In today’s world, it’s hard to escape technology in all of it’s many forms. Cell phones have taken over for so many facets of our lives, it’s hard to remember a world in which they didn’t exist. But when it comes to teaching, technology has really taken over. Children use tablets instead of pen and paper, answers can be found with a few keyboard ticks, and lessons can be done with videos and interactive lessons. With all the technology blossoming in today’s world, it may be a breath of fresh air to teach your kids without the use of devices, and allow them to embrace the simpler side of life.
Taking the Plunge
It may feel intimidating to take the plunge into teaching without technology, but the lessons won’t vary too much with a little ingenuity. Whether you are teaching your toddlers or your teens at home, not using tech can help them see the world through a different lens. So many kids are used to seeing a screen, and using a pen and paper to write down their lessons or take notes can give them a different perspective on short hand and using different ways to memorize information.
It may be tricky to get your kids on board, and you may have to make them surrender their phones and tablets in order to start. But don’t let a little whining deter you! Using less tech and teaching with words, reading, and writing is a great way to keep your kids engaged and helping them use different skills to learn at their ideal pace.
Getting Started
Let them know that it isn’t a punishment and shouldn’t feel like a negative experience, just a different way of doing things. Your children may feel otherwise at first, but keeping the lessons light and interactive helps no matter what! To prepare for your lessons, harken back to your days in the classroom, and how your teachers supplied information and taught their lessons.
Figure out what will work best for your children, as they can be more visual learners versus audio learners. Or do a mixture of the two! Give them a short video to watch and then have a discussion. Give your child some time afterwards to jot down notes and thoughts about the video and conversations, so they have something to reference later. In another lesson, you could give them a song to listen to or an audio clip of a historical event to let them use different senses to learn.
Katie Kyzivat