).

With the national average of students with access to computers of four to one machine, homeschooled students have an all day access to computers. Homeschooled children have an easier access to technology, which gives them a certain advantage. With this advantage, technology is an easy way for them to keep their children learning at home with the access to so many programs that create a different independent learning experience. There are even programs that can help with students that have a difficulty with learning, for instance Apple’s program that allows dyslexic kids learn by reading them long sentences (Jones).

With the advantage that homeschooled students have over others is the constant access to technology that allows the students to be able to teach themselves through the one-to-one programs that are offered through the net (Urrea). With these programs students have to have at least a basic knowledge of how to use a computer (ex. using a mouse, scrolling, downloading) (Jones). These programs allow the home scholars to alleviate the lack of training that some parents might have in teaching (Urrea).

Home scholars are able to find new ways of learning as well, for example they are able to use the webcam to communicate with other student around the country to discuss issues, many assignments can be accomplished with help of other students online and being able to learn a foreign language through online sources. There are about two million students that take part of the homeschooling environment and according to recent polls, about 64% of homeschoolers say that have used or are using some sort of technology in their daily studies. Out of that percentage about 87% say that there will be an increase in the use of technology by homeschoolers in the future (Jones).

If homeschooling your children is something that you are considering and you feel that your children will get a more of a learning experience if they are taught at home know that there more than enough technology to help with the leaning process. Children these days are exposed to so much technology that teaching with technology can be a more efficient way to teach them.

References:

 Jones, Kerry. "Homeschoolers May Be Ahead of The Technological Curve." About.com Homeschooling. N.p.. Web. 16 Oct 2012. <http://homeschooling.about.com/od/computersinternet/a/technology.htm>.

Urrea, Claudia. "Technologies for Learning vs. Learning about Technology." Educational Technology Debate. N.p.. Web. 16 Oct 2012. <https://edutechdebate.org/ict-in-schools/technologies-for-learning-vs-learning-about-technology/>.