HomeSchoodle.org
This is what you will see:
- Overview: HomeSchoodle is an online collaboration too for homeschoolers that allows them to share lesson plans and learning experiences. It will eventually provide full curriculum and tracking of student’s progress, no matter their location or method.
- Priority: Based on our resources.
- ImpacT Overview: How this project helps others.
- Current ImpacT: Where we are
- Future ImpacT: Where we are going
- More Info & Links: Self explanatory
Name: Homeschoodle.org (Homeschool + Moodle)
Purpose: Provide a centralized repository of lesson plans, classes and ideas for homeschoolers anywhere to use. The Homeschoodle Review Board would ensure that classes submitted are properly labeled and of adequate quality to meet the needs specified in the course objectives.
Abstract: Moodle, the platform Course Management System be used, would allow for online interaction through forums, chatting, grade management, tracking of students, quizzes & tests, etc. Read more about Moodle.
Once enough course are entered into the system, homeschool parents will be able to pick a track and stick with it throughout the year, if desired. Enough flexibility exists to ensure that requirements of the courses will meet requirements of the state each family resides in (you can tag a course by state for planning purposes). In addition, the system keeps records that can be printed and verified at a later time for college admissions.
Aside from the obvious classes for students, there should be some for the parents as well. “How do I homeschool?” or “Homeschooling by State” and others. There is already a wealth of information out there, and many of those sites might be willing to provide the content for such classes because it helps them meet their mission of educating parents.
Participants: We will probably start with a few families as proof of concept and to “work out the kinks.” Once that is established, we will approach one or two homeschooling co-ops and invite them to participate. Once the system is smoothed out, we will open to anyone who wishes to participate.
WHAT IS NEEDED TO LAUNCH PROJECT:
Coordinator/Director: This person would initially work as a volunteer, helping to plan and launch the project (end user stuff – OpenTech will handle the technology side of things). Once the system is up and running, we will try to move to pay the Homeschoodle Director (eventually, we hope for a full or part-time paid position). It is expected that donations will be made by businesses and individuals who are directly linked to homeschooling families. OpenTech Ministries, because we are a 501(c)3, will provide the tax deduction for those supporters.
Certifying Board: This will be a group of individuals who will ensure the quality control and management of the courses that are submitted to the system. Ideally, it will consist of a mix of homeshooling parents, certified teachers, and volunteers. The hope is to establish credibility to point that school systems recognize Homeschoodle as a valid, robust, and superb educational background. The Certifying Board will need to establish the guidelines for submission and management of courses and for student records.
Please feel free to leave a comment below if you have any suggestions.
Homeschoodle.org – this project uses and online Course Management System called Moodle. You may be familiar with a commercial CMS like Blackboard, which is in use at a lot of colleges and universities for their distance education and online collaboration. We want Homeschoodle.org (Homeschool + Moodle) to be a centralized repository of lesson plans, classes and ideas for homeschoolers anywhere to use. Read more…