The Homeschool Handbook Jan Feb 2016

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Publisher’s Letter

Brilliant Publishing LLC Post Office Box 31687, Myrtle Beach, SC 29588 Telephone: 717.571.9233

PUBLISHER / ADVERTISING Publisher

I

n the age of computers, laptops, emails and texting, you would think that it would be easier than ever to teach your homeschool using these tools. After just returning from the FETC (Future of Education Technology Conference), we have so much to talk about that there simply are not enough pages in this issue. Suffice it to say we will be bringing you more engaging articles in each issue this year regarding technology and education. However, while technology can certainly assist your home education it can also be extremely overwhelming for those of us trying to figure out what to do, what courses to add, what requirements are needed for each grade level as well as college courses etc., let alone worrying about online safety. Enter The Homeschool Handbook; we have covered a few of the most important topics regarding online education that we hope you will find informative and enjoyable. However, if you want more detailed online education information be sure to sign up to receive our new e-zine, Digital Homeschool, where you will find more in depth coverage of all things online education. As we begin a new year with all the excitement that that brings and all our resolutions to become more organized, lose weight, read more, etc., be sure to always take time for you. While our resolutions fade into the every day remember your children are excelling due to your commitment to make it so. We thank you for taking time to continue reading our magazine and hope that we can help you in your journey to homeschool excellence. If you ever think of any topic(s) that you would like us to cover remember I am but a phone call, email or text away! Make it a Brilliant year and remember… Education Matters,

Maureen Williams, Publisher maureen@thehomeschoolhandbook.com 717-608-5869

http://twitter.com/@TheHomeschool www.facebook.com/TheHomeschoolHandbook http://pinterest.com/thehomeschool/

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©

The Homeschool Handbook | January / February 2016

Maureen Williams maureen@thehomeschoolhandbook.com 717.608.5869

Account Executive Alex Chambers alex@thehomeschoolhandbook.com

EDITORIAL Editor In Chief

MaryAnne Morrill maryanne@thehomeschoolhandbook.com

Senior Editor

Michelle Donofry editor@thehomeschoolhandbook.com

Social Media/Asst. Editor

Molly Anika molly@thehomeschoolhandbook.com

Style / Asst. Editor Charity Plata

Subscription Service / Back Issues:

Circulation@thehomeschoolhandbook.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Vicki Bentley, Dr. Bernard Bull, Laura Lee Ellis, Richard Havenga, Sarita Holzmann, Tanya Moat, MaryAnne Morrill, Annie Murphy Paul, Christopher Pappas, Staff, Donna Vail, Megan Zechman

PRODUCTION / DESIGN Art Director

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 7 Number 01. The Homeschool Handbook subscription rates: one-year $19.95 USD, Canada & Mexico $49.95 International $79.95. All subscriptions are non-refundable. Copyright© 2015 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.


special features

t e: Ou urs

st Co s Mo ng rner he rni Lea g T ea nline ttin eL or O Ge Your Tips F Of Study 10

By: Christopher Pappas

You have just enrolled in your first online course, but are you ready to study for it? Does it need more, less or the same level of commitment with the traditional instructor-led class you are used to? What are the best strategies for studying in online learning? In this article, I’ll share 10 study tips for online learners that will help you succeed while studying for your online courses.

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10 Study Tips For Online Learners Taking
 online
 courses
 can
 be
 very
 convenient
 for
 many
 people.
 However,
 online learning requires time management skills, self-discipline, willpower, and strong motivation, as it may be challenging for online learners to successfully complete
their
eLearning
courses.
In
this
article,
I’ll
share
10
key
study
tips
for
 online learners, in order to help you stay focused and motivated when taking courses online. 1. Understand online learning practices and expectations. The
 fi
rst
 thing you need to realize is that online courses are not an easier way to learn, but
 rather
 a
 more
 convenient
 one.
 To
 successfully
 learn
 online,
 you
 need
 to
 dedicate
a
signifi
cant
amount
of
your
time, consistently attend the program, be concentrated while studying, and fully commit to your learning process, just as you would do for a regular course. You should also have in mind that when you take an online course, you may be expected to: ©

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1/26/16 6:47:20 AM


Build a relationship with your online instructor and avoid misunderstandings by contacting them regularly and informing them who you are, and how you could use their help. • Fully commit yourself and participate in the virtual classroom classroo as required. • Be, or be willing to become, tech-savvy. • Work with others effectively. • Complete your learning tasks and assignments on time. • Be self-disciplined. If you are not able or willing to do all of the above, you will probably not be a very happy online learner. 2. Make sure that you have reliable Internet access. 
Technology
 glitches
 happen
 all
 the
 time.
 Imagine
 you are working in the middle of the night and your computer crashes.
 To
 avoid
 mishaps,
 ensure
 that
 you
 save
 your
 work
 repeatedly and backup regularly using cloud storage, for example
Dropbox
or
Google
Documents,
in
order
to
be
able
to
 access your previous work from your smart phone or tablet, if needed. Furthermore, ensure that you not only have a backup of your online course material and assignments, but also you have
saved
your
instructor’s
or
trainer’s
contact
information
in
 your cell phone or in your email. A reliable internet access will also give you the opportunity to check in, stay current with your eLearning course, and deal with sudden schedule changes. 3. Have a dedicated study space. Whether you decide to
study
in
your
offi
ce
or
in
your
living
room,
ensure
that
this
 place is quiet, organized, distraction-free, and available for use at any time. Your study environment should be one of your main concerns when you are an online learner, so make sure that it enables your study routine. Furthermore, ask your friends, relatives, and colleagues to respect your “work mode” and consider turning off your phone and logging off of all
social
networks
when
studying;
you
will
want
to
be
neither
 interrupted nor distracted. 4. Identify your learning objectives and goals. 
To
stay
 on track with your online course, make sure that you always keep in mind what you hope to accomplish by the end of it. The
learning objectives and goals of the eLearning course can be
an
excellent
road
map
during
online
learning;
read
carefully
 your online course requirements, create notes that are closely ©

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THH_JanFeb 2016.indd 9

related to your objectives, and make sure that you review them thoroughly every time you start an assignment, so that you stay focused on your goals. Finally, consider starting with the most
diffi
cult
tasks,
as
this
will
improve
both
the
effectiveness
 of your study and your performance. 5. Build a study plan. An study plan is critical to online learning. Here are some tips to help you build it: • Plan ahead. Never wait until the day before an assignment due date to start working on it. It will stress you and stress will prevent you from effectively completing the online task. Furthermore, knowing when all of your assignments are due until the end of the eLearning course will facilitate your time management;
for
instance,
if
you
 are going on vacation in the middle of the eLearning course, you can study ahead. • Have an effective calendar system. Online
learning
 needs
structure;
create
a
study
calendar
that
will
help
you
 remember all important dates, like exams, or deadlines for submitting your assignments. You can save your calendar in your computer or in your mobile device, or you can even create a wall planner, which you can mark up and check every time you study. • Create to-do lists. At the start of each week, make a to-do list of the tasks you need to complete by the end of the
week.
This
is
an
excellent
way
to
prioritize
your
study
 plan and stay on track with your studying. • Set time limits. Before you start studying, estimate how much time each task will take to complete, whether it is a specifi
c
assignment
or
simply
reading
a
chapter.
Try
to
 stick to your time limits, as this will help you develop your self-discipline. Furthermore, when you realize that despite your best efforts you cannot concentrate, consider stopping
for
an
hour
or
for
the
night;
it
is
better
to
wait
until
 you are able to start afresh than to waste your time trying to focus. • Stay on schedule. Finally, stick to your study plan. Procrastination
is
the
worst
enemy
of
online learners, so make sure that you stay organized and you are not falling behind
in
your
online
class.
If
you
are
having
diffi
culties
 submitting your assignments on time, contact your online course instructor and let them know, so that they can help you create a consistent study routine. January / February 2016 | ©The Homeschool Handbook

9

1/26/16 6:47:20 AM


special features

A mild physical activity, such as a walk around the block, will help you maintain balance, renew energy, and go back to studying with a clear mind. 6. Ask for help when you need it.
While it may be constructive to look for answers to your online course-related questions independently, hesitating to contact your online instructor when you are stuck may be problematic. If you don’t ask for help when necessary, you may end up falling behind, which may lower your self-esteem, as you may not be able to keep up with the online course. Build a relationship with your online instructor and avoid misunderstandings by contacting them regularly and informing them who you are, and how you could use their help. By asking your online instructors to clarify problems, you will also help them not only to evaluate learners’ level of understanding of the online material, but also to get an idea of the overall effectiveness of the online course. Finally, due to the open nature of online courses, by asking a question, you also help at the same time your virtual classmates, in case they are having similar difficulties. Keep in mind that if you don’t ask for help when you need it, your online instructor may never know that something is wrong. 7. Review, revise, repeat. 
Regular revisions of the things you have already studied will not only improve your memory, but they will also help you better understand what you are learning. Create your own flash cards for your key notes and quiz yourself on the key concepts of the online course. Furthermore, consider having one or more study partners; working in groups will offer you alternative views of difficult concepts, motivation to achieve better results, and help in completing your online assignments more quickly by reviewing what you have learned. Share your study notes and habits with your virtual classmates and support each other throughout the online learning process. 8. Take study breaks.
Your performance will decrease if your are feeling tired or frustrated while studying. Integrate some personal time into your study routine and you will be able to work more effectively on your online course goals. When taking a break, make sure that you get away from your study space; you need to have a change of scenery. A mild physical activity, such as a walk around the block, will help you maintain balance, renew energy, and go back to studying with a clear mind.

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9. Participate in online discussions. 
Online learning doesn’t necessarily mean learning in isolation. Connecting with your virtual classmates on social media or your online course’s forum will enhance tremendously your eLearning experience, especially if you are an introvert and visual barriers hinder you in expressing yourself. Participate actively in online discussions and group activities, suggest study tricks, offer your input on the eLearning course, and engage in new ideas. Just ensure that you are mindful of your online tone; be respectful when you disagree with other members of your online group, and always write in complete and clear sentences to avoid misunderstandings and tone mishaps. 10. Stay motivated. 
Finally, don’t underestimate the effort needed to fully commit to your online course. To make sure that you stay motivated and engaged in your online learning experience, consider following these tips: •• Feel free to create your study routine at your own comfortable pace.

I

o w

o

a j

w

•• Decorate your study space with inspirational quotes and pictures.

H

•• Never forget the reason why you took this online course.

o a

•• Accept that you will have productive and less productive days. •• Have healthy snacks nearby to boost your energy.

I t

•• Reward yourself every time you complete a challenging task.

l T

•• Make sure that you take some time for yourself from time to time.

(

•• Stay positive and keep your chin up.

L

Follow these study tips for online learners and you will be able to make your online learning a fun and enjoyable eLearning experience. If you are not sure about how an online course can fit into your busy schedule, read the article The Top 7 eLearning Benefits For Busy Adult Learners and discover a few of the many benefits of eLearning for busy adult learners who are always on the run.

©

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1/26/16 6:47:20 AM

s l s

t

c


volu me 07

|

issue 01

|

c

2016

inside

The Homeschool

Handbook 12

8

cover story 8

Getting The Most Out Of Your eLearning Course: 10 Study Tips For Online Learners

special features 3

There’s an APP for That

solutions 11 12 14 16 18 20 22

Homeschooling Middle School with Pinterest How To Be A Successful Online Learner Computational Thinking Password Security In An Online Age Digital Badges & Academic Credentials for Homeschoolers How Will Badges and Micro-Credentialing Change Education? How Homeschooling Can Prep Teens For Leadership

curriculum 24

29

Teaching Geography

inspiration 26

5 Gifts You Can Give Your Children That Last a Lifetime: The Gift of Your Presence

28

May You Walk IV

health and hearth 29

Fajita Burritos

resources 30

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 a l 
m e di a: twitter.com/@TheHomeschool

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The Homeschool Handbook | January / February 2016

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facebook.com/TheHomeschoolHandbook

pinterest.com/thehomeschool ©

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