According to Ivan Illich in 1972, “Universal education through schooling is not feasible”. His radical ideas regarding schooling provoked much debate back in the 1970s, with most dismissing him as an over-zealous new-age hippy. Could it be, however, that he was rather a forward-thinking would-be educational revolutionary? Are his ideas still valid today, and have [...]
Posted in Back to School, Homeschool, Learning Methods, News 
Tags: Education, homeschool, Ivan Illich, Learning 
No Comments »The scandal began a few years ago when The Atlanta Constitution Journal decided to analyze multiple years worth of standardized test scores from schools in the Atlanta area, in an attempt to clarify just how effective these tests were in evaluating student academic progress. With the millions of dollars and countless hours and other resources [...]
Posted in News Tags: cheating, homeschool, Learning, Project-based learning, standardized testing, testing Comments OffSpottybanana is looking for a few good writers. Because we focus on child-led, project-based learning, we are seeking a few new voices that are similarly passionate about learning, especially non-traditional, informal, and eclectic learning methods. If you can say yes to at least three of the following, you should definitely apply: 1. Excellent writing – [...]
Posted in News, Writing Tags: bloggers, contribute, contributors, scholars, science geeks, spottybanana, writers Comments OffAnecdotally, it is obvious that Apple products are kid-magnets. Children find the devices simple to use, easy to hold, and powerful extensions of their imaginations. With so many cool apps to draw, read, listen, interact, and play, the devices are replacing toys atop children’s’ wish lists. In addition to the apps, the devices themselves are [...]
Posted in Electronics, Learning Methods, News, technology Tags: Apple, iPad, iPhone, IPod Touch Comments OffElaine Hirsch is kind of a jack-of-all-interests, from education and history to medicine and videogames. This makes it difficult to choose just one life path, so she is currently working as a writer for various education-related sites and writing about all these things instead. Kids are like sponges. When they’re young, kids will soak up [...]
Posted in Literacy, News, Teaching methods Tags: Economics, f, Family Costs, Financial Literacy, Learning, Money Management, Teaching Comments OffA North Carolina Homeschooling Family won the 2011 LEGO Smart Creativity Contest in the homeschooling category by showcasing how they use LEGO to make stop-motion animation videos. The family plans to give some of the $2,500 LEGO gift certificates to their local 4-H Lego and Robotics Club. Read more Check out all of the winning [...]
Harry Potter fans may remember the 5th Harry Potter Book (The Order of the Pheonix) when a government appointed teacher (Professor Umbridge) at Hogwarts School changes the learning process in her classroom so that kids only learn theory and not practice. Disappointed students preferred to practice what they’ve learned and found the in-class reading and [...]
Posted in Eclectic Homeschooling, Learning Methods, News, STEAM, Teaching methods Tags: alternative education, Education Reform, Homeschooling, Learning, NPR, Science Friday, STEM, Unschooling Comments OffThe Tiziano Project is an incredible initiative focused on training journalists in conflict, post-conflict, and underreported areas around the globe. The project trains citizen journalists to contribute quality news stories to local and international news outlets. As part of the initiative, the Tiziano Project website hosts a number of simple but useful tutorials on basic [...]
Posted in Language Arts, News, Online Tools, social change, Writing Tags: Citizen Journalism, Journalism, Tiziano Project, tutorial Comments OffUnschoolers are radical mavericks who approach learning 180 degrees in the opposite direction from traditional education. Unschoolers learn in an unstructured environment almost completely devoid of teachers, separate subjects, grades, tests, or quizzes. Instead, unschoolers hack together their learning palette from many sources to create a truly personal learning experience. Unschoolers are active learners who [...]
Posted in Crowdsource, Eclectic Homeschooling, Economics, Electronics, Interdisciplinary, Learning Methods, Make, News, social change Tags: DIY, Hack, make, maker, Maker culture, Open source, Tim O'Reilly, UnCollege, Unschooling Comments OffYoungzine is a dynamic online news website designed for young people interested in technology, ecology, culture, politics, and news from around the world. Youngzine fills a niche for young people interested in news beyond Hollywood gossip and boy bands. Youngzine’s refreshing mix of content is fun, insightful, interesting, appealing, and appropriate for young thinkers and [...]
Posted in Activities, Culture, News, Online Tools, social change, technology Tags: News, news for kids, youngzine Comments Off
