Homeschool Learning Environments
Fostering Effective Learning Techniques for Real Learning Experience
Dec 7, 2008
Dr Brian Ray from the National Homeschool Research Association (NHERI) stated in his March 2008 article, California Homeschool Court Decision Ignores Research Findings and Constitutions, that homeschooled kids typically "score, on average, 15 to 30 percentile points above public-school students." How can a learning environment make such a difference? Are real learning experiences better for kids? There's a big difference between the conversation based learning experiences that a home school program relies on and the “read the text and answer the questions” model that's characteristic of a busy classroom. Find out how hands on learning and a conversational learning environment are such efficient learning techniques.
Effective Learning: Beyond Higher Test Scores
Higher test scores are nice, but many homeschooling families are not making that their primary goal. In fact, it's not uncommon to hear homeschool moms say “I don't care about the test results.” Some states require annual testing, to be in compliance with the homeschool law, but parents often feel that the tests represent such a small fraction of real learning, that teaching to the test could have a counter-effect, actually making the child less intelligent. For example. In order to program your VCR, would it be effective to memorize the list of replacement parts in the back of the owner's manual? Many people just start pushing buttons and check the manual if they get stuck.
Homeschool Learning Environments
Home school programs, even those designed for the classroom-minded, often involve a lot of hands on learning activities. One big difference between how a home school program is implemented and how a classroom curriculum is implemented is the fact that in homeschooling, no matter what the subject matter is, a parent and child can discuss the material almost constantly. So that even if they're using the exact same textbook and workbook, the material is being discussed more. Questions are being asked as they arise and answered immediately.
Instead of scheduling a classroom discussion, or mandating that all the even numbered questions be answered in writing, students have a different learning experience that naturally satisfies their curiosity. Answering the questions at the end of the chapter is entirely optional, because once a parent and child have discussed something for long enough, it's not likely that the information will be forgotten. Kids are great at remembering conversations. “You said I could have a cookie as long as my chicken was gone.”
Learning Techniques
Even in adult learning, speaking and listening are recognized to be effective ways to learn. Can you think of a time you've called a tech support hot line, instead of flipping through the owner's manual, or looking for information online? Foreign language learning programs, like Rosetta Stone and Pimsleur rely on speaking and listening, and they're effective. Educational television is also a form verbal learning technique. Some people just learn better through conversation than through reading. A homeschool learning environment naturally and almost accidentally meets the needs of those students.
Hands On Learning
Another learning technique that caters to a student's natural curiosity is hands-on learning. This just means that instead of talking about paintings, for example, the child is allowed to paint and attempt to recreate some of Van Gogh's brush strokes. Instead of reading or talking about the properties of different kinds of rocks, they're digging for rocks, examining them with a magnifying glass and classifying them into piles or arranging their collection on a poster board. Hands-on learning is important; it's why schools have science labs and why you remember things you've done more than things you've read.
The ability to enjoy pleasant educational conversations, and plenty of time to manipulate learning materials is reputed to be one reason why home school programs are helping kids get higher test scores. These things are easier to implement in the one on one homeschool learning environment, a conversation with 20 kids in a class room would be a difficult feat. Higher test scores, however, might not be the reason that homeschool families keep kids out of school.
