Home School Computer Curriculum

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High School Home Schooling - keeping it real

Of course, I say that tongue-in-cheek, but yet, now the internet is my first port of call when I want to research or find information. It helps me locate all sorts of important and unimportant information for an abundance of topics.

But, as I consider this, I realize that our world without computers, is a thing of the past. Our children will never know a time without a computer in the house. Instead, we will have to teach them other ways of researching other than the computer. Our children will grow up computer savvy, learning computers and getting to know and use it far quicker than you and I.

Having said that, there are some important skills we need to pass on to our children. This is where we need to decide what should be in our general home school computer curriculum. We need to decide and discuss what is acceptable computer use in our house. The dangers, the correct use of the computer, the computer as a tool, time spent on the computer, limitations of games and internet protocol are all important parts of what we need to teach our children in the age in which we now live.

Perhaps the most important skill we want our children to learn is how to fix the computer when it crashes or the network is disabled or an error message decides to continually annoy us! Every family should grow at least one "computer technician" or "Network Support Manager". We joke around at home divvying out appropriate jobs for our children to make mum and dad's lives easier : We need an electrician, a plumber, a carpenter, a cook/house-cleaner, and definitely a computer expert!

Just a few points before we discuss some important skills to include in our computer curriculum for our children.

• Make sure your computer is safe. Here's some free Computer Protection Programs - easy to install and very effective.
  • K9 Web Protection is our free Internet filtering and control solution for the home. K9 puts YOU in control of the Internet so you can protect your kids.
  • NetAlert is part of the Australian Government's ongoing commitment to providing a safe online environment for all families, especially children.
  
  
  
• Set out family guidelines for the use of the computer according to age:- time, types of games, use of computer etc.

• Set up the computer in a visible location for the sake of accountability especially if the computer is connected to the internet.
• Use the computer as a tool and incorporate it across other curriculum areas.
• Be careful not to begin using the computer too early! Children will pick up computer skills very quickly and will not be disadvantaged if they are kept away from the computer formany years. They do not need to learn to use the mouse with "Click on me!" games. Maybe, as adults we may need to practice our co-ordination with a mouse, but our kids certainly don't!! They will, I believe, be disadvantaged if they do not have time to play, run outside, kick a ball and spend time outdoors. With young children, your priority should be on time to communicate, explore, walk, play, enjoy art and be together, developing character. Don't let the computer be a substitute for you - play games person to person, rather than computer to person!

Computer Skills and Computer Teacher Resources

• BBC Dance Mat Typing - fun, on-line typing tutor

Word Processing Skills
Develop the use of the computer as a tool:

• Write letters
• Type Narrations
• Copy their own handwritten narrations.
• Create a Newsletter (and sending it via email to family and friends)
• Write Party Invitations and Plan a Birthday Party
• Write reports/essays/poems/stories. Add images to work.
• Word 2007 Free Self-Paced Training Courses
• Learn to use Microsoft Products with the How-to articles from Microsoft
• Microsoft Lesson Plans - enhance student learning through technology. Covers grades K-12. Microsoft Lesson Plans

SpreadSheets

• Keep track of pocket money or earnings; Budgeting
• Make all sorts of tables for data
• Graph work
• Excel 2007 Free Self-Paced Training Courses
• Learn to use Microsoft Excel and other Products with the How-to articles from Microsoft
• Microsoft Lesson Plans - enhance student learning through technology. Covers grades K-12. Microsoft Lesson Plans

E-Mail

• Write and send letters to friends and family
• Know how to receive, delete, and store emails
• Find a homeschool penpal
• Send out a Family Newsletter

Drawing Skills

• Use Microsoft Paint to draw pictures, and use a variety of tools;Stretch, Colour, Text, and so on. Make a poster
• Corel Drawing programs - free trials
• Google Sketch-Up
• Graphic Design using 3D Imaging
• Creating own designs
• Animation

Powerpoint Presentations

• PowerPoint 2007 Free Self-Paced Training Courses
• An excellent project to present a unit of study; Can use images, text, and variety of effects.
• Learn to use Microsoft PowerPoint and other Products with the How-to articles from Microsoft
• Microsoft Lesson Plans - enhance student learning through technology. Covers grades K-12. Microsoft Lesson Plans

Using Images

• Check out Microsoft's 150,000 free clipart images and sounds
• Enhance projects and written reports
• Upload and storing own photos
• Create a PowerPoint Photo Album
• Understand of copyright
• Buy photographs and sell images on-line

Website Design

• Real Life Learning: Create your own website on your own - a hobby site or a profitable business!
• Learn to build a Web Business - an online Course - Read more about it here.
  
• Free E-Course: How to Build a Profitable Web Business. Sent directly to your e-mail box in 4 installments!
• How did I create this website?
  Read my Site Build It! Diary!
  Diary Page Two

Teens building a website? - Why not?

How to Use the Internet to do Research
by Harvey & Laurie Bluedorn. Copyright 1998. All rights reserved.

Homeschooling families use the library often. We go to the library whenever we want to look something up or we want to find a book to read. But did you know that the Internet can be just as useful (or even more useful) in doing research? We will discuss two parts of the Internet that are valuable research tools: newsgroups and mailing lists. ...Read More

Fixing Problems

• Use the internet to search for problems
• Pull apart and re-build old computers to understand components

You might also like to read:

• High School Homeschooling - Keep Learning Real
• Teaching Business Management Skills
• What about a Website or Web Business?
• Benefits of building a website
• Starting a Web Business
• Best Website Builder is You!
• Free E-Course: How to Build a Profitable Web Business
• Online Course to build a web business
• Return to Teen Entrepreneurs

• Homepage
• Homeschooling Subjects

High School Home Schooling : Build a Website

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