High-Tech Homeschool Part One

When homeschooling families first begin looking for the curriculum they will use with their children, they are often overwhelmed with all the choices they have - - unit studies, boxed curriculum, literature based programs, workbooks, educational software, hands-on projects, and many, many more. Parents work hard at finding what works best with their children, and sometimes they mix and match curricula to find the best fit. The common denominator with most of these choices is that they require parents to do most of the lesson planning and implementation. In most cases, parents must gather the required materials, keep track of attendance and grades, guide the lessons, and oversee testing and progress. For many homeschooling families, this is not only the way they expect homeschool to be, but is also the only way they are aware of.

But what about homeschooling families who are looking for something more parent-friendly, or who need more support in their homeschool program? What about the single homeschooling mom who works from home and is looking for a curriculum that will educate her child without her constant presence being necessary? Or the family with four children of varying ages who feel their older children are ready for learning with less parental input? Or the family wishing that they could get assistance for their child with special learning needs?

The good news for these homeschooling families is that there are wonderful supportive homeschooling options available to them as close as their own computer. Online learning used to mean web-based classes for college students who needed to work-in their education around an irregular schedule. Today, online learning encompasses all aspects of education for preschoolers, high schoolers, and homeschoolers alike. Online homeschool curriculum is incredibly varied, highly customizable, easily accessible, and priced to fit most homeschool budgets.

If your child is in preschool or early elementary school, online curriculum choices are slightly more limited. But if your homeschooler is a visual or kinesthetic learner, can work somewhat independently, and loves the computer, online learning may be the perfect option for your younger learner. Time4Learning is an interactive multimedia curriculum for grades Pre-K thru 8. Children can choose to progress through the lessons sequentially as a core curriculum, or pick and choose lessons to supplement other programs. T4L provides lesson-planning, record keeping, and is incredibly affordable at less than $20 a month (additional children are discounted). Founder, John Edelson, says that "Time4Learning is a great homeschool and after school partner because it combines in one low-cost system: animated lessons, interactive activities, unit assessments, and printable worksheets."

Other opportunities for elementary aged homeschoolers include Oak Meadow, which uses a parental guidance format and integrates many hands-on activities in the daily lessons, and Progress Academy, which uses a textbook-style format with multimedia video support and educational hyperlinks. Younger learners might also appreciate the classes via live video feed from Red Oak Academy. An online school with a unique approach to learning is the Global Village School. Their philosophy is that curriculum should be adapted to students, instead of forcing students to adapt to the curriculum. According to Sally Carless, Executive Director of the Global Village School, "students can work with their teachers to adapt the curriculum, create special projects, or even a totally new course."

As homeschool students approach middle school, their online curriculum choices widen. A highly affordable option is the Global Student Network, with courses for grades 2-12. The interactive textbook-style curriculum is delivered via the web, and students are able to work at their own pace, completing as many courses as they would like within the school year. For homeschoolers looking for an online Christian curriculum for students in grades 6-12, they need look no further than Sevenstar Academy. By taking a leading online curriculum, and upgrading it to a completely Christ-centered program, Sevenstar is groundbreaking in their approach. According to Bob Kraft, Director of Market Development, "This is important because now homeschool families can receive the benefits from taking courses that meet national education standards and have been proven to develop skills necessary for success on college admission tests, WITHOUT sacrificing the Christian worldview."

One of the most revolutionary online schools is 3DLearn Interactive Academy. This program sets a new standard for interactive education by utilizing virtual classrooms, cooperative online projects among students, and instant messaging with teachers. Students literally "attend classes" in a completely 3D virtual environment, where they are able to build customized "worlds" and complete multimedia assignments. At a price comparable to other programs with many less bells and whistles, this curriculum is well worth the tuition, and would be perfect for any 5^th -12^th grader who enjoys learning on the computer.

A few online school programs cater exclusively to high schoolers. One such program is Regina Coeli Online Academy. Classes in this Catholic school are distributed by video, and also meet a couple times weekly via audio or text conferencing. Blue Ridge International Academy focuses on helping non-traditional students succeed in obtaining their diplomas, but they also textbook style courses for homeschoolers as well. EdAnywhere offers a fully accredited diploma for those graduating from their program, or a GED Track for those who are preparing for the GED Exam.

Schools providing distance education for homeschoolers are still developing and learning how to meet the needs of their students, so none of the online curriculum choices are perfect. However, by researching the advantages and disadvantages of each school, families will likely find a program that is a good fit for their child. In situations where traditional homeschool curricula is not meeting the needs of a family, or where parents and children need additional support, an online homeschool program could possibly make the difference between educational frustration and educational success.