Child-led learning is taking the world by storm. Even in the world of public education, buzzwords like “maker spaces,” “individualized education,” and “self-directed learning” are everywhere. Thanks to non-traditional thinkers like John Holt, homeschoolers have long been aware that sometimes learning only “sticks” when students learn as a result of their innate curiosities.
Technology-based learning is a natural way for this student-directed trend to take hold. So,
How Unschoolers Can Use Chromebooks
Today’s students are digital natives. When students want to know something, they “google” it. Computers are basically curiosity fulfillment in bits and bytes.
Chromebooks, designed specifically as internet-focused laptops, are ideal for seeking answers to questions, researching topics thoroughly, and quenching that need-to-know! Built without the distractions and complexity of traditional computers, a Chromebook can be an unschooler’s ultimate tool in their toolbox.
Unschoolers usually aren’t tied to a formal curriculum, which means they need a more creative way of tracking what they are learning. The Google Drive Chromebook App can be an absolute lifesaver for recordkeeping because it requires no paper, is completely customizable, and 100% free to use.
You might decide to create a separate spreadsheet for each student with categories for math, science, language arts, and more. Then, whatever your child is currently learning about can be added into the appropriate category. Or maybe you prefer to simply keep a blog-style document for each student that you update daily or weekly with their ongoing activities. For high school homeschoolers, you can even create a transcript using Google Drive that is able to be shared with potential colleges.
Top Chrome Apps for Unschooling
If your self-directed learner hasn’t already discovered these awesome Chrome applications, now is the time to introduce him or her to them:
- Spelling City makes learning spelling
- Dinosearch is a child-friendly search engine based on Google, but which blocks out any sites unsafe for younger kids
- Planetarium is like getting your very own interactive telescope that lets you know what you’re viewing as you view it
- Pixton is a tool that lets students write their own graphic cartoons where the only limits are one’s imagination
- Fraction Wall is a fun and interactive way to visualize fractions, decimals, and percents