The Many Differences Between Remote Learning and Homeschooling
- rstinson10
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
"Remote learning" should never be called homeschooling.
They are two very different things.
Remote, distance, and online learning have been available for quite some time. There are many fantastic educational resources available on the internet, such as the Khan Academy, Coursera, Canvas, etc. However, ever since we experienced the Covid Pandemic (or "Plandemic", as some may call it), the lines between homeschooling and "remote learning" have been blurred. In this article we hope to clarify some misconceptions about the differences between these.
Why? We have a responsibility to uphold the integrity of homeschoolers by not describing remote learning as a type of homeschooling, since they are two very different things. The misrepresentation that homeschooling equates with remote learning is actually steering families away from truly homeschooling their children towards a kind of poorly architected internet video-based public school system. It also creates unwarranted public scrutiny of homeschool families when the children of families that are remote learning fail to meet educational standards; that is to say, when there is no real teacher in the classroom, there's no one to insist upon meeting any learning standards. Further, perpetuating this misrepresentation is driving families back into the public school system when they eventually realize that remote learning is a poor substitute for actual teacher-led learning, which they never did the first place.
About "Remote Learning"
"Remote learning" is public school at home.
If homeschoolers copied public school in their homes or even "remote learning" in their homes, yes, homeschooling would be so much more difficult.
During Covid many public schools were closed and many haphazardly switched to a strictly online-based learning system. This meant that children sat at a desk in their home for long hours doing school work on the computer instead of sitting at their desk at school, in front of a real teacher. There were many obvious challenges to remote learning; for example, a teacher would not be able to see a student if they turned off their camera. Homeschooling became popular during that time so that families could free themselves from the toxic remote learning situation as well as the medical tyranny in the public school system that continues to take place today.
I have met many families who were "forced" into homeschooling during Covid and they never went back. They talk about homeschooling with a twinkle in their eye like it's their favorite dessert. This is because remote learning is inherently different from homeschooling. Homeschooling can be a truly pleasant and peaceful experience with many great benefits; most inmportantly, it allows your child to receive the 1:1 attention they deserve. This is not the case with remote learning: your child receives almost no directed attention and the remote teacher has few direct ways to ensure that your student is actually learning, succeeding, and thriving.
This article will go over some various types of educational online resources. Connections Academy and K12 are examples of tax funded public school online programs.
About Homeschooling
Homeschoolers often utilize online resources like Youtube, printable worksheets, business websites, craft tutorials and cooking shows. However, homeschooling as a whole is much more than using online curriculum. Homeschoolers regularly participate in healthy socialization opportunities, art projects, American Heritage Girls, Trail Life and field trips.
Children's internet and device usage should be monitored whether homeschooling or not.
We have a responsibility as parents to monitor our children's device usage and set screen time boundaries. Monitoring your child's internet usage is vital in this day and age, due to the many online dangers that exist in our world. Click for internet safety concerns. However, when your child is remote learning, there is little (if any) monitoring. When your child is spending 6 to 8 hours online per day, its almost guaranteed that: 1) they will visit many websites, and 2) you will not be able to audit all of the sites they are visiting.
Remote learning fails to include these great homeschooling activities
Field trips: When you are planning a trip to the "Statue of Liberty" for example, you will need to plan the logistics of how to get tickets, find the hours of operation, know the things you might want to bring or prohibited items that you need to leave at home. You could look at the state park website for info as well as independent creators that offer suggestions to help you plan your trip and make it the best it can be.
Virtual field trips. Sometimes we cannot go to a place in person. There are some great creaotrs that share blog articles and videos of places around the world to experience via the internet. For example, this video is about the Grand Canyon https://youtu.be/qw5ONnkBbvc?si=-GtHJEyGtGgAXzz0
DVD and online media: Non fiction movies like docudramas and documentaries, fitness DVDs like Zumba, Watching the Lord of the Dance DVD dancing performance. Teachflix.org
Homeschool websites: https://www.homeschoolgateway.org . We offer free resources, content, curriculum and articles to help families homeschool.
Typing programs: If you search "free typing game", you will find some great small online games for children to practice typing.
Printables: There are so many free or almost free printable coloring sheets, clip art, worksheets and other materials. All you need is an internet connection and a printer!
Scratch: This is a coding program that my family uses. https://scratch.mit.edu
Digital art programs. There are many choices other than "Photoshop" available. Using devices for photography and video is also fun and educational.
Online college classes: Your teens can get a jumpstart on their career by attending collage classes in person or online.
Dear Homeschoolers who plan to use digital learning programs.
"With great freedom comes great responsibility."
We enjoy so many great benefits and freedoms as homeschoolers, including control over our schedule and our curriculum. However, we have a responsibility to uphold the integrity of homeschooling. Homeschooling (and families) are under a microscope. We are front and center in the continuing conversation about education and school choice as a whole. Our neighbors are watching us with a mix of discipleship, admiration and continued scrutiny and judgement. But if you're remote learning instead of homeschooling, you effectively counterfeit teaching.
Homeschooling continues to be scrutinized for many reasons; the bad examples, the ignorance of non-homeschoolers unwilling to do the research, lies in the media, pop-culture and other prejudices. This also includes perpetuating the ongoing misrepresentation that homeschooling is the same as remote learning.
If you choose to use online curriculum in your homeschool, do some self reflection: am I remote learning or am I actually homeschooling? That is, am I scheduling meetups with friends, taking our children to field trips, and signing them up for extracurricular classes like art or sports programs? Am I monitoring their device usage? Am I actually teaching my children directly or letting someone else do it (or not do it)? If you're doing these things and more, GREAT! You are truly homeschooling. But if you're not -- you're remote learning and it is very likely that your child is not really learning anything.
We are veteran homeschoolers. We invite you to browse our website for mare articles about navigating the homeschool world, encouragement when making friends and limiting screen time for your family. This site is not monetized. Support our website by sharing and following us on Facebook.
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