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Education via computer at home instead of School?
Here in Florida, I heard on the news tonite, that in Lee County K-8 can take courses on the computer or even be home schooled via the computer now. They recieve their book in the mail, once they are registered and they can see and interact when needed thru the computer. The catch is that they must have a parent tutoring thim for about 5 hours each day. Has anyone else got this?
I have three daughters and each have three kids. The eldest is a stay at home mom and is wonderful with her children. They fulfill her! She is the one that is really interested in this. My other two cannot wait to see that big yellow bus coming to take them away for a few hours, so I do not see them doing it. I think it would definately take someone like my oldest in order for this to work.:)
the online school, to my way of thinking, is not a good idea, unless a parent was overseeing it. Too much opportunity for those of us with ADD to steer from the "COURSE." Pun intended.
Homeschooling, if carried out well, may very well be successful. The topic of this thread is students learning at home via online courses, where the computer course material is replacing a live educator. That is what I find concerning.
I knew only one person at university who was home-schooled, and her circumstance was that she was an athlete who traveled too much for regular school.
Don't let my age fool you, I was in school (consecutively, no breaks) until about 2 years ago, and I graduated from an Ivy League school. Granted, I didn't know every student on campus, far from it! But the ones that I did know where high GPA students with lots of extra-curriculars.
I still feel concerned that kids who don't learn good study habits not be prepared for higher education, and I worry that online courses for young children will deprive them important opportunities to develop such skills.
I knew only one person at university who was home-schooled, and her circumstance was that she was an athlete who traveled too much for regular school.
Don't let my age fool you, I was in school (consecutively, no breaks) until about 2 years ago, and I graduated from an Ivy League school. Granted, I didn't know every student on campus, far from it! But the ones that I did know where high GPA students with lots of extra-curriculars.
I still feel concerned that kids who don't learn good study habits not be prepared for higher education, and I worry that online courses for young children will deprive them important opportunities to develop such skills.
I found this in an article about some home schoolers who were accepted into Stanford. It addresses the issue of socialization, which many home schoolers call the "s" word lol !
"Backing her up is a 1999 survey organized by Brian Ray, president of the National Home Education Research Institute. Ray found that the typical homeschooler takes part in at least five social activities outside the home every week--from dance classes and sports teams to scout troops and community theater. He also collected previous findings by educators and psychologists suggesting that children taught at home are actually socially and emotionally healthier than those in schools. They are more comfortable interacting with adults and less likely to pin their self-esteem to the fads and whims of teenagers, Ray says.
The way these youngsters learn social skills--modeling themselves after adults rather than peers--is more consistent with the way children have been socialized through most of history, Esther Baruch asserts. "Until about a hundred years ago, the rich kids learned from adult tutors, and poor kids went to work early," she says. "Now, [kids in schools] model themselves after the other kids, who model themselves after tv characters--and the results of that are clear."
Just a thought for the open-minded...to set your mind(s) at ease.
"Backing her up is a 1999 survey organized by Brian Ray, president of the National Home Education Research Institute. Ray found that the typical homeschooler takes part in at least five social activities outside the home every week--from dance classes and sports teams to scout troops and community theater. He also collected previous findings by educators and psychologists suggesting that children taught at home are actually socially and emotionally healthier than those in schools. They are more comfortable interacting with adults and less likely to pin their self-esteem to the fads and whims of teenagers, Ray says.
The way these youngsters learn social skills--modeling themselves after adults rather than peers--is more consistent with the way children have been socialized through most of history, Esther Baruch asserts. "Until about a hundred years ago, the rich kids learned from adult tutors, and poor kids went to work early," she says. "Now, [kids in schools] model themselves after the other kids, who model themselves after tv characters--and the results of that are clear."
Just a thought for the open-minded...to set your mind(s) at ease.
TWehner you said it very eloquently.
Home schoolers are the ones that have won the national spelling contest for the last several years.
As far as socialization, most of the socialization at school is anything but positive. They pick up bullying, if they are not very popular, or don't have the right clothing, or when they are old enough drive the right car, they will be ostracized, picked on, belittled, etc. They are so busy trying to FIT in and that causes some psychological issues. That is not my idea of good socialization.
When children are trained at home, THEY have the advantage. They don't have to vie for attention and the teacher has a vested interest in their outcome. The teachers today, at most schools, are having to deal with issues other than education, such as behavioural and other disruptive problems. This takes away from education. When there is one on one time, the time does not need to be from 8-3. That would be like 2-3 days at public school.
Sure there are some cases that the parents are not as concientious as need be, but the ones that do well, far outweigh these. Most colleges LOVE to get homeschoolers because they don't bring along the bad habits that children pick up in school. Some habits they have to pick up just to survive.
The "homeschool is bad" lie is from those who know nothing about it, and from the proponents of public school(government) that don't want people pulling their children out if public school where the kids are trained up in the way the government wants them to go.
I did not homeschool. But I wish I had.
Home schoolers are the ones that have won the national spelling contest for the last several years.
As far as socialization, most of the socialization at school is anything but positive. They pick up bullying, if they are not very popular, or don't have the right clothing, or when they are old enough drive the right car, they will be ostracized, picked on, belittled, etc. They are so busy trying to FIT in and that causes some psychological issues. That is not my idea of good socialization.
When children are trained at home, THEY have the advantage. They don't have to vie for attention and the teacher has a vested interest in their outcome. The teachers today, at most schools, are having to deal with issues other than education, such as behavioural and other disruptive problems. This takes away from education. When there is one on one time, the time does not need to be from 8-3. That would be like 2-3 days at public school.
Sure there are some cases that the parents are not as concientious as need be, but the ones that do well, far outweigh these. Most colleges LOVE to get homeschoolers because they don't bring along the bad habits that children pick up in school. Some habits they have to pick up just to survive.
The "homeschool is bad" lie is from those who know nothing about it, and from the proponents of public school(government) that don't want people pulling their children out if public school where the kids are trained up in the way the government wants them to go.
I did not homeschool. But I wish I had.
No, this ones in Ohio. Have a good holiday tomorrow! and thanks.
I think that for parents who have the time, patience, discipline and motivation to do it RIGHT and WELL, it's a viable option. I didn't have all of those!
Tell her go for it! There ARE ways to do it well. I have contacts in FL....is she in FL?
I'm getting off-line, but you can PM me!
Tell her go for it! There ARE ways to do it well. I have contacts in FL....is she in FL?
I'm getting off-line, but you can PM me!
I think barb is right when she says us older folks have a harder time imagining how this could be. I am sure that my age is what is keeping me from being able to wrap my head around it. I talked to my daughter a little while ago and she is all for it. lol
Go figure!
Go figure!
Actually......Ivy League schools are actively recruiting home schoolers because they are finding them to be hard working and well-disciplined. Who cares the most about a child's education....? It certainly isn't any school or teacher I've ever met...it's the parents. Now, I'll remind you that home schooling isn't for me, but I bet most of you know nothing about it and yet you are knocking it. I personally know students who have done it K-12 and are accepted into colleges that other students are unable to get into. Different strokes for different folks.
Socialization doesn't just happen at school. It happens in the neighborhood, at church, in civic groups - home schoolers are BIG into all of these - and the list goes on. Like I said in my previous comment, most of the time people who home school in high school have a support group. It isn't the type of "support group" where people sit around and talk to each other about their problems! No, these groups are run like private schools. They have certified teachers who teach IN CLASSROOM SETTINGS the classes that a parent doesn't want to or isn't comfortable teaching. Personally, I think socialization is a over rated, but here's some more for you. You can, in many states, take classes in your assigned school district, too. Technically, your child can participate in sports. Unless your child is exceptionally gifted and talented, I doubt that they would be afforded this opportunity....but on paper it exists in many school districts.
Colleges and universities are no longer looking for 4.0 GPA's. They DO want to see well-roundedness. Can a kid balance a job and/or extra-curricular activities, for example. My son has no place for studying. He couldn't care less about any grade higher than the one he can get without studying. He had to be sent to the local community college for math because he had exhausted all the math the school could offer. He completed Calculus 3 as a high school senior.
My son was also accepted into his declared major at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In his acceptance letter, it stated that only 15% of all freshmen are accepted into their majors. My point in telling you all of this is that he participated in NO sports in school, NO clubs at school (although he was the secretary of the local EAA chapter - a flying club), NOTHING at school. Period. He worked. He paid for his own car insurance, gas and maintenance. And, he did get an honors diploma with a president's award. But, it wasn't the high GPA he was capable of. He also didn't get the 4.0 he could have gotten had he taken all the easy classes - believe you me, there were some children who DID this.
So, what colleges and universities are looking for is NOT what it was when most of YOU were applying for entrance. Home schoolers aren't taboo, either.
Socialization doesn't just happen at school. It happens in the neighborhood, at church, in civic groups - home schoolers are BIG into all of these - and the list goes on. Like I said in my previous comment, most of the time people who home school in high school have a support group. It isn't the type of "support group" where people sit around and talk to each other about their problems! No, these groups are run like private schools. They have certified teachers who teach IN CLASSROOM SETTINGS the classes that a parent doesn't want to or isn't comfortable teaching. Personally, I think socialization is a over rated, but here's some more for you. You can, in many states, take classes in your assigned school district, too. Technically, your child can participate in sports. Unless your child is exceptionally gifted and talented, I doubt that they would be afforded this opportunity....but on paper it exists in many school districts.
Colleges and universities are no longer looking for 4.0 GPA's. They DO want to see well-roundedness. Can a kid balance a job and/or extra-curricular activities, for example. My son has no place for studying. He couldn't care less about any grade higher than the one he can get without studying. He had to be sent to the local community college for math because he had exhausted all the math the school could offer. He completed Calculus 3 as a high school senior.
My son was also accepted into his declared major at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In his acceptance letter, it stated that only 15% of all freshmen are accepted into their majors. My point in telling you all of this is that he participated in NO sports in school, NO clubs at school (although he was the secretary of the local EAA chapter - a flying club), NOTHING at school. Period. He worked. He paid for his own car insurance, gas and maintenance. And, he did get an honors diploma with a president's award. But, it wasn't the high GPA he was capable of. He also didn't get the 4.0 he could have gotten had he taken all the easy classes - believe you me, there were some children who DID this.
So, what colleges and universities are looking for is NOT what it was when most of YOU were applying for entrance. Home schoolers aren't taboo, either.
I think this is a harder concept for some of us who are older, went through our school days "in school" and who had to put forth the effort to learn using the computer, etc, than for some of our younger members who have pretty much "grown up" with computer skills, cell phones, and all the latest gadgets that kids are better at figuring out than we are..........lol.
In a way, I'm on the fence with teko, but in another way, I still believe that kids need the daily social interaction of being "in school" and not depending on mom and/or dad so much. They need to be allowed to make mistakes and learn from them and to deal with life situations without constant coaching/intervention since there will come a day when things are going to happen and there is no one there to guide them.
All in all, I see it as a double edged sword..................
In a way, I'm on the fence with teko, but in another way, I still believe that kids need the daily social interaction of being "in school" and not depending on mom and/or dad so much. They need to be allowed to make mistakes and learn from them and to deal with life situations without constant coaching/intervention since there will come a day when things are going to happen and there is no one there to guide them.
All in all, I see it as a double edged sword..................
We also would not need as many teachers? Im on the fence on this one!
I couldn't imagine my daughter doing online schooling yet. The classroom situation is great for learning social skills! Listening to other opinions, reaching up your hand, waiting for your turn, learning to share.... A great quantity of it all would be swept gone for the wind.
I was just thinking about this. It has good and bad qualities but would we be putting our children at an escalated risk of things like carpal tunnel and eye problems? Or does that even make sense?
Exactly, Swampy. Well put.
Here in Al. they don't care about your school years or how well or poorly you did, just show me the ACT score.
Its really important that you consider the goal of grade school / high school is to get into a university and get a four year degree in something that will lead to a job.
Although most universities -- even some top tier ones -- will take home schooled kids, the standards make it more difficult than a student who went to a reasonably high school, got good grades, and did some extra-curricular activities.
Once you get into a university, you have to show up on time. You have to sit, listen, take notes, do homework, and be able to work on exams when they tell you you must take them.
Its very important that whatever educational path your children have they develop those skills.
And, if you would like you children to get even more education such as a PhD, they are going to have to learn to do long term projects.
Although most universities -- even some top tier ones -- will take home schooled kids, the standards make it more difficult than a student who went to a reasonably high school, got good grades, and did some extra-curricular activities.
Once you get into a university, you have to show up on time. You have to sit, listen, take notes, do homework, and be able to work on exams when they tell you you must take them.
Its very important that whatever educational path your children have they develop those skills.
And, if you would like you children to get even more education such as a PhD, they are going to have to learn to do long term projects.
I am just amazed. The world is changing and nothing is as it used to be. I guess that is called progress! Manufacturing jobs and others are out and replaced with the computer world. My mother used to say when I was little, "Theres a new world coming", obviously she was right on! I could not imagine things being like this when I was in grade school! Wow!
Howdy! I have to tell you guys something - sort of play devil's advocate. First of all, one of the on-line K-12 schools here in WI gives a FREE laptop. NOPE, still not interested.
BUT, in Orlando, where home schooling is HUGE, there are support groups that have science teachers (biology, physics, etc.), music teachers, art teachers, and so on. They offer actual labs, choirs, competitions, you name it. THey have athletic leagues which compete with other schools.
These organizations go over the home school family's paperwork, make sure that a child (or children) is (are) getting all the appropriate classes at the appropriate grade level. They oversee testing..... If a family registers WITH one of these "umbrella organizations" during the high school years (in Florida, anyway), the child(ren) can get a diploma instead of a GED.
One organization you can google and read more about is called Circle Christian School, in Orlando, Florida. They have it down to a science. These children are not missing out on socialization - if anything, there is TOO much pressure to be involved in EVERYTHING! It's rather expensive to do all the things you could actually do!!!!
Home schooling all the way through high school wasn't for me! But, because of a bad middle school situation where we lived in Orlando, I did homeschool my son for 6th grade. At the end of the year, when he was tested, his test results said it all. Oh, and don't think for a second that the parent doesn't feel tested! At the end of all columns but 2 (both were in English, where he was "only" a year above grade level), there were the letters "PHS". My heart was pounding while I found the key so I could decipher these letters. Oh, the meaning of PHS...? Post High School. He had just completed 6th grade.
I had also home schooled him kindergarten, first grade, half of 2nd grade and third grade. So, home school CAN be done well, but it is a HUGE commitment and I don't know if people realize just how much so. It also needs a great support group in the community to fill in the courses that the parents CANNOT teach as the child gets older. You can't tell me that a computer program can make up for a science lab.....and that's just ONE example.
OH!!!! In FL AND here in WI, the public schools WILL let home schoolers participate in sports and take up to 3 classes at the public schools. So, that is something to think about for those maths and sciences that the parents cannot teach.........
BUT, in Orlando, where home schooling is HUGE, there are support groups that have science teachers (biology, physics, etc.), music teachers, art teachers, and so on. They offer actual labs, choirs, competitions, you name it. THey have athletic leagues which compete with other schools.
These organizations go over the home school family's paperwork, make sure that a child (or children) is (are) getting all the appropriate classes at the appropriate grade level. They oversee testing..... If a family registers WITH one of these "umbrella organizations" during the high school years (in Florida, anyway), the child(ren) can get a diploma instead of a GED.
One organization you can google and read more about is called Circle Christian School, in Orlando, Florida. They have it down to a science. These children are not missing out on socialization - if anything, there is TOO much pressure to be involved in EVERYTHING! It's rather expensive to do all the things you could actually do!!!!
Home schooling all the way through high school wasn't for me! But, because of a bad middle school situation where we lived in Orlando, I did homeschool my son for 6th grade. At the end of the year, when he was tested, his test results said it all. Oh, and don't think for a second that the parent doesn't feel tested! At the end of all columns but 2 (both were in English, where he was "only" a year above grade level), there were the letters "PHS". My heart was pounding while I found the key so I could decipher these letters. Oh, the meaning of PHS...? Post High School. He had just completed 6th grade.
I had also home schooled him kindergarten, first grade, half of 2nd grade and third grade. So, home school CAN be done well, but it is a HUGE commitment and I don't know if people realize just how much so. It also needs a great support group in the community to fill in the courses that the parents CANNOT teach as the child gets older. You can't tell me that a computer program can make up for a science lab.....and that's just ONE example.
OH!!!! In FL AND here in WI, the public schools WILL let home schoolers participate in sports and take up to 3 classes at the public schools. So, that is something to think about for those maths and sciences that the parents cannot teach.........
I also think that the habits learned by attending school (getting up, getting ready, reporting on time, listening to the teacher, etc) are important skills that are developed/nurtured in school and needed later on in life.
How we learn to navigate these nascent activities in school could influence our ability to succeed in higher education and/or in the work environment.
While some basic lessons may be teachable in this online manner, if the kids don't use these early stages to build good study skills and habits, they will not be prepared to take on higher level material when they get to high school/college age. I personally already have concerns about the US's international competitiveness in areas of higher education, and this strategy to replace the classroom with computers deepens my worries.
I'd be very interested if any educators would comment on this thread.
How we learn to navigate these nascent activities in school could influence our ability to succeed in higher education and/or in the work environment.
While some basic lessons may be teachable in this online manner, if the kids don't use these early stages to build good study skills and habits, they will not be prepared to take on higher level material when they get to high school/college age. I personally already have concerns about the US's international competitiveness in areas of higher education, and this strategy to replace the classroom with computers deepens my worries.
I'd be very interested if any educators would comment on this thread.
Good point, twehner - I'm guessing that WHY we get along with other people - because we either had to "play nice or get out of the sandbox"..
I also agree with wonko about the camaraderie and teamwork of classmates. In junior high and high school, I remember preparing for the "Friday night dances", proms, and other types of activities that most kids are involved through their school.
I just can't imagine kids growing up without the daily contact of others their ages. But then I guess I'm just an "old fogey" and this MAY be where things are headed in the future but it's kind of scary. I wonder what will happen to those kids whose parents are unable to afford the computer, online services, etc........ Or those kids whose parents have to work full time (or worse, more than one job) and don't have the time/energy to take them places where they can interact with other kids. Just some thoughts.......
I also agree with wonko about the camaraderie and teamwork of classmates. In junior high and high school, I remember preparing for the "Friday night dances", proms, and other types of activities that most kids are involved through their school.
I just can't imagine kids growing up without the daily contact of others their ages. But then I guess I'm just an "old fogey" and this MAY be where things are headed in the future but it's kind of scary. I wonder what will happen to those kids whose parents are unable to afford the computer, online services, etc........ Or those kids whose parents have to work full time (or worse, more than one job) and don't have the time/energy to take them places where they can interact with other kids. Just some thoughts.......
I have actually been giving this option a great deal of thought, It is becoming more talked about and popular, Gonna read up on it a bit. Tweener .....great point LOL
The online school we have here is for K through 12, I believe.
How many of you guys foresee a future of this instead of the traditional classroom? I really think this is where it will be headed.
How many of you guys foresee a future of this instead of the traditional classroom? I really think this is where it will be headed.
Do you get a refund on your school taxes? (Just being facetious.)
I'm personally wary of online classes. I didn't know they were now available for grammar school-aged children. I don't have a background in education, nor am I a teacher. But I was a student for a long time, and I personally can't imagine replacing my coursework with online learning. Both because of the help from instructors in conceptualizing the course material, and the camaraderie/teamwork of classmates.
I'm personally wary of online classes. I didn't know they were now available for grammar school-aged children. I don't have a background in education, nor am I a teacher. But I was a student for a long time, and I personally can't imagine replacing my coursework with online learning. Both because of the help from instructors in conceptualizing the course material, and the camaraderie/teamwork of classmates.
Lumpy pumpy schmoopy he he... I can spell after all.....
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