6 reasons to integrate technology into your homeschool routine today
Technology and Homeschool
While people are increasingly using technology for homeschooling, many parents fear making the switch. Homeschool mindsets usually consist of keeping children safe and innocent. So when computers are mentioned, it can trigger parents into thinking their children won’t be protected or learn traditionally. Here are several reasons you don’t need to be afraid of adding technology to your homeschool routine, and your kids will not become corrupt for having a few online classes.
Efficiency
As a mom to five children, homemaker, business owner, and avid DIYer, I constantly look for ways to be more efficient in our daily homeschool life. While I love to sit with each child one-on-one and work with them independently, the amount of time that takes up in my day is unsustainable. When I do this routine, I get overwhelmed because the mountain of stuff to do is only piling higher and higher. Incorporating online lessons for my children is like having an assistant in our homeschool! I can do one or two subjects with my children; the rest of their schoolwork can be done online. This frees up much of my time and gives me back hours to my day. My kids are also done much quicker because there is only one of me, and they don’t have to wait around for my attention. This allows us to move on to practical living and training for real-world experiences.
The Future
Our culture is constantly evolving, and as parents, it’s crucial that we keep up to some extent. Our children may not be equipped for their future if we don’t! Online learning is not just ‘trending’; it is the future. With robots and AI emerging, we can’t imagine what jobs our children will have in the next ten years. Teaching our children typing, programming, video editing software, etc., will prepare them for the reality they will face after graduation and instill a sense of readiness and security about their future. We can’t fear the future our children will face, and we certainly don’t want our kids to be left behind because we couldn’t deal with the culture change.
Productivity
Not only does technology help with efficiency in our daily routine, but it also helps with productivity. We utilize resources to help us get our work done quickly so we can do more throughout the day. When my kids only do bookwork or lessons on the whiteboard, they wander and zone out more frequently, causing less work to get done. Using online classes to supplement their education helps them stay more organized, focused, and engaged with their lessons. They are more productive with their time during school when the teacher gives them specific tasks that meet each of their needs.
Personalized Learning Plans
If you are a parent, you know all kids are different and require different things. Some learn one way, while others learn another way! Adding technology to our education routine helps personalize the learning for my child’s needs, and they can work at their own pace. This is so helpful to me because I learn and teach a certain way, too. I don’t cater to my son, who is more logically driven. Using online resources, the computer can meet his needs in ways I can’t.
Excited to learn
Overall, kids engage better with technology and are excited to learn online! I have a high schooler who has always struggled with school. He would rather be doing anything else with his time than doing math. However, when I found an online math curriculum for him to try, he loved it! Not only did he appreciate his math teacher being a man, but he was able to understand concepts better through engaging visually and audibly. When he went to do his practice work, things clicked for him better than when he worked with me. Again, this goes back to having an assistant. It is helpful when my kids are excited to learn, and it isn’t a fight to get them to do their work.
Moderation
Technology can be an excellent resource for your homeschool routine. Like with anything, moderation is key! My kids don’t sit on the computer all day; they can get up and take breaks anytime. We started by incorporating typing and spelling. We started incorporating core subjects when I saw how well my kids did with this. The longest my kids are on the computer doing school work during the day is three hours. This means the rest of their day can be spent outside, creating and practicing practical life skills. Just because your kids start using technology for learning doesn’t mean it has to consume their lives. Start small and incorporate more as you feel comfortable.
