Cyberschooling and Online Learning
Creative Uses of the Internet for Homeschool Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning has traditionally occurred through the use of books and other written materials. However, there are many other mediums available through which to obtain information. Some children learn easily through listening and reading. Others learn more easily from videos or computer games.
The multimedia presentation of information on websites serves a wide variety of learning styles. Seeking and receiving information from a variety of mediums can reinforce and enhance a child's learning. Interacting with information via online games and activities, and even just by clicking around under one's own control, engages a child more easily than does passively listening to a lecture, reading print material, or watching a presentation.
Creative Uses of the Web for Sharing Information with Children
Homeschooling parents and teachers can use the Web in the following creative ways for presenting and sharing information with their children.
- Create a learning blog
- Create a homeschool wiki
Blogs and wikis are both free tools parents and teachers can use to present information and guide children toward websites about their current interests and learning goals. Both blogs and wikis can serve as gateways to the Internet, steering children toward safe and useful content.
Learning Blogs. A homeschool learning blog can be posted to daily, giving children new information and sparking new interests. Unschoolers may call this practice "online strewing," that is, putting information in the path of children so that they may take it up if they desire. Posts can also be used to send children on online scavenger hunts for information. More traditional homeschoolers can use blog posts to make daily assignments. For more information, see Homeschool Learning Blog.
Wikispaces. A Wikispace can serve as a permanent location for favorite links or to create pages on favorite subjects. Wikispaces can be created collaboratively with other homeschooling families so all members can share information, work collaboratively on projects, participate in discussions, or form clubs. For more information, see Wikispaces for Teachers.
Online Learning Resources for Children
Learning resources abound on the Web. Many learning institutions, museums, and organizations host websites with free information, games, and activities for children. Many popular toys such as Barbie and Lego, television channels such as PBS Kids, ABC Kids, and CBC Kids, and magazines such as Highlights have websites with fun and educational activities.
Additionally, homeschoolers can use subscription educational websites such as BrainPOP, which offer animated online lessons based on academic standards and curricula, or more expensive accredited virtual schools, many of which are listed on Homeschool.com.
Social Networking for Homeschool Parents and Students
Online groups and forums allow both homeschool parents and children to network for a variety of purposes, including support, information sharing, interest groups, play groups, clubs, legal news announcements, etc.
Additionally, Wikispaces can be created for homeschool parents to share information and for homeschool students to collaborate on projects.
The most recent avenue of presenting and gaining information, the World Wide Web, brings together multiple forms of media which benefit the widest variety of learning styles. Homeschooling parents and teachers find many resources for teaching, sharing information, and networking with other parents, while homeschooling children find games and information galore presented in a fun and engaging way.
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