Collaboration and tutoring are common learning methods focusing on student interaction. Homeschooling families with multiple children have the opportunity for the children to teach each other. Although this is proven to be helpful for both the learner and the "teacher", is it beneficial to both children to engage in this practice over time? Are the learners better off learning from their parent/instructor or independently?
I think interactions between learners is beneficial. However, there needs to also be ample amounts of time for independent learning and parent-led instruction. The reason for this is to expose the children to various learning situations and environments. Learning is a life-time endeavor requiring a wide repertoire of strategies.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
What are the best sources for acquiring information
Information comes in many forms from textbooks, novels, internet, people, nature, etc. When and how should these sources of inormation be used?
Steiner Waldorf schools do not introduce textbook learning until the age of seven and even then students "use few textbooks - instead they learn to prepare their own illustrated and hand-written main lesson books as they go along. In the early classes, the teacher often dictates some of the text after thorough discussion of the subject matter with the class. In later years the children start writing and drawing their own accounts of the lesson and finally even bind the books themselves. This experience lays the basis for the independent taking of notes during classes in the Upper School." This approach is similar to notebooking in which the students are provided with general guidelines for their subject of study and then required to find the information to complete their notebooks. The result is the writing of their own "textbook".
Many homeschoolers follow the public school approach by using textbooks/workbooks throughout all grade levels. The Charlotte Mason method uses "living books rather than dry textbooks. Living books are usually written in story form by one author who has a passion for the subject. A living book makes the subject “come alive.” (Mason) taught spelling by using passages from great books that communicate great ideas rather than just a list of words."
These are just some of the information sources available to the homeschooler. Which of these are best for different learners? How often are a mix of these sources used?
Steiner Waldorf schools do not introduce textbook learning until the age of seven and even then students "use few textbooks - instead they learn to prepare their own illustrated and hand-written main lesson books as they go along. In the early classes, the teacher often dictates some of the text after thorough discussion of the subject matter with the class. In later years the children start writing and drawing their own accounts of the lesson and finally even bind the books themselves. This experience lays the basis for the independent taking of notes during classes in the Upper School." This approach is similar to notebooking in which the students are provided with general guidelines for their subject of study and then required to find the information to complete their notebooks. The result is the writing of their own "textbook".
Many homeschoolers follow the public school approach by using textbooks/workbooks throughout all grade levels. The Charlotte Mason method uses "living books rather than dry textbooks. Living books are usually written in story form by one author who has a passion for the subject. A living book makes the subject “come alive.” (Mason) taught spelling by using passages from great books that communicate great ideas rather than just a list of words."
These are just some of the information sources available to the homeschooler. Which of these are best for different learners? How often are a mix of these sources used?
What is the best age to start formal education?
There are many views on when children should start their formal homeschooling experience. At one extreme is the view that it is never to early as expressed through Montesori education. This advocates things such as learning the alphabet as early as 2 years. The belief is that toddlers are eager learners and naturally inquisitive about their world.
At the other extreme is the view that formal schooling does not need to start until later. This camp, led by Steiner Waldorf Education, believes that "a child will learn these skills (three Rs) more effectively if he/she has had plenty of time and opportunity to develop socially, emotionally and physically first in a creative, secure and harmonious environment." Texas compulsory attendance laws, however, state that a child must attend school starting at the age of six.
One of the main benefits of homeschooling is the ability to provide each child with personalized instruction. Each child needs to start and progress at his/her own rate. Are parents pushing children to begin their formal education too early or are state laws forcing them to begin too soon?
Monday, April 13, 2009
Teacher-Led vs Independent Learning
The ultimate goal for our children should be to create life-long learners. However, there is some debate on the best way to accomplish this. In particular for this posting is the question of teacher-led learning and independent learning. Teacher led learning is where the teacher presents information to the student and directs their learning on a day to day basis. There is a great deal of interaction between the teacher and student. Independent learning has many levels. The basic level consists of the teacher providing the materials and general requirements to the student and then leaving the student to meet the requirements. These can be presented as daily requirements or more long-term requirements (ie. finishing a course).
The question is which type of learning is more appropriate. I think that both types of learning are appropriate at different levels and different times. In classical education there are three levels that make up the trivium. In the first level students are more able to memorize information. These students need a great deal of teacher interaction to stay on task. This is also the time when basic study and learning strategies are established.
Once students have "learned the basics" they are able to then transition into independent learning. This transition requires a mix of both teacher-led and independent learning depending on their areas of strength a weakness. There are also times in even their best subjects that students may need a little bit more instruction and/or direction through additional learning. Students in this phase should not be left high and dry to sink or swim.
In the last phase of learning, students must understand that they are ultimately responsible for their life-long accomplishments and learning. At this point any student-teacher interaction that takes place should be focused on encouragement. Students must take ownership of their own learning and ideas.
Although these phases are assigned to certain age groups, it is important to know your individual child and their placement within these developmental categories. Transitions from one phase to another should only happen when your child is ready. This means, though, that sometimes and with some children the transitions can be difficult. Occasionally a bird has to be pushed out of the nest in order to learn to fly. As homeschoolers, we have the awesome ability to apply these phases of learning on an individual basis for each of our children. For this reason, our children should in the long run become able to soar with the eagles. Isn't that after all our ultimate goal?
The question is which type of learning is more appropriate. I think that both types of learning are appropriate at different levels and different times. In classical education there are three levels that make up the trivium. In the first level students are more able to memorize information. These students need a great deal of teacher interaction to stay on task. This is also the time when basic study and learning strategies are established.
Once students have "learned the basics" they are able to then transition into independent learning. This transition requires a mix of both teacher-led and independent learning depending on their areas of strength a weakness. There are also times in even their best subjects that students may need a little bit more instruction and/or direction through additional learning. Students in this phase should not be left high and dry to sink or swim.
In the last phase of learning, students must understand that they are ultimately responsible for their life-long accomplishments and learning. At this point any student-teacher interaction that takes place should be focused on encouragement. Students must take ownership of their own learning and ideas.
Although these phases are assigned to certain age groups, it is important to know your individual child and their placement within these developmental categories. Transitions from one phase to another should only happen when your child is ready. This means, though, that sometimes and with some children the transitions can be difficult. Occasionally a bird has to be pushed out of the nest in order to learn to fly. As homeschoolers, we have the awesome ability to apply these phases of learning on an individual basis for each of our children. For this reason, our children should in the long run become able to soar with the eagles. Isn't that after all our ultimate goal?
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Learning Through Immersion
Most of us have heard that the best way to learn a foreign language is to totally immerse ourselves in the language and (if possible) the culture. This has prompted some in the homeschooling community to approach general learning in the same way. The basic belief behind this method is that "subjects" should be limited and studied in greater depth and detail.The average school day for most children in public education consists of 45 to hour-long blocks of time in which children jump from math, to science, to history, to reading, to music (if lucky), etc. Considering the amount of time it takes to settle students, conduct classroom business, and other non-instructional tasks, the students are obtaining a small amount of actual instruction time for any particular subject at a time. Some schools have tried to remedy this by alternating days for subjects. Instead of the student going to eight (more or less) different short classes, the students go to four classes on say Monday and Wednesday and then four different classes on Tuesday and Thursday. Although this allow for more in-class instructional time, it is creating a big delay in learning with multiple days between sessions.
The alternative through immersive learning is to limit the number of subjects that students are exposed to and providing more time and indepth learning. One proposed format would be to require students to study reading, writing and math only for the pre-teen years. This is said to allow students to acquire a deeper level of learning since the they are focused on only three subjects. The reading of various types of history and science books will provide a basic foundation for those subjects. Once students have "mastered" reading, writing and math, they move on to other subjects such as science and history. Dr. Robinson (see my blog entitled Oral Self-Teaching), as a science professor, argued that math is the language of science and that true scientific concepts cannot be comprehended unless the student first had a thorough understanding of math.
Oral Self-Teaching
Dr. Arthur Robinson talks about oral self-teaching as a method used by his homeschooled sons. Robinson cited that this method was first described by M. L. Jones, in his book The Overnight Student (currently out of print). This method is based on the belief that those who teach, learn. With this in mind, Robinson suggests that students who "teach" themselves are better able to comprehend and retain new information. For a more detailed explanation of Robinson's findings visit Specific Answers.
The basic steps for oral self-teaching are for the learner to read new material in small pieces and then to orally present the information using visual prompts. This oral presentation or "teaching" is best when done privately so the learner is not inhibited by the idea of a real audience. As the student orally self-teaches they are made aware of areas in the new material where their comprehension is incomplete. Conversely, during the process of orally self-teaching, students will gain deeper understanding and longer retention. For a more thoroughly description of this method along with preliminary research please visit my wiki. A more comprehensive look at this method will be posted to the same wiki in the future.
Although oral self-teaching seems to theoretically be supported by research I have questions as to its practicality. The time needed to implement this method might prove too troublesome for both parents and students. Further research and input from those who have used this method is needed to assess the potential benefits or lack thereof.
Of further consideration is whether student videos of oral self-teaching could be used to teach other students through web postings.
The basic steps for oral self-teaching are for the learner to read new material in small pieces and then to orally present the information using visual prompts. This oral presentation or "teaching" is best when done privately so the learner is not inhibited by the idea of a real audience. As the student orally self-teaches they are made aware of areas in the new material where their comprehension is incomplete. Conversely, during the process of orally self-teaching, students will gain deeper understanding and longer retention. For a more thoroughly description of this method along with preliminary research please visit my wiki. A more comprehensive look at this method will be posted to the same wiki in the future.
Although oral self-teaching seems to theoretically be supported by research I have questions as to its practicality. The time needed to implement this method might prove too troublesome for both parents and students. Further research and input from those who have used this method is needed to assess the potential benefits or lack thereof.
Of further consideration is whether student videos of oral self-teaching could be used to teach other students through web postings.
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