Technology &Education
Students should be able to state what they are learning ... not what APP they are using... See Page 8
ISSN 2379-2841 March / April 2017
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EDITORIAL Editor In Chief
MaryAnne Morrill maryanne@thehomeschoolhandbook.com
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Michelle Donofry editor@thehomeschoolhandbook.com
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Do you ever wonder how a toddler can pick up a mobile device and easily navigate the device without ever having to be instructed on how to use it? Our children are digital natives, and we are digital immigrants. My belief is that we should all be “Digital Explorers.” We can no longer use the “I’m too old to learn tech” excuse, because technology is here to stay. As our children’s teachers, it is our job to help our children develop healthy tech habits and become responsible digital citizens. In this issue we have some brilliant articles to get you on your way to using technology in your classrooms. From the technology & education feature, the how to be a successful online learner, to the benefits of online high school and everything in between we have you covered this month! So get online and explore…but be sure you also incorporate tech-free time too. There are checks and balances to everything, as life cannot be truly lived in front of a screen. Enjoy the issue!
Maureen Williams, Publisher maureen@thehomeschoolhandbook.com 717-608-5869
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
ACE, Benard Bull, Becky Cooke, Maria Gracia, Richard Havenga, Homeschool Staff, Diane Kummer, Tanya Moat, Dr. Elaine Fogel Schneider, Ph.D, Charlotte Seewald, Donna Vail, Megan Zechman
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Jeremy Tingle art@thehomeschoolhandbook.com The Homeschool Handbook is published bi-monthly by Brilliant Publishing LLC, Post Office Box 31687, Myrtle Beach, SC 29588 Telephone: (717) 571-9233, Fax: 843-215-7712. Postage paid at Scottsdale, AZ and additional offices. POSTMASTER please send address changes to The Homeschool Handbook, Post Office Box 31687, Myrtle Beach, SC 29588. Volume 8 Number 02. The Homeschool Handbook subscription rates: one-year $19.95 USD, Canada & Mexico $49.95 International $79.95. All subscriptions are non-refundable. Copyright© 2016 Brilliant Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. The publisher reserves the right to accept or reject any advertising or editorial material. Advertisers, and/or their agents, assume the responsibility for any claims against the publisher based on the advertisement. Editorial contributors assume responsibility for their published works and assume responsibility for any claims against the publisher based on published work. No part of this publication can be reproduced in any form or by electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher. All items submitted to The Homeschool Handbook become the sole property of Brilliant Publishing LLC. Editorial content does not reflect the views of the publisher. The imprints, logos, trademarks or trade names (collectively the “Marks”) displayed on the products featured in The Homeschool Handbook are for illustrative purposes only and are not available for sale. The Marks do not represent the implied or actual endorsement by the owners of the Marks of the product on which they appear. All of the Marks are the property of the respective owners and are not the property of either the advertisers using the Marks or The Homeschool Handbook. MEDICAL DISCLAIMER No warranty whatsoever is made by the publisher and there is absolutely no assurance that any statement contained or cited in any article touching on medical matters is true, correct, precise, or up-to-date. Even if a statement made about medicine is accurate, it may not apply to you or your symptoms. The medical information provided is, at best, of a general nature and cannot substitute for the advice of a medical professional (for instance, a qualified doctor/physician, nurse, pharmacist/chemist, and so on). None of the individual contributors, LLC members, subcontractors, advertisers, or anyone else connected to Brilliant Publishing LLC and The Homeschool Handbook can take any responsibility for the results or consequences of any attempt to use or adopt any of the information presented in this magazine. Nothing included, as a part of this publication should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a medical opinion or otherwise engage in the practice of medicine.
volu me 08
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issue 02
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2017
inside
The Homeschool
Handbook
8
cover story 8
Technology & Education
special features 3
There’s An App For That
curriculum 10 12 14 18 19
How to be a Successful Online Learner Memorization - Key to Learning 6 E’s for Maintaining the Innate Passion for Learning The Benefits of Online High School for Homeschooled Families Online Courses for Homeschooled Teens
solutions
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20 22 23
5 Templates to Use for Self-Directed Learning Projects Getting Motivated to Do or Change Something 5 Things Middle Schoolers Should Do Before Starting High School
inspiration 24
Soon the Moon
health and hearth 25
Cream of Asparagus Soup
resources
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26
Index/Resources List
Fo r b r e ak i n g n ew s & t i p s b e sur e to f o ll ow T h e H o m e s c h o o l H an db o o k o n s o c i al m e di a: twitter.com/@TheHomeschool
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facebook.com/TheHomeschoolHandbook
pinterest.com/thehomeschool ©
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feature By MaryAnne Morrill
Technology &Education
WHAT DID YOU LEARN
?
Students should be able to state what they are learning ... not what APP they are using...
Does every baby need an iPad...probably not. But technology is changing education everyday. This can be a good or a bad thing. Good in that students have easy, efficient access to information, opportunities to give and get immediate feedback and perhaps greater motivation to learn and engage. Bad in that those same students often believe there is no need to learn certain things: •• Spelling and grammar - because the computer program will supply the corrections...not always true; •• Handwriting - because they plan to type everything on a computer; •• Mathematical formulas and facts about well anything- because they can use an APP or look up information. •• And most recently, the advent of custom tailoring your Internet experience to match with your opinions/preferences including just what “they” think you want, thus limiting access to all the Internet has to offer. So while technology can make them globally connected citizens and provide unlimited avenues for social networking with 144 characters or less. One wonders if the art of face-to-face communication and emotional context is being lost in lol messages. As is true with most change there are good and bad aspects. Thousands of educational apps have been designed to enhance interest and participation. Educational researchers and teachers have selected the following as some of the most powerful uses of technology. Take a look and see if any of these meld well with your homeschool education program:
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ONLINE FACTS •• 25 states had state virtual schools operating in 2013-2014.1 •• 29 states and Washington, DC have statewide full-time online schools operating in 2013-14.1 •• This enrollment estimate does not include students attending most full-time online schools — approximately 200,00 full-time students in 2009-2010. As of 2012-2013, the number of students has grown to 310,000.1 •• The College Board estimates that in 2010 only 33.7% of school districts offer AP® or IB courses in English, math, social studies, and science.3
•• There were an estimated 1,816,400 enrollments in distanceeducation courses in K-12 school districts in 2009-2010, almost all of which were online courses. 74% of these enrollments were in high schools. Online courses with the highest level of enrollment fall under the categories of credit recovery (62%), dual enrollment (47%), and advanced placement (29%). 2 •• Nearly three out of four (72%) 0 to 8-year olds have a computer at home, but access ranges from 48% among those from lowincome families (less than $30,000 a year) to 91% among higher-income families (more than $75,000). 4
Watson, J., et. al. (2013). Keeping Pace with K-12 Online & Blended Learning: An Annual Review of Policy and Practice. Evergreen Education Group. http://kpk12.com/ reports/.
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2
Queen, B., & Lewis, L. (2011). Distance Education Courses for Public Elementary and Secondary School Students: 2009-10 (NCES 2012-009). U.S. Department of Education,
National Center for Education Statistics. http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2012/2012008.pdf. 3 Lee, Jr., M., et. al. (2011). The College Completion Agenda 2011 Progress Report. College Board Advocacy and Policy Center. http://completionagenda.collegeboard.org/ sites/default/files/reports_pdf/Progress_Report_2011.pdf. 4
Rideout, V. (2011). Zero to eight: Children’s media use in America. New York, NY: Common Sense Media.
1. Critical Thinking -
4. Continuous Feedback -
According to David H. Jonassen and his co-authors thinking mediates learning. Meaningful Learning With Technology
Countless studies reflect the benefit of technologybased continuous feedback feedback. Students react positively to being asked to help improve their learning experience, as long as they receive responsive feedback.
Types of thinking fostered by learning with technology: •• Analogical - Understanding that a new idea is best accomplished by comparing and contrasting it to an idea that is already understood. In using technologies, students consistently are required to engage in the comparison and contrast process. •• Expressive - Learning with technologies requires learners to represent what they know, i.e. teach the computer using different tools, such as databases, spreadsheets, and expert systems, each tool requiring different forms of expression. •• Experiential - Experiences result in the most meaningful and resistant memories. People appear to have an innate ability and predisposition to organize and represent their experiences in the form of stories. Technologies let students seek out and convey stories. •• Problem Solving - Using technologies to relate knowledge requires various types of problem solving. Deciding on information to be included or excluded, what structure and form it should take...all complex decision-making processes and for the non-technophile - learning how to use the software.
2. Mobile Learning Today’s youth are exposed to mobile devices almost from birth and are used to their learning and entertainment aspects. Technology can help them become lifelong learners with MOOCs, blogs, wikis and social media among other available tools.
3. Deeper Learning “The most powerful uses are where people are producing,” says Karen Cator, president and CEO of Digital Promise and former head of the Office of Technology at the US Department of Education, in a recent Mind/Shift interview. “They’re answering questions that they are intimately involved with.” ©
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5. Unlimited & Immediate Learning It is easier than ever to learn anything you want, as quickly as you can. But some experts believe have argued that this reliance on technology is replacing knowledge with information...everyone is a Wikipedia expert. Or as Einstein said, “I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots.” Ultimately, we must develop the expertise to educate future generations of students to become wise and knowledgeable in a world where information is cheap and easy.
6. Creation & Contribution Technology’s programs allow us to create and share material in ways not previously possible. Blogs allow students to develop thinking and writing skills creative. Allowing students to post and comment on whatever they want is a double-edged sword promoting creativity and positive sharing experiences or cyberbullying and obscene/indecent content.
7. Global Awareness No longer limited to letters between pen pals from different countries, technology is allowing students to connect with other students from around the globe providing a global awareness and understanding of other cultures article...think Skype, video conferencing with explorers of far-flung parts of the globe and students around the world, Google Maps allowing one to walk down the world’s highways and byways, and hundred of apps that let students tour museums, historic structures and other places of interest. Technology can be a wonderful adjunct to learning, but it is not nor should it be the only way to learn...life in front of a screen is not the same as life lived and experienced in the real world. March/April 2017 | ©The Homeschool Handbook
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curriculum
How to Be a Successful By: Donna Vail
Online Learner O
nline Learning in recent years has quickly become all the rage in the home education space. This online approach to learning has opened doors to many homeschoolers who previously had limited access to only boxed curriculums and local community class learning resources. Online learning portals provide a great benefit, but they can also pose many challenges for the homeschooling novice if not properly informed. Children today are very tech savvy and quickly adapt to the latest technology, often showing parents how to do things. However, don’t expect them to know how to manage online courses with the same proficiency they have with their gaming console or handheld. It’s important that you guide them through the process so they learn to successfully manage their learning experience and progress. This also encourages accountability. When you invest this time with your children, they’ll be empowered to work more independently and carry this skillset forward in future online classes and college work when it’s time. Use the following checklist for your next online course.
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Donna Vail’s guide to online learning:
1. Create Your Study Book : Purchase a notebook and dividers to set up your Study Book according to your current study needs. Create a section for each class and if desired, add subsections. You may also, include a section in the front of the notebook to keep your calendar and assignments for easy viewing. Use each class section for your syllabus and notes. It’s important to set up a study book as a supplement to your online progress. You can access when not online, not miss any assignments, and see the progress and accomplishments. You’ll want to use this in your mentor meeting described below for greater management towards ©
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successful completion. Even the most accomplished University students working on their Masters and PhD’s manage in this way. Staying on top of your well-organized plan is vital in the fast paced classes. 2. Setup Class Folders on Computer: Create a folder on your computer for each class where you’ll keep assignments, notes if taken electronically, handouts, completed assignments; anything needed saving for class. 3. Syllabus: As soon as you receive your syllabus, print and begin using it to make your lists and manage studies throughout the course. I recommend using a physical calendar or electronic calendar you can easily print. Organize course content, assignments and tests by due date on a month-at-a-glance calendar. Viewing month-at-a-glance will provide a long-range view and a week-at-a-glance will help you in the short term. Once your calendar is in place, you will now be able to create your to-dos for each day of the week. As you organize yourself around the course, you’ll become more proficient at it and eliminate the replication of work. 4.
Gather Texts and Books: Before the class begins, gather all texts, books and supplies you’ll need during the course. The more prepared you are, the less distracted you’ll be when studying and completing assignments. 5. Setup Your Study Area: Be prepared before class time by having the area around your computer clean and organized. Get rid of all distractions. Test your earphones/ earbuds and the learning platform to ensure compatibility with your system. Create a rule for self to never have other programs open during class time. 6. Show Up For Class 15 Minutes Early: Even though your system may be in working order, give yourself at least 15 minutes to login and verify everything is working. This allows time should any technical difficulties arise that could be resolved before class begins.
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7. Create a Scheduled Study Time: Designate specific study time for each of your online classes. Even though you have actual time with the instructor, you’ll need to devote time specifically for study, class and test preparation, and assignment completion. Make sure you’ve scheduled this out on your calendar and stick to your plan for success. 8. Speak Up: If you have questions, don’t struggle and fall behind, don’t slip into silence. The instructor’s intention is to have all students succeed. This is where the accountability factor kicks in. Most of the responsibility for successful completion is on the student. Speak up and ask questions that come up during class. Chances are other students have the same questions and/or will benefit from your question. Your best solution is to speak up and be coachable. 9. Partner With All Those Involved: Parents and students must take time to sit and meet on agreement with time blocks for study time, class time, support needed and mentor meetings. Will the student also need time away from home for fieldwork, library time or research? I’ve had many students tell me they could not do any work for sometimes upwards of 4 days because of the multitudinous activities their parents had them involved in. It’s the parent’s responsibility to help children not be over extended. For every class or activity enrolled, there’s a potential for additional out of class work necessary. Keep in mind, some classes demand more than others. Work with your children towards their success so they can practice this on their own, as they get older. It is far better to have depth and a richness of learning than a quantity of classes the child never feels accomplished in. This requires us to do our due diligence and plan before signing up. 10. Establish Regular Weekly Mentor Meetings: Depending on the age of the student, upper teen students may find accountability with a mentor from the University, school or community. Otherwise parents need to establish a mentor relationship for accountability, idea sharing, guidance and support. The mentor must be very on top of class requirements in order to give proper guidance that can lead to success. It includes being willing to step aside and offer, “What is it that you need from me to help you be more successful in this class?” While that is only one inquiry, I have full training on how to be the mentor your children deserve in my An Inspired Education curriculums. It’s amazing how much value a short but concise mentor meeting can add to the experience that leads to success. As parents, you must do your own due diligence before enrolling your child in any online classes to manage learning. There are so many options and it’s more important than ever to find the right fit. Do all you can as your child’s partner to ensure their success.
March/April 2017 | ©The Homeschool Handbook
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