We are now hearing “home education”, “distance education”, “distance learning” and “home study program”. It is a mode of delivering education and instruction, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional setting such as a classroom. Distance learning provides access to learning when the source of information and the learners are separated by time and distance, or both.
The creation of home study is a welcome change to our education. It can expand access to education and training for general population since its flexible scheduling structure lessens the effects of the many time-constraints imposed by personal responsibilities and commitments.
Are homeschooled students good students? When the topic comes up in conversation, people often cite studies showing that homeschoolers score higher on standardized tests. That’s impressive, but we have to keep in mind: this was not a random cross-section of homeschoolers. Participants were recruited from a special subset of the homeschooling population–families who subscribed to a fee-based testing service. Compared to their peers in the public schools, these kids were more likely to have affluent, well-educated parents. There were differences in the way the tests were administered. Ideally, we would want everyone to take the test under the same conditions, under the eye of a trained test administrator. But whereas public school students took their tests in the classroom, many homeschoolers took their tests at home with a parent.
Was the homeschool advantage merely the result of socioeconomic privilege? That seems rather unlikely, too. Unstructured homeschoolers also performed worse than the public school kids did. A structured homeschooling may offer opportunities for academic performance beyond those typically experienced in public school. Homeschooling typically involves a low teacher-student ratio and highly individualized instruction. It’s private tutoring, which has always been associated with efficient learning. We all know that some kids find it harder to adapt to demands of formal instruction. Homeschooling parents, like many classroom teachers, need to find new ways to reach these students.
Barriers to effective distance education include obstacles such as domestic distractions and unreliable technology, as well as students’ program costs, adequate contact with teachers and support services, and a need for more experience.
Some students attempt to participate in distance education without proper training of the tools needed to be successful in the program. Students must be provided with training on each tool that is used throughout the program. The lack of advanced technology skills can lead to an unsuccessful experience. Schools have a responsibility to adopt a proactive policy for managing technology barriers.
Homeschooling gets high marks when parents provide structured lessons.
By: LOLLY B. RAVAGO | Teacher III | Bonifacio Camacho National High School – Abucay, Bataan
