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    The Ultimate Guide for Using Technology in Homeschool
    The Ultimate Guide for Using Technology in Homeschool
    The Ultimate Guide for Using Technology in Homeschool
    Ebook173 pages2 hours

    The Ultimate Guide for Using Technology in Homeschool

    By Kevin B. Davis

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    About this ebook

    Learn how to use technology to improve your homeschool, gain more freedom, and connect better with your kids with inside tips from an experienced homeschool dad!

    Do you struggle to connect with your kids through technology?

    Do you have a student that gets bored with their studies?

    Does the thought of buying a new computer give you anxiety?

    Do you ever wish you could take your homeschool outside on a nice sunny day?

    The Ultimate Guide for Using Technology in Homeschool is filled with all the information you need to take your homeschool to the next level by using technology.

    Discover new ways to use multimedia to overcome learning or subject challenges.
    Find new freedom in your homeschool family through using technology the right way.
    Learn ways to keep your kids safer online.
    Connect with your kids and gain insight into their world through social media.
    Learn how to choose the right computer and operating system.
    Discover how to setup a home or mobile network.

    This book will help you understand and use technology better, and the concepts will benefit homeschoolers and non-homeschoolers alike.

    So, grab a copy of The Ultimate Guide for Using Technology in Homeschool today!

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherKevin B. Davis
    Release dateMar 8, 2014
    ISBN9781311783219
    The Ultimate Guide for Using Technology in Homeschool
    Author

    Kevin B. Davis

    I'm a homeschool dad. After years of battling personal and academic issues in public school, we elected to bring our kids home to offer them a more customized educational experience. I like to call what we do an "entrepreneurial approach to education." By that, I mean that we, as a family/team, decide the best academic, extracurricular, and travel strategies to maximize learning, and above all, maximize life.I’m also an entrepreneur. I’ve run a web development business for more than 15 years, as well as other endeavors on the web and brick and mortar. I tend to approach homeschool from this same entrepreneurial perspective.As you might imagine, technology is something we use every day in a multitude of ways, so it was natural to include it in our homeschool plans to make the most out of education. It has afforded us easier travel both locally and across the country/world, simplified (which is a bit counterintuitive) our homeschool approach, and provided our kids with a broader range of educational opportunities.My hope is that I can share at least some of what we've learned along the way to make using technology in homeschool a little easier.

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      Book preview

      The Ultimate Guide for Using Technology in Homeschool - Kevin B. Davis

      The Ultimate Guide for Using Technology in Homeschool

      By Kevin B. Davis

      Smashwords Edition

      Copyright 2014 Kevin B. Davis

      ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

      To my amazing wife and daughters, you make it all worthwhile!

      This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite e-book retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      INTRODUCTION:

      Homeschooling can open doors to an exciting and motivating learning experience. Thousands of families have enjoyed the benefits of homeschooling over many years, and a plethora of programs have been creating the optimal educational experience for those families that homeschooling is a good fit.

      Technology is one of the most important and useful tools for today's homeschool family, but also one of the most overlooked. It can sometimes be quite difficult for homeschool parents to get themselves out of the public school mindset of books, pencils, paper, library, and a classroom-type setting at home. Through this book, I'd like to help you understand technology so that you can maximize its use. With technology, you can make homeschooling more fun, effective, and efficient, all while opening some new avenues for travel, scheduling, and freedom.

      Before you get scared and stop reading, give me a chance to show you that it’s not as scary as it sounds. I'm no genius (just ask my wife), and if I can do it, pretty much anyone can learn this stuff. For our family, integrating technology has helped us take our homeschooling to the next level. Even if you choose not to approach homeschooling in the same way that that we do, with travel, snow birding, and full-on technophile kids, there will definitely be some great info in here for you.

      It can be easy to simply jump on some anti-technology bandwagon and just decide we don’t need that new-fangled stuff here, but I think this attitude can be short-sighted. Technology is fully integrated into most young people’s lives, and it’s possible that dismissing technology could cause parents to lose connection opportunities with their kids. I’m hopeful that this book will provide some valuable information that will help you better use technology, not only in your homeschool, but in your interactions with your kids.

      It should be noted that this book is not a how-to book about homeschooling; it’s really a how-to book about technology for homeschooling. Because there are so many different philosophies with homeschooling, I am hesitant to say that one way is the best way to use technology. My goal is to provide a thorough explanation about technology concepts that you can use in your homeschool. It’s really up to you how you ultimately use those concepts.

      Along the way, I’ll provide examples and information about some ways we’ve used technology to help us with our homeschool.

      ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

      I'm a homeschool dad. After years of battling personal and academic issues in public school, we elected to bring our kids home to offer them a more customized educational experience. I like to call what we do an entrepreneurial approach to education. By that, I mean that we, as a family/team, decide the best academic, extracurricular, and travel strategies to maximize learning, and above all, maximize life.

      I’m also an entrepreneur. I’ve run a web development business for more than 15 years, as well as other endeavors on the web and brick and mortar. I tend to approach homeschool from this same entrepreneurial perspective.

      As you might imagine, technology is something we use every day in a multitude of ways, so it was natural to include it in our homeschool plans to make the most out of education. It has afforded us easier travel both locally and across the country/world, simplified (which is a bit counterintuitive) our homeschool approach, and provided our kids with a broader range of educational opportunities.

      My hope is that I can share at least some of what we've learned along the way to make using technology in homeschool a little easier.

      Connect with Me:

      Facebook – Twitter - Web

      A QUICK NOTE ABOUT THE BOOK LAYOUT AND FORMATTING:

      Each topic has its own chapter, which is standard book-type stuff. But, sometimes, it is easy for our brains to completely shut off when we read, especially when the concepts are a bit foreign. For that reason, at the end of each section, you'll find a Just Give Me the Facts summary that will sum up that chapter. You might be thinking, then why give the rest of the info? Well, it's still important and pertinent information, and who's going to pay for 10 short summary paragraphs, right?

      E-Books can be a little hard on formatting items like bulleted and numbered lists and special formatting. For that reason, and to ensure a consistent reading experience across all platforms, I've tried to keep everything as simple as possible.

      TABLE OF CONTENTS

      My Computer Doesn't Fit in My Backpack!

      How to choose a computer platform that works for you.

      Section One – Desktops V. Laptops

      Section Two – Shopping

      Apples & Oranges – Well, Non-Apples at Least!

      Which operating system is best?

      Is that Computer Made for Elves?

      Chromebook, Netbooks, and Other Tablet Options

      LANs, WANs, and WiFi, Oh My!

      Easy home networking, and mobile computing options.

      My Kid was on WHAT Website?

      Web filtering technologies to keep your kids safe online.

      Finally, Room for My Porcelain Pig Collection!

      Free up your bookshelves by using e-book readers and audiobooks; tips on choosing, options, and ways to get free books.

      Should I wait 30 Minutes After Eating before Googling?

      Using the leading search engines effectively and safely.

      But How Will I Get my Workout?

      Alternative curriculum options to books/pencils/paper.

      Can you Read me Now?

      Electronic communication, texting, apps, social networking, and other tools to stay in touch and broaden socialization options.

      Just Because Fresh Prince was in the 1990's, it still Doesn't Qualify as History!

      Online media options, YouTube, Netflix, Amazon, and how they can broaden your homeschool experience.

      Appendix:

      A collection of useful links.

      CHAPTER 1

      MY COMPUTER DOESN'T FIT IN MY BACKPACK!

      HOW TO CHOOSE A COMPUTER PLATFORM THAT WORKS FOR YOU.

      If you walk into any electronics retailer or shop much online, it won't take long for you to realize just how many different computer options there are. However, if we break it down a little, it isn't quite so overwhelming, and there's an added bonus: educated consumers save money. Heck, this book is paying for itself already!

      There are two main options when shopping for a new computer: desktop or laptop. We'll talk more about Apple vs. Windows in the next chapter. For the sake of this discussion, we're going to assume mini-laptops (11" or less), tablets (iPad, Surface, for example) and other more portable options are less than optimal choices for most families for the purpose of homeschool. We will, however, discuss these technologies in detail a bit later.

      SECTION 1 – DESKTOPS V. LAPTOPS

      DESKTOPS

      Advantages - There are many advantages to going with a desktop:

      Typically Cheaper - this is especially true if you already have a monitor.

      More Durable - they don't move around, so typically the only damage they see is a bit of dust.

      Better Speed and Storage - at the same price point, desktops will have more RAM (onboard memory,) which allows the computer to do its work faster. Desktop hard drives are also usually cheaper than their laptop counterparts, so they often come with more space to store files, images, videos, etc.

      Improved Peripherals - peripheral is just a fancy name for extra stuff, like monitors, mice, and keyboards. Desktops use a stand-alone mouse and keyboard which would be larger than a those found on a laptop, and of course, a printer is stationary, so that's definitely more convenient. Desktops require a separate monitor, which allows you to get more screen size than a laptop provides. Most HDTV’s even have connectors that turn them in to a monitor, so if you're having trouble getting your kid to focus on his homework, hook up the computer to the 55" flat screen! This is a dramatization, of course, but you get the idea.

      Another advantage related to monitors is that desktops will often have better graphics cards than laptops. For most people, this is probably not that big of a deal, but if you have a kid at home that is a big gamer (on his non-school time of course), or if he's interested in graphic design, web design, or some other digital media, a better graphics card can make all the difference.

      Easier to Upgrade - whether it's you, your teenage daughter, or the local geek store doing the work, it usually takes just a couple of screws and a side panel to add stuff like better graphics cards, more USB ports, extra hard drives, and other add-ons. It is also fairly easy to add more RAM, which will improve performance, and in some cases, you can

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