Why You Shouldn't Print Digital Homeschool Curriculum

I’m on a mission…a mission to inspire homeschoolers to add more digital learning to their education. We homeschoolin’ mommas don’t have the advantage of a tech director like many schools have. So, here we are, digital immigrants, trying to meeting the learning needs of our digital natives. [Related Post: What Homeschoolers Don’t Know (& what they need)]

One simple way for adding more tech to your homeschool is to start using curriculum in digital format (aka ebooks). I know…you love the look, feel and smell of “real” books, and you couldn’t imagine replacing your books with eBooks. And I’m not saying that you need to do that. What I’m suggesting is taking this baby step to be deliberately digital with your home learning.

Now, I’ve noticed that some homeschoolers download curriculum and print it out. But that pretty much cancels out all these advantages of digital resources.

Digital materials take up less space and don’t contribute to your home’s clutter
They are usually less expensive
They are more portable
You can download immediately after rental or purchase, so you’re saving time
Using digital resources and ebooks helps your kids view computers as a useful tool

When you print the curriculum, you end up with a binder or folder taking up space and contributing to clutter. You would spend lots of money for ink and paper. You’d need to take the time to print out the content, and your kids wouldn’t be grasping the concept that computers are a tool, not a toy. [Related Post: 5 Benefits of a Paperless Homeschool]

What you need to do instead, my friend, is hand your laptop or tablet over to your kids and let them read the ebooks from the screen. Yes, that means that your kids would be glued to an electronic device, but they would be learning. They would be using electronics in a productive way. Don’t you want them to grow up knowing how to use technology to make their lives easier? Don’t you want them to be comfortable and experienced with the technology they will use in their future professions? Don’t you want them to grow up with healthy tech habits? [Related Post: Are Your Kids Wasting Time on Electronics? 3 Questions to Ask]

I want my children to read. I want them to study things and discover more about the things that excite them. I want them to experience the wonders of great literature. I want them to know how to read a how-to manual and understand the directions. And whether my child wants to read that book in physical form or electronic is arbitrary. I’m just thrilled that they are reading and developing skills that will stick with them for life.

Remember, as you start Techin’ Your Homeschool, you are integrating technology into your everyday lives. You need to throw away that mentality of “Now it’s computer time.” Technology needs to meld in with what you already do. Then your kids will view technology as a commonplace thing and not be as intrigued and drawn to it.

For more information about Techin’ Your Homeschool with eBooks, check out the video.