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Plugged In: 10 Tips for a High Tech Homeschool

by Jessica Parnell | Oct 24, 2014 | 2 min read

We all want our kids to be prepared for their future, so helping them become tech-savvy is critical. But, how do you involve more technology in your homeschooling day without compromising learning? Get the most from high tech homeschooling with these tech inspired learning tips and tools that go beyond online games and classes. You’ll be happy as you see them grow and they’ll be having too much fun to realize how much their learning and how much these new interests and skill can help them in the future!

  1. Learn Out Loud: Download podcasts or listen to interviews to show your children real world application of what they’re learning. For older learners, check out this list of over 50 universities who offer free podcasts on many different subjects. For history lovers, you’ll love this series of historical podcasts.  
  2. Become a Web Designer: Even young students will love creating a free website showcasing what their learning at Hubpages.com, or they can create their own free blog with Blogger.
  3. Watch and Learn: Netflix, Amazon Prime, and the good old internet are filled with educational movies. Not sure where to start or what is safe? Here’s a list of 20 free educational video sites that are safe for kids.
  4. Story Time: If you have a homeschooler that struggles with reading but loves stories, consider letting them listen to classic literature online for free here. Younger learners will love listening to these classic stories.
  5. Fun with Maps: Use your GPS to study physical geography. Research different aspects of physical geography, observe geological features, and analyze natural resources all by studying satellite images on your GPS! You can take it further with Google Earth and learn about map-making, space, navigation, and more. Or get involved in the fun of Geocaching where you can hunt for buried treasure from just about anywhere! Just plug in your location here and hide and seek a cache.
  6. Online Field Trips: Who needs to leave home when you can study any location from your living room? Take a trip anywhere in the world, Explore how chocolate is made by Hershey, or take a virtual tour of the Louvre. Online field trips bring the world to you!
  7. Get it on film: When it’s time for your next test or project, make a video instead! Using a simple, free video maker like Windows Movie Maker or iMovie, have your student create a video diary of what they’ve learned.
  8. Do you speak HTML? Instead of taking another year of Spanish, consider having your child learn to “speak” computer programming languages like Java, HTML, or C++. These skills are widely in demand and could wind up being a career for your young techie!
  9. Jump Into History: Learn about American history in new ways with the Digital Archives. Listen to jazz music, view interactive timelines, download historic recipes, or view landmark court cases.
  10. Talk It Out: Challenge your child to master the art of persuasion by creating an online debate team. Using a meeting program like Google Hangouts or Join Me, your kids can learn and debate with other students around the world for free. Learn more about public speaking, including a free textbook, at The Public Speaking Project.

Technology provides endless possibilities for creativity in learning. Try one of these 10 strategies today, or tell us how your family homeschools high tech!

Jessica Parnell
Hello everyone! I’m Jessica Parnell — mom, homeschool evaluator, teacher, and CEO of Bridgeway Academy. In my 20+ years of experience as a homeschool mom and evaluator, I have had the privilege of meeting homeschoolers that take a variety of approaches to their education. It is their many stories and successes that inspire me in my own homeschooling and I love to pass on the knowledge that I have gained from them to other homeschooling families. The one constant that always remains true is that there’s no such thing as a “cookie cutter child.” Each child is fearfully and wonderfully made and as a result, learns and functions differently. It’s our job to ensure that we’re raising each child to fulfill their individual purpose and when we can teach in a way that inspires them, we are on our way to homeschool success. When I’m not writing or teaching my children, I like to ski, write and participate in triathlons. I graduated from Kutztown University with a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Masters in English and I am currently pursuing a degree in Neuroleadership.
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