Homeschooling with Technology Meryl van der Merwe

278: Learning with Micro:bit

Guest Joseph Lemke shares with us how he is learning with Micro:bit and why this is a great way for students to explore coding.



What is a Micro:bit?



* programmable microcontroller, like a tiny computer

* has built in sensors like temperature, gyroscope, compass, microphone, speaker, touch button, blue tooth antennae to talk to other microbits and your phone

* has enough computing power to do a lot of things



What are the strengths of Micro:bit?



* it’s a good starting microcontroller because has a good programming platform

* microsoft makecode - graphical platform or text code

* micropython is another option



How do I get started?



* Purchase a starter kit for about  $25 on Amazon.

* Go to Makecode.microbit.org, and work through the Tutorials



What are some of the favorite projects you’ve made with micro:bit?



* drink dispenser

* controlled dot matrix printer from the 80’s

* Borg costume

* fingerprint reader for light switch









Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies.



Join our Facebook Group, especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology into your homeschool.



If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode



 

277: Finding and Using Online Classes for Homeschooling Effectively





In this episode we look at  the importance of finding and using online classes as part of homeschooling effectively.

Choosing the Right Online Class:





Determine your goals and what's best for your children.

Consider your children's learning styles and your budget.

Decide on the level of flexibility needed (live classes vs. asynchronous classes).

Accommodate any learning disabilities your children may have.

Decide whether the class will be the sole learning source or a supplement.

Ask for recommendations from friends, homeschool groups, and online forums.

Read reviews and watch class demos to narrow down your choices.

Get input from your high school-aged children.



Using Online Classes Effectively:





Remember that you are the homeschool parent in charge of your children's education.

Monitor your children's progress and ensure they complete assignments on time.

Provide technical assistance and help with scheduling, especially for younger children.

Communicate with teachers about any learning disabilities or family issues.

Teach high schoolers how to communicate with teachers directly.

Monitor grades and address any issues promptly.

Discuss the appropriate use of AI in classes with your children.



Previous episodes mentioned



Episode 220 - How to use the internet to find the right curriculum for your child 



Episode 194 - The role of parents in online classes











Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies.





Join our Facebook Group, especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology into your homeschool.



If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode





 



 

 



This is a replay of episode 95 - you can find the original show notes here.



The Stock Market Contest run by show sponsor FundaFunda Academy is happening this summer - June 1 to July 31 for grades 4 - 12. You can register here.

276:  Making Math Fun: Building a Thriving Homeschool Math Club





 



My guest, Haley Story, has built a thriving homeschool math club  and taught children that math can be fun. Haley was on episode 243 where she talked to us about Math Contests



These are the questions Haley answers in this episode:



1. Why did you start a math club

2. How did you get the word out

3. What do you do during math club? What resources do you use?

4 How many attend and how do you cope with the different ability levels.

5. How do you make it fun



Resources used in the Math Club



* The National Math Club by Mathcounts

* Art of Problem Solving - for advanced students and for contest prep

* Logic puzzles and warmups: Critical Thinking Company

* Challenge problems: practice contests from Noetic

* Problem of the Week from Mathcounts

* Beast Academy for younger students

* Math Is Fun

* Math board games, dice games, and card games



Board games that are NOT “math games” but that do a great job of teaching math 



* For Sale

* Incan Gold

* SET!

* Farkle

* Quixx

* Nertz/ Dutch Blitz

* 6 Nimmt  - original German Version, US version

* Skyjo



Be sure to listen to the episode to hear exactly how Haley started the m...

275:` Web Development for Homeschoolers







In this episode, host Meryl van der Merwe interviews Robert Walsh, an experienced web developer and educator from Excalibur Solutions Stem Academy. They dive into the fundamentals of web development, discussing HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and the advantages of learning to code websites over using drag-and-drop builders. Robert shares insights on the ideal age for kids to start learning web development, free online resources, and the benefits of taking a structured web development course.



Robert Walsh was also a guest on Episode 266 where he talked about teaching students to use Tinkercad.

What is Web Development?



Creating content that displays inside a web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari)

Building dynamic and interactive web pages with coding

Requires knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript



HTML = Structure

CSS = Appearance

JavaScript = Interactivity and behavior







Why Learn Web Development Instead of Using Drag-and-Drop Tools?



Drag-and-drop tools have limitations and may not give the desired result

Learning HTML, CSS allows customization beyond drag-and-drop capabilities

Adding custom JavaScript enables complex behaviors not possible with drag-and-drop



Age to Start Learning Web Development:



Middle school age (6th or 7th grade) can conceptually grasp the basics

Need to be comfortable with a computer keyboard

Ability to differentiate syntax between HTML, CSS, and JavaScript



Free Resources for Learning:



W3Schools (https://www.w3schools.com/)

Mozilla Developer Network (MDN Web Docs) (https://developer.mozilla.org/)

YouTube tutorials and online resources (search for "web development tutorials")



Benefits of Taking a Web Development Course:



Get feedback and assistance from experienced instructors

Learn best practices and coding conventions

Structured curriculum and guidance



Robert's Web Development Course Offerings



Half-credit high school course, but open to middle schoolers from show sponsor FundaFunda Academy - Intro to Web Development

Robert's Excalibur Solutions STEM Academy (subscription model) provides access to  web development along with other STEM courses



Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies.



Join our Facebook Group, especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology into your homeschool.



If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode

274: Ethical AI Use for Scholarship Success







Guest, Monica Matthews, a scholarship expert, talks to us about Ethical AI use for scholarship success for your children.



Monica was also the guest on episode 117 where she shared tips for completing online scholarship applications that will help students be successful.



Find Monica at her website, How 2 Win Scholarships, her Facebook page and her Facebook group, Scholarship Help and College Talk for Parents.



Topics Covered:



Using AI (Artificial Intelligence) to write scholarship essays - why it's a bad idea

Red flags that scholarship providers look for to detect AI-written essays (strange word choices, lack of personal stories/details, similar phrasing across essays)

Potential positive uses of AI for scholarship applications (grammar correction, brainstorming ideas, rephrasing)

How scholarship requirements may change due to AI (more personal questions, video essay submissions)

Importance of developing your own authentic voice and not relying too heavily on AI



Key Takeaways:



Scholarship providers want to hear your unique personal story - AI cannot replicate this

Use AI as a tool for brainstorming, grammar checks, etc. but don't let it write your essays

Be prepared for scholarship apps to crack down on AI use and require disclosure

Work on developing skills like video editing as more visual components may be required

The ethical use of AI writing tools is crucial for long-term success



Resources Mentioned:



Monica's website: http://howtowinscholarships.com

Facebook group: Scholarship Help and College Talk for Parents

Monica's ebook guides

Sign up for Monica's newsletter for upcoming scholarship lists

Episode 15 on finding/winning scholarships





Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies.



Join our Facebook Group, especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology into your homeschool.



If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode