Technology Archives

Robotics competitions

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

May 24, 2023 by Meryl van der Merwe Leave a Comment

231: Robotics competitions with Dawn and Nate Garrett

Guests Dawn Garrett and her son Nate join us to talk about Robotics Competitions. You can learn about Nate’s team here and see their 2023 competition robot

If you missed episode 225 on An Introduction to Robotics – start by listening to that.

You can find general information about robotics in this blog post – Robotics in your Homeschool

These are the questions our guests answered.

1. Nate: How long have you been involved in robotics?
2. Dawn: Why did you think about robotics as an area for Nate to get involved in?
3. Dawn: How did you find a FLL team?
4. Nate: Over the years on FLL – what roles did you play on the team? What did you enjoy most about FLL
5. Dawn: How did you find a First Robotics team?
6. Nate: How is this different from FLL? What do you have to do? What is your role on the team?
7. How does the contest work?
8. Nate: What have you enjoyed most doing robotics?
9. Nate: What has been the biggest challenge?
10. Nate: What have you learned?
11 Dawn: What have you observed as a parent watching Nate get involved? What do you think the biggest benefits have been?
12. Nate: Has robotics influenced your ideas for a career?

You can find Dawn at

LadyDusk.com
Instagram: LadyDusk
Dawn is also the Community Manager for PamBarnhill.com

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Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies.

Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

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Filed Under: Homeschooling with Technology Tagged With: homeschooling, Meryl van der Merwe, podcast, robotics, Technology

Why all teens should learn Canva

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

April 26, 2023 by Meryl van der Merwe Leave a Comment

227: Why all teens should learn Canva

Becky Brinkman from Rose and Bird explains why all teens should learn Canva.

Becky was the guest on episode 210 – Taking Holiday Photos with Storytelling in Mind

Becky answers the following questions:

1. Why do students need to build confidence in creating graphics – especially if they don’t believe
they are “artistic”?

2. How can we bridge the gap between natural visual communicators and everybody else?

3. Why is Canva a particularly good tool to learn?

4. What are some things students need to learn to use Canva effectively?

Becky concluded by giving an overview of the Graphic Design with Canva class she will be teaching for show sponsor FundaFunda Academy from Fall 2023.

Where to find Becky Brinkman online:

Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode

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Filed Under: Homeschooling with Technology Tagged With: canva, homeschooling teens, Meryl van der Merwe, Technology

Exploring AI with Your Homeschooled Teen

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

April 19, 2023 by Meryl van der Merwe Leave a Comment

226:Exploring AI with Your Homeschooled Teen

In this episode, you will learn why exploring AI with your teen is something you should be doing.

If you know very little about AI, a good place to start would be our previous episodes on ChatGPT

3 previous episodes on ChatGPT
Episode 215- What is ChatGPT?
Episode 216- ChatGPT and the Future of Education
Episode 217- 10 Ways to Use ChatGPT in Your Homeschool

5 topics to address with your teens about AI

1. Learn something new together. 3 websites mentioned

2. Discuss the ethical questions involved

3. Discuss appropriate use for assignments – Video mentioned (start at minute 17) Generative AI with Steve Dembo and Vicki Davis

4. Learn to use it effectively eg how to craft good prompts

5. Discuss how AI might affect their choice of career

Show sponsor FundaFunda Academy classes mentioned that will include instruction on how to use AI:

Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode

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Filed Under: Homeschooling with Technology Tagged With: AI, homeschooling, Meryl van der Merwe, podcast, Technology

An Introduction to Robotics

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

April 12, 2023 by Meryl van der Merwe Leave a Comment

225:An Introduction to Robotics with Vinod Agrawal

Vinod Agrawal from Robotics Workshops for Kids is our guest and he talks about how to provide your children with an introduction to robotics

Vinod covers these topics in this episode:

1. How he became interested in robotics
2. Why he decided to teach robotics to students
3. What is involved in learning robotics
4. Who will be interested in robotics
4. The free workshop he offers
5. How to build a drum-playing robot
6. Extra projects students can do with the robot after it is built
7. Careers in robotics

You can find Vinod at

Robotics Workshops for Kids
Instagram
YouTube
Facebook

Podcast episode mentioned

Episode 199: Using 3D Printing in your Homeschool with Katie Matteson

Coding classes from show sponsor FundaFunda mentioned

Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode

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Filed Under: Homeschooling with Technology Tagged With: homeschooling, Meryl van der Merwe, robotics, Technology

Integrating technology in literature studies

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

April 5, 2023 by Meryl van der Merwe Leave a Comment

224: Integrating Technology in Literature Studies

This episode discusses integrating technology in literature studies to help provide students with a richer experience as they read novels.

The websites and ideas mentioned are:

Book Adventure: book quizzes, reading logs, graphic organizers etc
Vocabulary.com: vocabulary lists for specific books.
Crashcourse Literature
Virtual museum tours
Google Streetview
Apps and websites relating to content eg Skyview app when studying Greek Mythology
Litcharts: Mentioned on the episode Apps for High School Sttudents
Digital Projects: websites mentioned Powtoon and Canva
ChatGPT
FundaFunda Academy’s English 1, English Honors and Jane Austen classes

Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode

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Filed Under: Homeschooling with Technology Tagged With: homeschooling, literature, Meryl van der Merwe, podcast, Technology

How to Use the Internet to Find the Right Curriculum for Your Child

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

March 8, 2023 by Meryl van der Merwe Leave a Comment

220: How to Use the Internet to Find the Right Curriculum for Your Child

Whether you are new to homeschooling or need to change things up, you can use the internet to find the right curriculum for your child.

Here’s what is covered in this episode:

1. Don’t start to look for curriculum until you have asked yourself a few questions:

* what kind of a homeschooler do I want to be – see the blog post on Homeschooling Styles
* what is my child’s learning style
* what is my goal in homeschooling
* what can I afford

2. Time to ask other people questions and get suggestions

2.1 FaceBook groups

specialist ones – for example Homeeschooling Middle School, Homeschooling Collegebound Teens, ones for athletes, secular homeschoolers, Charlotte Mason homeschoolers, Special Needs homeschoolers.
general homeschooling ones
local ones

2.1. Forums for example, Welltrained Mind

3. Ask ChatGPT or other AI
AI can help summarize what is available

4. Read reviews
Look for reviews on the actually product listing, and also on blogs, Youtube, TikTok etc

5. View Samples or Demos of the curriculum
For example, FundaFunda’s demo classroom and Youtube videos demonstrating products

Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode

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Filed Under: Homeschooling with Technology Tagged With: curriculum, homeschooling, Meryl van der Merwe, podcast, Technology

Organizing Digital Homeschool Resources

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

March 1, 2023 by Meryl van der Merwe Leave a Comment

219: Organizing Digital Homeschool Resources with Brooke Poston

Our guest in this episode is Brooke Poston from Homeschool Resource Co who has some great tips to share on organizing digital homeschool resources.

Brooke explains what she means by digital resources and supplemental content and where one can find this content. She then details how to create an inventory spreadsheet to keep track of everything.

Finally, she breaks down the 3 main ways to organize content and the benefits and drawbacks of each.

Listen to the episode for some easy-to-implement ideas.

The workbook and course on Digital Organization Brooke mentions

The digital resources Meryl mentions are

FundaFunda’s web-based unit studies
FundaFfunda’s Teaching Resources which include Printable games and digital breakouts

Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode

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Filed Under: Homeschooling with Technology Tagged With: homeschool organization, Meryl van der Merwe, podcast, Technology

TV Shows that spark a love for science and technology

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

February 22, 2023 by Meryl van der Merwe Leave a Comment

218: TV Shows that Spark a Love for Science and Technology

In this episode, I share some favorite TV shows that spark a love for science and technology – while they entertain. These are not shows that explain scientific concepts. Listen to the episode as I describe each of them. The shows I mention are:

Fetch (Amazon Prime)
Annedroids (Amazon Prime)
Design Squad (Amazon Prime)
Baking Impossible (Netflix)
Lego Masters (Hulu)
Domino Masters(Hulu)
Mark Rober’s Youtube channel
Secret Life of Scientists and Engineers – PBS/Youtube

Find more ideas on Common Source Media

For interactive science learning, consider show sponsor FundaFunda Academy’s unit studies on science topics.

Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode

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Filed Under: Homeschooling with Technology Tagged With: homeschooling, Meryl van der Merwe, podcast, science, Technology

10 ways to use ChatGPT in your homeschool

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

February 15, 2023 by Meryl van der Merwe Leave a Comment

217: 10 ways to use ChatGPT in your homeschool

Randi Smith from Peanut Butter Fish Lessons is my guest again and together we came up with 10 ways to use ChatGPT in your homeschool.

This is the third episode in our series about ChatGPT. You can listen to the first one on “What is chatGPT? here and the second one on ChatGPT and the future of education here

Here are our 10 ideas – listen to the episode to hear them explained:

1. Rewrite a fairytale in two new ways – one with an unreliable narrator and one with a new setting. Circle the words and phrases that show the change in the good guy/bad guy and that show the new setting.

2. Paste an article into ChatGPT and ask it to rewrite it for different reading levels.

3. Give a list of vocabulary words. Ask your children to use ChatGPT to define them and generate three sentences. Also have it tell them the prefixes, roots, and suffixes. They must correct any mistakes. Then they need to write one sentence that relates to their own life.

4. Generate an essay on a prompt about a novel and then discuss different ways one could answer the prompt

5. Create a Mind Map on a specific topic by asking chat to create an outline. Then repeat for each of those items to generate topics under those topics. Continue for an assigned number of levels.

6. Use it to grade your children’s essays

7. Have ChatGPT create a science lab for something you are currently studying in science and then determine if it will work. Ask your children questions like these: Do you think the materials and procedure will help you obtain the objective? Are the materials all items that you could obtain easily and would be safe for you to work with? Are there any other materials you think you need that are not listed? Can you follow the procedure safely? If not, are there changes you could make to follow the procedure? Complete the lab if possible. Do your findings agree with the conclusion?

8. Create tests and reading comprehension quizzes

9. Foreign language: Ask ChatGPT to write captions for 10 pictures you took on a field trip, vacation, etc. (You would have to describe the picture eg. write a 50-word caption about the Grand Canyon in Spanish. Tell your children to circle the words that are new to them and then make a list of 10 new words or phrases they learned.

10. Ask for a lesson plan on something you want to teach your children

Bonus idea: Use it to find recipes and make a shopping list

You can find Randi at

Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Filed Under: Homeschooling with Technology Tagged With: AI, homeschooling, Meryl van der Merwe, podcast, Technology

ChatGPT and the future of education

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

February 8, 2023 by Meryl van der Merwe Leave a Comment

216: ChatGPT and the future of education

In this episode, we discuss ChatGPT and what the evolution of AI technology means for the future of education. My guest is Randi Smith from Peanut Butter Fish Lessons who was also the guest on the episode Exploring Media Bias.

This is the second episode in a 3-part series on ChatgPT. You can listen to the first one on “What is chatGPT? here.

The questions we discuss in this episode are:

1. Should we be alarmed by ChatGPT?

2. Is this the end of the essay? The end of needing writing skills? What writing skills will students still need?

3. How do you think ChatGPT will change education?
a) What are new ways we will need to assess students?
b) What new skills will students need to work effectively with Chat GPT?

4. What benefits do we see in having students work with ChatGPT?

5. As homeschool parents, how should ChatGPT and other forms of AI factor into how we homeschool?

The websites you can use to check if an essay has been written by AI are GPTZero and Checkforai.

You can find Randi at

Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Filed Under: Homeschooling with Technology Tagged With: AI, homeschooling, Meryl van der Merwe, podcast, Technology

Robotics competitions

231: Robotics competitions with Dawn and Nate Garrett

Why all teens should learn Canva

227: Why all teens should learn Canva

Exploring AI with Your Homeschooled Teen

226:Exploring AI with Your Homeschooled Teen

An Introduction to Robotics

225:An Introduction to Robotics with Vinod Agrawal

Integrating technology in literature studies

224: Integrating Technology in Literature Studies

How to Use the Internet to Find the Right Curriculum for Your Child

220: How to Use the Internet to Find the Right Curriculum for Your Child

Organizing Digital Homeschool Resources

219: Organizing Digital Homeschool Resources with Brooke Poston

TV Shows that spark a love for science and technology

218: TV Shows that Spark a Love for Science and Technology

10 ways to use ChatGPT in your homeschool

217: 10 ways to use ChatGPT in your homeschool

ChatGPT and the future of education

216: ChatGPT and the future of education

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