What is “high tech”? I define high-tech as anything to do with the computer, internet and/or homeschool software. If you’re reading this, then you are at least high tech enough to have internet access. There was no internet twenty years ago. The average family did not own a home computer, lap top or even a cell phone. My how times have changed in just a short twenty years!
In 1997 when we first began homeschooling, we had only had the internet for maybe 2 years, the resources online were not near what they are today. So like many who began their homeschooling journey, we started out ‘doing school at home’. Textbooks, workbooks, etc… Nothing wrong with that, if that suits your child’s learning style. We even tried some of the earliest versions of Switched on Schoolhouse – probably one of the most popular homeschool software on the market, and have to admit – we didn’t like it much. Thankfully, not only has Switched on Schoolhouse improved, but so has our overall homeschool software options. There are dozens and dozens of truly wonderful and educational choices on the market today ranging from educational games, to actual homeschool software curriculum, to record-keeping and lesson planning. Now with wi-fi, families can be mobile and still do school. Awesome!
How much high tech to use High-tech homeschool may not suit every homeschool family. Nothing wrong with that. Some prefer to limit computer usage to just mom or dad and have the kids do more hands-on activities offline. Others, use homeschool software for only recreational games, or just for one or two classes in their homeschool, yet for others, their entire curriculum is comprised of homeschool software. Do what works for your family and is best suited to your child(rens) learning style.
We want your feedback: we would love to hear your comments on the subject of high tech homeschools.
- Do you use homeschool software in your homeschool? What types & how often/much?
- When you search for homeschool software on the web, what are you looking for: record-keeping software, planning software, education games, curriculum and/or what? Or take our POLL in the sidebar.
- Do think the use of technology in a homeschool is a good thing, or a bad thing? Why or why not?
Leave your comments below – we’d love to hear from you.
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September 29th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
* Do you use homeschool software in your homeschool? What types & how often/much?
Very little. I have used (and adored) the Stobaugh books, most of which come with a disc. Being Mac users, we don’t use SOS. Even if we were on a PC, our schooling type is incompatible with children spending long hours in front of a computer screen.
* When you search for homeschool software on the web, what are you looking for: record-keeping software, planning software, education games, curriculum and/or what? Or take our POLL in the sidebar.
I took the poll.
* Do think the use of technology in a homeschool is a good thing, or a bad thing? Why or why not?
Technology is neither good nor bad. It can be used “for good or evil” as my kids would say. It isn’t something we, as unschoolers, would use to any great extent. We do use the internet some. During the Olympics we did the Bennett unit study which uses internet sites primarily. But even then, I made sure there were a multitude of great books on the subjects we covered, and the kids honestly preferred the books to the internet.
September 29th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Thanks for your comments Peggy.
Traci @TraciKnoppe