There are so many ways to introduce technology in your homeschool whether it be science oriented, user oriented (like tablets and computers), or even assistive devices for special needs students.
Today Curriculum Choice authors are sharing how we use technology in our homeschools, including lots of reviews and advice!
Heather Woodie @ Blog She Wrote:
Ten Reasons to Use a Kindle in Your Homeschool Part 1– A list of reasons to have an eReader on hand in your homeschool. We use them to read classics and short stories in the public domain. From assignment to reading time there’s about 30 seconds lag. That is a win!
Ten Reasons to Use a Kindle in Your Homeschool Part 2– The tablet form of a Kindle allows my high schooler to use his open source online science texts. It’s much easier for him to work at a table than to be hovered over a keyboard on a pc. Embedded videos can be watched right along with excellent graphics and sound.
Benefits of Using LEGO Minstorms in Your Homeschool– Everyone loves LEGOs and the Mindstorms kit introduces kids to programming and robot construction. Check out this list of reasons we invested in LEGO Mindstorms.
Tips for Using a Digital Microscope– Not only will you find how to use a digital microscope, but you’ll find great tips on how to use a microscope in general. Digital microscopes are easy to use with multiple kids and allow you to take still photography of the stage as well as video!
Internet Filtering & Access Control– A three part series written by my husband Dan on how we filter content and control access to our wifi from our kids’ devices. With each child having either a small handheld device or a tablet and having access to school computers and laptops, we wanted to be able to limit their access to wifi at the router level. The background information and instructions he shares will help you as the parent take intentional steps to keeping an eye on your internet usage on your home network.
Steve @ Your Best Homeschool:
GloBible App Review – I have a confession to make. I no longer carry a Bible with me to church. We have discovered a stunning Bible application. The Glo Bible, by Immersion Digital. Glo is an interactive digital Bible that brings to life the scriptures with high resolution images, HD video, maps, virtual tours, and customizable reading plans. Glo also has social media features, so you can share your Bible study with your friends on Facebook or Twitter.
Homeschool Programming: Teen Coder Review – TeenCoder: Windows Programming teaches the fundamentals of writing computer programs. The course uses the Microsoft C# programming language. It is designed for high-school students who want to learn computer programming.
Lynda.com Online Training Library – Lynda.com is a subscription online training library. For $25.00 monthly, over one thousand courses can be viewed online. There are classes from beginners to experts. You can pause, rewind, view one tutorial at a time or view an entire course in one area.
LEGO® Education WeDo Robotics Review – The goal is for students to build simple machines – with working motors and sensors. The children also program their models using the WeDo Software v1.2. The electronic activity pack, includes 12 activities, and explores four different themes.
Tricia @ Your Best Homeschool:
My iPad for Kids Review – My iPad for Kids, 2nd Edition, takes iPad learning to a new level. This handy book written by author Sam Costello and available through Que Publishing, gives you a plan, points out new ways of learning we hadn’t thought of, and even helps “reassure your parents that you can use your iPad and the internet safely and responsibly.”
LEGO@ Education StoryStarter Review – LEGO® Education StoryStarter set is very easy to use for all our ages and a wonderful introduction to story building, language arts and creativity. The goal is for students to create stories – both written and oral. The children can also create stories with the LEGO StoryVisualizer software, which is included. Build and create with a LEGO Education set and the computer? We knew we’d like it.
You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse online art lessons – There are so many ways to integrate art into your homeschool! Use this guide to fun art projects to add a beautiful layer of learning and joy to your homeschool.
Megan @ Education Possible:
Practical Lessons Kids are Learning From Minecraft – Educators are using Minecraft to teach creativity, social skills, team building, collaboration and more!
Learning History with Disney Education “The American Presidents DVDs” – These unique videos offer a funny and memorable look at each person who has held the office of President of the United States.
Starting our Homeschool Day with CNN Student News – Now that our children are getting older we’ve decided to give them an opportunity incorporate current events into their daily lessons.
Learning Science with Disney Imagineering Videos – This year we are not using a textbook to help our children learn about science.
Cindy @ Our Journey Westward
Early Elementary Technology Project – Even young children can learn how to create great “research” projects using the internet and Word!
Newsletters: A Writing Project – This post is one example of how our family utilized monthly newsletters created in Word to learn writing, graphic design, typing and computer skills.
Around the World Series – This post is not strictly about our use of technology in the homeschool. You will notice at the bottom of the post, however, how we’re utilizing YouTube and other information search functions on the iPhone as part of daily learning with my youngest child. The use of the iPhone in school happens multiple times a day in his 1st grade education. My, how times have changed over the past ten years alone.
Heidi @ Starts At Eight:
Online Technology Classes with MYTEK Lab – MYTEK LAB offers engaging online technology instruction for grades 3rd-12th. Choose from weekly enriching lessons or specialized beginner to advanced topics.
The Vocal Gym for Homeschool – An online vocal course for high schoolers
Handwriting App for Teaching Cursive – The Handwriting Success™ App contains the Getty-Dubay® ebooks that feature Getty-Dubay® Italic Handwriting. It is a complete handwriting curriculum for kids in grades K-6.
Help Limiting Kids Screen Time – What exactly is considered screen time? Do you struggle with the screen time balance? Do you have a kid who lives for their screen time? Here I want to offer you help for limiting kids screen time… and not sending yourself off the deep end! Includes a FREE Printable!
Coding for Kids Made Easy – Coding is quickly becoming as essential to a child’s education as science and math. CodaKid is an online platform that offers coding courses for kids.
Virtual Science Labs – Greg Landry offers virtual science labs for homeschooled students in grades 6-12. These are realistic, interactive, virtual lab experiments students can perform in the convenience of their own home.
Technology in Our Archives
- The Digital Homeschool: Tech Savvy Tips & Online Classes
- American History Online for High School
- Mastery Online Math for Homeschool
- K’nex Education – Introduction to Structures: Bridges
- Leap Frog: Sing-Along, Read-Along Karaoke Reading Set
- Rocks HD App by Sprout Labs
- Trucks and Shadows App for Preschoolers
- Kindergarten Math Splash App Review
- Civics Education: Pocket Law Firm iPad App Review
- Practice and Test Spelling Words with Spelling Bee App
- The Way Things Work, Animated
- Make Spelling Fun with My Spelling Test App
- Type Write Touch Typing and Typing Practice Pages from Gentle Shepherd
- Sprout Lab Apps Review – Water Cycle HD and Recycle HD
- Ranger Rick Jr. AppVentures Lion App review
- Rocket Math App Review
- Make Math Drills Fun with Math Monkey App
- Triple 1070 Biblical Personal Finance Curriculum
- Timez Attack Multiplication and More
- Letter Writer Oceans App
- Stack the States App Review
Review Team Features
- Our Curriculum Choice Tech/App/Online Learning Pinterest Board
- Have you enjoyed this special post from our review authors? Our Curriculum Choice review team features a topic monthly. You can see all that our authors have shared on electives, math, curriculum choices and more under Review Team Features.
~ Originally posted March 2014, Hosted by Heather Woodie of Blog, She Wrote
I’m a homeschooling mom to our fantastic four– two teens at home and two graduates off to university. I’m a former middle and high school biology teacher who has embraced the independent nature of homeschooling and I mentor my children through authentic, student driven projects and learning adventures. You can get practical homeschooling advice and take courses related to homeschooling high school at Blog, She Wrote.
Heather, thanks for this. I’ve dug around your blog for tech info recently (knowing that both our husbands are in the industry), and now it’s all in one place! Thanks so much.
Just read this…thanks for sharing…great info
Great resources! I love finding articles about tech and homeschooling. I’ll have to read through some of these to get some ideas for my podcast.