Homeschool 2.0 » YouTube

Podcasting in Plain English

lynn — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:59:08 +0000

New from Commoncraft, Podcasting in Plain English. I love podcasting and have my personal favorites that I listen to regularly, Hugh Hewitt and the Wall Street Journal This Morning. Our church podcasts its weekly sermons so if we’re gone we can keep up with what’s going on. Just about any topic is available because podcasting can turn anybody with a will into a broadcaster.

I use iTunes and an iPod to keep it simple but there are other ways to go about it…check out the video for a primer.

<\/param><\/param><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt="">

Blogs in Plain English

lynn — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 18:10:01 +0000

Hot off the press, so to speak. The folks at Commoncraft have created another cool whiteboard video, a primer on blogging. (3 min.)

[youtube NN2I1pWXjXI]

My son really wants a blog of his own. Hmmmm. He wants to be able to write and publish so his friends can read and comment. Sounds like a good way to encourage practical writing skills.

Digital Ethnography and the Digital Divide

lynn — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 01:21:40 +0000

eth·nog·ra·phy (ĕth-nŏg’rə-fē)
n. The branch of anthropology that deals with the scientific description of specific human cultures.

Professor Michael Wesch is an assistant professor of anthropology at Kansas State University. I first heard about him through the viral video The Machine is Us/ing Us, which describes the progression of the internet to a vast collaborative Web2.0 environment.

Dr. Wesch and his undergraduate students have a new video project, A Vision of Students Today, that gives us a glimpse at the lifestyle and education of today’s students.

(more…)

Real Beauty

lynn — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 20:11:43 +0000

I’ve written a bit on the socialization aspect of homeschooling in the past few weeks. One of the serious downsides of our culture is how it defines ‘beauty’ for girls and young women. It’s a consequence of life in a brick-and-mortar school we’ve avoided by homeschooling. Our daughter missed out on the constant self-comparison and comments on appearance and clothing and style that occur daily in our schools. For that I am glad. At 18, she has a healthy self-image with no hints of obsessions or eating disorders. We attribute that to a few things, being protected from the aforementioned environment, a loving home, and above all, her own relationship with God.

(more…)

Google Docs Rocks

lynn — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 18:53:36 +0000

We’re pretty bullish on Google at Frontier and also at our house. Here’s one reason why, Google Docs, the free, shareable web-based applications that include a word processor, spreadsheet and newly added presentation software. Here’s how it works and why it’s a great tool for collaboration.

[youtube eRqUE6IHTEA]

Friday Frivolity

lynn — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 00:28:44 +0000

Last week it was giant cabbages. This week I AM THE MOM. (2 minutes)

[youtube w_oc1j5NakY]

Think Before you Post. There May be no Turning Back.

lynn — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:14:09 +0000

Here’s a dramatic illustration of why one has to be wise about what’s posted online.
[youtube iwBz-hxjSLU]
HT: History Tech via cliotech

Emergency Math Tutor

lynn — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 18:25:36 +0000

You all need a quick laugh. Hat Tip: Why Homeschool.

Social Bookmarking: Simply Del.icio.us

lynn — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 18:09:21 +0000

I’ve tried to explain Del.icio.us to my friends but my enthusiasm cannot overcome my inadequate abilities to explain this stuff. So, here’s the latest from Commoncraft as they simply and elegantly explain how del.icio.us works and why all my friends should use it.

[youtube x66lV7GOcNU]

How Do We Teach Digital Kids?

lynn — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 22:14:41 +0000

Part of the challenge of teaching older kids at home is staying digitally literate. At our house we joke about Planet 8-Track (where I was born and raised) and Planet iPod, a culural illustration from Earl Creps’ book Off-Road Disciplines. My kids are from Planet iPod. I try to keep up with what happens on Planet iPod. It is not easy but I’m responsible for their learning.

So, how do parents or for that matter classroom teachers from Planet 8-Track teach their iPod kids? Our culture and thus the labor market is hungry for digitally wired people. Our economy loves digital innovation. How do we make sure our kids are competitive in that market? Many thanks to mrmoses for pointing out these two videos that spotlight these issues.

(more…)