eduPirate

6 Ways the Internet will Change Home Schooling Forever

Posted on 21. Feb, 2009 by Cap'n Ko in Education, Home School

Now, I’m no home schooler, but I am an expert in online education, so you’ll have to meet me halfway, here. I do know that a lot is about to change in the home schooling world, thanks to resources and possibilities available via the Internet. Gen-Y kids are getting to the age where they’ll start having children, and believe me, those kids will live and breathe technology, even more than their parents. This is going to show in homeschooling, too. Here are six ways I think we’ll see homeschooling change in the near future, all because of the web:

1. Live Learning Sites Will be Big

Sites like eduFire, WizIQ, LiveMocha, and Myngle will fill in the gaps that parents can’t fill. If you (the parent) don’t know calculus (I think there must be at least a couple of you), you can just log your kid into one of these sites, find them a tutor, and relax. The rates are affordable (not to mention you’re saving on gas), and you’ll be able to find the best teachers that the web has to offer! Think of how much smarter homeschooled kids will be, having access to subjects previously inaccessible. I’m really looking forward to the role that Live Learning sites will play in home schooling (and regular schooling) in the next five years.

2. Language Learning

Home schooled children often don’t have the opportunity to learn a new language (or at least don’t have as much choice). Before, you had to find a private tutor that lives in your local area, and hope they existed somewhere and were available. Now, if you want your child to learn Japanese, you can find a native Japanese teacher, in Japan, and they can teach you via webcam. Not only are you able to find a teacher native in the language (or not, if you’d like!), but you’re able to choose from the best available and set your own schedule. Some sites even offer classes (like eduFire), which are often even more affordable than 1:1 tutoring, and sometimes free.

3. Finding Local Tutors

If live online learning isn’t your thing, the web has made it easy to find local teachers as well. CraigsList (though sometimes sketchy) and TeachStreet are a couple of good websites that come to mind. Ironic – using the Internet to find live local teachers. But seriously, though, who uses (and trusts) a phone book anymore, when you could jump online and read reviews on what a hundred other people have said about a product, person, or place?

4. Social Skills will be Learned Online

All the home schooled kids I’ve known over the years had varying levels of social skills. Some kids were totally fine and normal, and others… well, let’s just say they didn’t do so well. Most parents do a good job getting their kids out onto sports teams, into social hobbies, etc., but those that don’t will be able to use the web. As the web gets more and more social, I think we’ll see kids using the web more and more to learn life skills (though I’d definitely still recommend sending your kid out into the world after homeschooling is done at the end of the day).

5. Flashcards & Other Learning Tools

Websites like Lang-8, iKnow.co.jp, and others, are revolutionizing the way we study. More and more tools are becoming available that just blow traditional learning tools (like those tree-killing flashcards) out of the water (almost a pirate pun. I try). As time goes by and the Internet gets larger, we’ll see these learning tools become more refined, and more specific to the task you’re trying to accomplish. Best part? A lot of them are free – can’t beat that.

6. Finding the Best Teachers in the World

The Web will change everything. You will no longer be limited to local teachers. If you live in, say, Tazmania, and you need to find someone that teaches Italian, you’ll be able to find someone. Not only that, but you’ll have the ability to choose from teachers all over the World. When you have that kind of choice, you’ll be able to pick the very best, which means your child’s education can be the very best too. eduFire definitely had it right when they were talking about RockStar Teachers.

So, there you have it. Now I’m wondering, how do YOU see home school changing in the face of the Internet? I think we’ll have a bunch of smart kids on our hands.

Related posts:

1. The Idea of an “Open Credit” System
2. Teacher Welcome Messages: Myngle Walks the Plank
3. The CLEP Test: How to Get College Credit From Anywhere

Tags: eduFire, flash cards, languages, LiveMocha, Myngle, RockStars, TeachStreet, WizIQ